Irish Singer Luke Thomas Shares Grief After Partner Ciara Gunnings Death

Luke Thomas, the Irish vocalist who rose to prominence with the Swing Cats, confirmed that his partner Ciara Gunning passed away on 19 January 2026 at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin. The 41‑year‑old shared the heartbreaking news on social media before speaking about the emotional toll on RTÉ’s national radio.

Thomas said he had to break the news to his eight‑year‑old daughter, Heidi, from a previous relationship. He explained that he had to explain Gunning’s death in a way that was honest yet gentle, and that the conversation was one of the hardest moments of his life.

Gunning’s illness began in March 2025 when doctors suspected a kidney infection but ultimately diagnosed cancer. She underwent a year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy while also managing Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that can raise the risk of colorectal cancer. A death notice posted on rip.ie noted that she died peacefully at St Vincent’s surrounded by family.

Thomas has long been a fixture in Ireland’s music scene, first gaining national attention as a member of the Swing Cats, a pop‑soul ensemble. He has performed on television, at live venues, and has cultivated a growing fan base across the country. After Gunning’s passing, he posted a heartfelt tribute on social media, and fellow musicians and fans offered their condolences.

In a recent interview with Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Radio 1’s Sunday With Miriam, Thomas described how he approached the conversation with Heidi. He said, “I felt that with Ciara… I was in a place in my life where I was open to it (a relationship). I might not have been open to it before, and if we hadn’t met at an earlier stage in my life, it might not have worked, you know, but we connected quite well.” He added that he had felt “utterly helpless” as Gunning’s condition worsened and that he had to break the news to his daughter. Thomas recalled a social worker advising him to give Heidi a clear name for the illness so she could understand that not all sickness leads to death.

The experience continues to trigger him. Thomas said, “I actually can’t talk to her because it will trigger me. It’s taken me a while to even speak about this,” and that he still has a lot of work to do in coping with the loss.

Gunning had planned to move into Thomas’s house in Tallaght, Dublin, in September or October 2025. Thomas said he has tried twice to move her belongings, but the process has been difficult. “There’s some stuff that might go to her nieces and stuff like that, some nice clothes and bits and pieces,” he explained. He recalled that Gunning had wanted to make custard for a Christmas trifle but was too ill to do so, and that he recently disposed of the custard, which triggered him.

St Vincent’s Hospital, a teaching facility on Elm Park in Dublin’s south‑eastern outskirts, is part of the Ireland East Hospital Group and offers a range of acute and chronic care services. The death notice for Gunning, which lists her age and surviving relatives, was published on rip.ie on 19 January 2026.

Thomas has not announced any further public plans regarding Gunning’s memorial or future projects. He continues to keep her memory alive through photographs and personal items that remain in his home. The Irish music community has expressed support, and the public has shown empathy through social media tributes.