Jock McDonald obit

Shock and sadness at tragic death of punk legend, Jock McDonald

 He was not on the list.

Donegal/Scottish punk rocker Jock McDonald has been named as the victim of a tragic drowning incident in Bundoran on Saturday.

Mr McDonald, founder of the Bollock Brothers, was taken from the water at Bundoran beach on Saturday evening by local RNLI volunteers. He was rushed to Sligo University Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The 69-year-old’s death was announced by his bandmate, Pat Pattyn, who said that family and friends are in shock.

Jock and the Bollock Brothers had been preparing to hit the road again in a few weeks’ time on a tour of Germany and Belgium.

Born Patrick Joseph O’Donnell, Jock grew up between Donegal and Clydebank in Scotland. His career spanned roles as a vocalist, promoter, DJ, and manager.

He has been hailed as one of Ireland’s most inventive and distinctive artists of the last 40 years.

The Bollock Brothers, formed in 1979, gained recognition for their outrageous covers, such as an English edition of Serge Gainsbourg’s French song ‘Harley David (Son of a Bitch)’ and their version of ‘God Save the Queen’. They were stars of the punk scene in London and went on to release nine studio albums.

RNLI Bundoran confirmed the incident took place at the diving board area of Bundoran beach.

The RNLI was tasked at 4.42pm to reports of a casualty on the rocks. Visibility was poor due to a rough sea with a swell of approximately 3metres.

A lifeguard was seen entering the water to assist the casualty.

The lifeboat swiftly recovered both the casualty and two lifeguards, bringing them to the pier where they were met by the National Ambulance Service.