Catherine 'Cat' Dowling, the beloved music legend, has died aged 54. She passed away on Friday at St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, Ireland, surrounded by medical care. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but Dowling had been open about her battle with breast cancer since her diagnosis in December 2017.
A Life Remembered
A death notice described her as the “much-loved mother” of Rachel, Ódhran, and Juliette, and said she will be missed by their father Brian. She is also survived by her mother Máirín, sister Anne Marie, brothers Padraic, Donal, Richard, and John, along with extended family and friends.
Dowling first rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of Dublin band Babelfish, which she founded in 2001 with guitarist Gerry Horan, bassist Stevie Kavanagh, and drummer Graham Gilligan. The band later evolved into the electro/dream-pop collective Alphastates, releasing their debut album Made from Sand in 2004 and their final record Human Nature in 2009.
Solo Career and Collaborations
In 2013, Dowling launched her solo career with The Believer, whose title track featured in TV series Banshee and Witches of East End. Her song “Somebody Else” appeared in the Irish film My Name Is Emily, and she contributed vocals to projects including the ABC drama How To Get Away With Murder.
In 2021, she released the critically acclaimed album Animals, co-produced with Gerry Horan. Her passing was confirmed by Hot Press, with editor Niall Stokes leading tributes: “She was a lovely person, and a hugely original musician. She will be greatly missed.”
Tributes from the Music Community
The Stunning, a Galway rock band, expressed their sorrow, saying: “We are so saddened to hear of the death of Catherine 'Cat' Dowling. She was a true original. Deepest sympathies to her family and friends. She is another huge loss to Irish music. If you don't know her music check it out on all the streaming platforms. She opened for us in Kilkenny a few years back. Her last album 'Animals' is superb. Rest in peace Catherine, you can play some tunes with Glen.”
