Ronan Keating breaks down in tears sharing greatest remorse about his brother’s dying, sobbing ‘I grew up shortly and made quite a lot of sacrifices’
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Ronan Keating was reduced to tears as he opened up about the biggest regret regarding his brother’s death – sobbing ‘I grew up quickly and made a lot of sacrifices’.
Boyzone and The One Show star Ronan, 49, is fronting a BBC show titled Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic.
His brother Ciaran passed away in a car crash in July 2023, while travelling with wife Annemarie – who sustained serious injuries – to watch their son play football.
Speaking to his nephew Ruairi, Ciaran’s son, the singer said: ‘I never get to say it but… I was the baby.
‘He was my older brother, my eldest brother, and he’s my hero.
‘I always looked up to him, you know. I joined the band, and I had to kind of grow up very quickly, and I missed stuff between us, and because of that, I lost a lot.’
Ronan Keating broke down in tears as he reflected on the biggest regret regarding his brother’s death
Boyzone singer Ronan is fronting a BBC programme titled Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic – pictured here alongside nephew Ruairi, his late brother Ciaran’s son
Ronan added: ‘I lost a lot and made a lot of sacrifices.’
Comforting his nephew, he went on: ‘It is very hard.
‘I am sorry, I am sorry, I don’t want to get upset.’
Elsewhere, Ronan also addressed Ruairi’s relationship with his late father, Ciaran.
He shared: ‘Oh, man, it’s hard enough for us as siblings. I can’t imagine where you are.
‘You know, I’ve kind of parked my emotions for the last two years. I haven’t been able to really deal with it. I haven’t been able to deal with the loss, you know.
‘He made the decision to make a life for his family. He left Dublin, and he went to the west.
‘And I think this journey that I’m on, you know, coming here and doing this, is me trying to understand more about Ciarán’s choice, so that I can somehow grieve and let go, because I found it very hard.’
While Ruairi responded: ‘It’s the same for me playing football too. I always look up and still think I can see him there.
‘It’s always the hardest part as well after games, I used to check my phone.
‘The first thing I’d see is my dad’s name, looking at my phone and not seeing that anymore. It’s really hard.’
Ruairi continued: ‘I know he can see me, and I know he’s watching.’
Ronan replied to his nephew: ‘He was so proud of you, and he will still be so proud of you in everything that you do, all of you kids, you were his world, you know, pride and joy.’
Previously, the Irish singer revealed he ‘hasn’t unboxed’ the grief of tragically losing his brother – and ‘still struggles’ with the loss.
Speaking to Bella Magazine, he discussed speaking openly about Ciaran throughout Wild Atlantic.
He said: ‘I actually found it quite natural.
‘I’ve had a lot of therapy since losing him because I struggled – and I still struggle.
‘I don’t think grief ever fully goes away. I don’t think I’ve unboxed all of it yet, to be honest.
‘But when we were travelling and talking, it just came out.’
Ronan continued: ‘There was no big plan to pour my heart out.
‘We’d be standing on a cliff edge or walking a beach and something would hit me and I’d talk about him.
‘It felt honest rather than performative.’
Meanwhile, Ronan also revealed his inspiration for embarking on Wild Atlantic as a project.
Ronan’s older brother Ciaran (pictured furthest left) died in a car accident back in 2023 – and the singer has opened up about this tragic loss
He explained how Ciaran had ‘chosen to live on the west coast’, but there had been another meaningful reason behind the journey.
Ronan said: ‘It started as a celebration of the west coast of Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way, the cliffs, the beaches, the people.
‘I spent so many summers there, so it already meant a lot to me.
‘But as we began filming, it naturally evolved into something more personal.’
Referencing Ciaran’s choice to live on the west coast, the singer added: ‘So the journey became about understanding that decision, what drew him there, what he found there.
‘It turned into a very emotional and very beautiful exploration of his love for that part of Ireland mine too.’
And the show was ultimately a family affair – as Ronan revealed how some of his loved ones came along for the journey.
He said: ‘My brother Gary joins me, my nephews are there and even one of my best mates comes along in Donegal.
‘It was important that it didn’t feel like a lonely pilgrimage.’
Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic airs on BBC Two and is available to stream on iPlayer.
