Ronan Keating has spoken through tears about the death of his brother.
Ronan Keating has spoken through tears about the death of his brother
Describing his “biggest regret” and the sacrifices he made as his career took off, the Boyzone member and presenter on The One Show, made the admissions as he fronted new BBC series Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic, in which he reflects on the loss of his older brother Ciaran Keating, who died in a car crash in July 2023 while travelling with his wife Annemarie to watch their son play football.
Annemarie sustained serious injuries in the incident.
In the programme, Ronan speaks with his nephew Ruairi Keating – Ciaran’s son – about grief, family and memory, as part of a journey along Ireland’s west coast.
Ronan 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.”
He added: “I lost a lot and made a lot of sacrifices.”
Ronan added: “It is very hard.
“I am sorry, I am sorry, I don’t want to get upset.”
Speaking to Ruairi about the loss, Ronan also said: “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.”
Ruairi said: “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 added: “I know he can see me, and I know he’s watching.”
Ronan said: “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.”
Speaking to Bella Magazine, Ronan said about dealing with his family’s loss: “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.”
He added: “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.”
Ronan said his new TV project began as a celebration of the Wild Atlantic Way but evolved during filming.
He 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.”
Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic airs on BBC Two and is available on iPlayer.
