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Ronan Keating Sings Tribute To Brother Ciaran At His Funeral Mass

Friday, 21 July 2023 08:27

By (C) Sky News: Russell Hope, news reporter

Ronan Keating (second left) helps carry the coffin of his brother Ciaran Keating towards the church

Ronan Keating has performed a musical tribute to his brother Ciaran Keating at his funeral mass in Ireland.

The former Boyzone star sang This Is Your Song towards the end of the service, a tune he wrote after their mother, Marie, died in 1998.

The lyrics included the lines:

"You were our friend, walk with you till the end, and one day we'll all sing along, 'cause this is your song."

Ronan Keating (centre middle left) helps carry the coffin of his brother Ciaran Keating towards St Patrick's Church in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, for his funeral. The older brother of Ronan Keating died in a two-car crash near Swinford in Co Mayo on Saturday. Picture date: Thursday July 20, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story FUNERAL Keating. Photo credit should read: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

Keith Duffy outside St Patrick's Church in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, after the funeral of Ciaran Keating. The older brother of Ronan Keating died in a two-car crash near Swinford in Co Mayo on Saturday. Picture date: Thursday July 20, 2023.

Image:Former Boyzone singer Keith Duffy was among the mourners

Keating said: "I shouldn't be singing it in these circumstances but we are and we will."

He was among the pallbearers who carried his older brother's coffin to St Patrick's Church in Louisburgh, County Mayo.

The singer told mourners that Ciaran Keating's children had made their dad "very proud".

Former Ireland rugby player Shane Byrne (right) outside St Patrick's Church in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, after the funeral of Ciaran Keating. The older brother of Ronan Keating died in a two-car crash near Swinford in Co Mayo on Saturday. Picture date: Thursday July 20, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story FUNERAL Keating. Photo credit should read: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

Image:Former Ireland rugby player Shane Byrne (right) attended

Mr Keating, who was in his 50s, died in a car crash near Swinford in Co Mayo on Saturday, a collision in which his wife Annemarie was injured.

Ciaran Keating's family walked behind the hearse as it drove through Louisburgh after the service.

Ronan Keating (centre middle left) helps carry the coffin of his brother Ciaran Keating towards St Patrick's Church in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, for his funeral. The older brother of Ronan Keating died in a two-car crash near Swinford in Co Mayo on Saturday. Picture date: Thursday July 20, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story FUNERAL Keating. Photo credit should read: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

They hugged and shook hands with mourners, who included ex-Boyzone star Keith Duffy and former Ireland rugby player Shane Byrne.

Members of Cork City FC, which Ciaran Keating's son Ruairi plays for, as well as representatives of the Marie Keating Foundation cancer charity, were among the mourners.

Ronan Keating and wife Storm (right) outside the cchurch after the funeral of his brother Ciaran Keating

Image:Ronan Keating and wife Storm (right) outside the church after the funeral

Marie Keating was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 1996, and died less than 18 months later in February 1998 aged 51.

Her family set up the foundation in her memory.

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