Ronan Keating says he's 'struggling' after heartbreaking loss as he issues 'honest' update
Former Boyzone member Ronan Keating has admitted that he has yet to fully come to terms with his grief following the tragic loss of his brother, Ciaran.Ciaran, who was 57 at the time, lost his life when his Ford Focus collided with an Audi A3 just outside Swinford, County Mayo, in 2023.Ciaran and his wife, Annemarie—who also sustained injuries in the incident—had been en route to watch their son play football. The driver of the other car, Dean Harte, was given a suspended sentence in February 2025."What happened to Ciaran, the injustice, the heartbreak, the devastating impact it has—not just on Ciaran's siblings, but on his children, his grandchildren, his wife—the ripples, it's overwhelming," Ronan expressed at the time.Now, three years later, Ronan is launching a new TV series titled Wild Atlantic, which chronicles his personal journey in honour of Ciaran."It started as a celebration of the west coast of Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way—the cliffs, the beaches, the people," Ronan shared with Bella magazine."I spent many childhood summers there, so it already meant a lot to me."However, as filming progressed, Ronan realised that being back in the poignant landscape where his older brother had made his home reignited feelings he had never fully reconciled with.He added: "The journey became about understanding that decision—what drew him there, what he found there."It turned into a very emotional and beautiful exploration of his love for that part of Ireland."Ronan had not anticipated his journey to be so therapeutic, but said the process felt natural once it began.He confessed: "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."Following Ciaran's tragic passing, Ronan advocated for harsher penalties for drivers responsible for fatal road traffic accidents."We don't want to see some kid go to jail, whose life is going to be thrown away—we don't want that, that's not what we're looking for," he told RTÉ."What we're looking for is to make sure somebody else doesn't die because of carelessness. That someone else's family is not ripped apart."Ciaran's wife, Annemarie, who was seriously injured in the crash, battled severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and survivor's guilt, her son Conall disclosed in the same interview.Ronan also chose to include Ciaran's children in the filming of the new show:"That wasn't part of the original plan, but as we were filming it felt essential," he explained."I wanted his kids to have the space to talk about their dad—to see the places he loved and understand why he loved them. Losing a parent so suddenly is devastating. If this series can help them celebrate him and hold onto those connections, then that means everything to me."Episode 1 of Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic airs on BBC 2 Northern Ireland on Easter Monday at 6.30pm.
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