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Ronan Keating sings tribute to brother at his funeral mass

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.
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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
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Former Ireland rugby player Shane Byrne (right) attended

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Keith Duffy’s tribute to Ciaran Keating

More on Republic Of Ireland

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.

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 (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

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

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 cchurch after the funeral of his brother Ciaran Keating

Her family set up the foundation in her memory.

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