Ronan Keating Breaks Down Over Brother's Death in Emotional BBC Show Clip
The One Show presenter Ronan Keating struggled to hold back tears during a first-look clip from his new BBC series, Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic. In a deeply moving segment, Keating opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his older brother, Ciarán Keating, who died in a car accident in 2023.
Heartfelt Regret and Grief Revealed
Appearing alongside his nephew Ruairí Keating, Ronan shared his profound regret following Ciarán's tragic death. Ciarán was killed while travelling to watch his son play football, with his wife Annemarie suffering serious injuries in the collision.
"I never get to say it but...I was the baby," Ronan said through tears. "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." The emotional moment saw Ronan reaching out to comfort his nephew, saying, "It is very hard. I am sorry, I am sorry, I don't want to get upset."
Processing Grief Through Documentary Journey
In another clip, Ronan discussed how he has struggled to process his emotions since the tragedy. "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 confessed.
Ronan explained that his journey filming Wild Atlantic represents an attempt to understand his brother's life choices better. "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."
Nephew Ruairí Shares His Own Emotional Struggle
Ruairí Keating, Ciarán's son, also spoke about how he continues to feel his father's absence, particularly in relation to football. "It's the same for me playing football too. I always look up and still think I can see him there," he said.
"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." Ruairí added, "I know he can see me, and I know he's watching."
Ronan offered words of comfort to his nephew, saying, "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."
Broadcast Details and Emotional Impact
The emotional preview offers a raw glimpse into the personal grief that has inspired Ronan Keating's new documentary series. Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic airs on BBC Two at 6.30pm on Monday, promising viewers an intimate exploration of family, loss, and the Irish landscape that held special meaning for his late brother.
