Ronan Keating has performed an emotional rendition of his song This Is Your Song at his brother’s funeral, before helping to carry him to his final resting place.
The 46-year-old singer returned to his native Ireland after hearing that his older brother Ciaran had died in a tragic car crash at the age of 57.
Ronan and his wife Storm were among many grieving family and friends who congregated at St Patrick’s Church in Louisburgh, County Mayo, to pay their respects to Ciaran in an emotional funeral service.
After helping to carry his brother’s coffin into the church, Ronan sang This Is Your Song during the mass after telling mourners, “I shouldn’t be singing it in these circumstances but we are and we will.”
The Irish singer said the ballad was written after their mother, Marie, died of cancer in 1998, with the touching song including the lyrics, “You were our friend, walk with you till the end, and one day we’ll all sing along, ’cause this is your song.”
To hear Ronan’s emotional performance, click here.
During the ceremony, Ronan paid a tearful tribute to Ciaran’s three children – Conall, Ruairi and Aisling – and said they had made their father “very proud”.
He told the congregation, “As a parent all you want to do is raise your children as best you can, Ciaran and Annemarie have done a spectacular job – three incredible human beings. Your strength over the past few days has been incredible and you’ve done your dad very proud.”
Ciaran, who has been described as a “hero” by his grieving family, died in a car crash in the rural county while he was travelling with his wife Annemarie to watch their 28-year-old son Ruairà play football.
Image credits: Getty Images
