Ronan Keating has returned to Ireland to support his family following the tragic death of his older brother, Ciaran, who died following a car crash on Saturday.
The 46-year-old Boyzone star is the youngest of five siblings, is a father himself, and has a number of nieces and nephews.
The star grew up with his family in Bayside, Dublin, before he fled the nest to conquer the charts while still a teenager.
Following the tragic death of his brother, who was in his 50s, Ronan is said to be “trying to stay strong for the sake of his family” as he helps make arrangements after Ciaran’s tragic death. Here is a closer look at the Keating family.
Beloved parents
Ronan is the son of former lorry driver Gerry Keating and his late wife Marie.
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The family were heartbroken in 1998 when Marie lost her life at the age of 51, after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
Ronan Keating’s brother Ciaran was tragically killed in a car crash (instagram.com/rokeating)Speaking fondly of his mother last year, Ronan shared his heartache at the fact his mother never got the chance to meet her grandchildren.
He said: "She never got to meet her grandchildren [apart from his older nephews], she's got so many incredible grandchildren.
"It's heartbreaking that she never got to meet them. I wonder about the conversation I'd have with my mum today, about my children, about my life.
"So many things in the 24 years that I've been through and I've done that I'd love to share with mum."
After losing a parent when he was at the young age of 22 himself, Ronan has appreciated that his dad, Gerry, took on the challenge of raising his five children solo.
Praising his father in a social media post in 2020, he said: "The boss is 80 today. Happy Birthday Dad. Thank you Dad for marrying Mam and allowing us all to come into this world.
"Without you we would all not be here and our children would not be here and their kids too. What a lineage. We are one great big happy crazy family. All families are a little crazy we all go through ups and downs.
"We have each other. Losing Mam so young has had devastating effects on us all but we are strong as a unit.
"Dad you are a rock, yes a rock that sometimes rolls and at times a piece comes off but don’t all rocks eventually? You are still you. You don’t understand a lot of the world we live in now but that’s part of your charm.
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"Dad Thank you. I love you. We all love you. You are our Dad. Happy 80th young man.”
Youngest of five
Ronan has one sister and three brothers – with the chart topping star being the baby of the family.
His sister Linda, born in 1967, is the Director of Fundraising at the Marie Keating Foundation, which was established following Marie’s death and is a charity that offers information and support about cancer to the people of Ireland.
Highlighting the need for people to track their own health, Linda said: "Our mam died because she was too afraid to go to the doctor and get checked.
Ronan is one of five siblings (instagram.com/rokeating)"The form of cancer she died from is one of the most curable forms which makes her death even more senseless.
"It continues to be an enormous comfort to me to work hard to ensure that other people, both men and women, are aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and the simple steps that they can take to help prevent it.
"The more we all know about cancer, the less frightened we have to be and the more lives we can save."
Ronan’s brother Gary Keating, born in 1975, is managing director of an events and PR company and is also heavily involved in fundraising for the charity set up in their mother’s name.
He recently took part in an event where participants travelled 100 kilometres over 30 days, raising cash to help fund Breast Cancer Services.
He also worked as Ronan’s assistant – with the Boyzone star praising him in his autobiography, Life Is A Rollercoaster, writing: "Gar is my personal assistant at home and the fact he is my brother is such a comfort to me. The biggest problem in life is finding people I can trust. Because I’m constantly on the move and away from home most of the time, Gar is the man who takes care of business."
While Gerard Keating, born in 1971, works as a stockbroker and Ronan has described him as 'the brain' of his family.
He said: "He thinks everything through. He’s conservative, but he can be a real party man at times."
With Ciaran born in 1966, he was the eldest of the siblings and tragically died following a car crash on Saturday.
The car salesman had been driving with his wife to watch their 27-year-old Cork City footballer son Ruairi play in a League of Ireland match with Sligo Rovers.
The fatal car accident occurred at around 3.55pm with Ciaran suffering fatal injuries in the collision on the N5 at Ballymiles on a stretch of road known as an accident black-spot.
Ann Marie was taken to Mayo University Hospital to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries while the male driver of the second vehicle is understood to be receiving treatment for serious injuries. A male passenger in the second vehicle was hospitalised.
Proud father and grandfather
As well as being one of five siblings, and an uncle to the children of his brothers and sister, Ronan is a proud father himself – with five kids of his own.
The singer has three children with ex-wife Yvonne Connolly, who he was married to for 14 years until 2015.
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Love Island star Jack surprised fans as he announced the news of his totTheir eldest son, Jack, is 24 and was a contestant on Love Island in 2022, who also became a first-time dad in March this year.
While Ronan and Yvonne also have two daughters; 22-year-old Missy and 17-year-old Ali.
Ronan also has two children with his second wife, model and TV producer Storm Keating. The pair share five-year-old son Cooper, and two-year-old Coco Knox.
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