Ronan Keating opens up about death of older brother during meet-up with nephew in Cork

The former Boyzone member and singer-songwriter became upset when discussing the death of his brother during filming for a new documentary taking him around Ireland

Ronan Keating and his nephew Ruari meet in West Cork to film for Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic. Picture: Screengrab from BBC video/BBC.

Ronan Keating has opened up about his brother Ciarán Keating's tragic death in a preview clip from his BBC series Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic.

The former Boyzone member and singer-songwriter was visibly upset in a preview clip from the documentary, which sees Keating take audiences on a journey to a place that he loves: the Wild Atlantic Coast of Ireland.

Joined by his nephew Ruairí Keating in West Cork, the pair shared a coffee at the Beara Necessities café in Eyeries, where Keating opened up about his greatest regret following the death of his brother, Ciarán.

Ciarán tragically died in a road accident in 2023 while travelling to watch his son play football, leaving his wife Annemarie with serious injuries.

The clip from the documentary, which has been widely shared on social media, shows Keating becoming upset when talking with his nephew about his brother’s passing.

“I never get to say it, but I was the baby. He was my eldest brother. And he was my hero,” Keating said, holding back tears.

Ronan Keating broke down in tears on his new BBC show Wild Atlantic as he opened up about the death of his older brother Ciaran.

Ciaran, 57, was killed in a car crash in Co Mayo in July 2023 while driving with his wife to watch their son play football.

Speaking to his nephew… pic.twitter.com/HZxGJ6v5D9

— G R I F T Y (@GriftReport) April 6, 2026

"I always looked up to him, you know. And 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.” 

“It’s very hard,” he continued before he and his nephew embraced each other.

“I'm sorry, I don’t want to get upset,” he said.

Ruairí Keating, a striker for Cork City FC who returned to the club in 2024, was seen agreeing with his uncle in the clip, briefly saying: “It's really hard.” 

Keating also showed audiences his competitive spirit while in West Cork, trying the unique sport of road bowling for the first time.

Late last year, the BBC announced that Keating would present Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic, giving audiences an insight into his childhood and family life while visiting Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, and Derry.