Ronan Keating admits he is having ‘the hardest time’ and finding the death of his brother Ciarán ‘difficult to make sense of’ in heartbreaking update five weeks after tragic car accident

Ronan Keating took to Instagram on Friday to share a heartbreaking life update while on a family vacation in South Africa.

The pop star, 46, admitted he is having “the hardest time” and finds the death of his late brother Ciarán five weeks ago “difficult to understand”.

Ciarán, Ronan’s older brother, died on Saturday, July 15 at the age of 57 in a car accident in County Mayo, Ireland.

Alongside photos of his wife Storm, 41, and their family, Ronan wrote: “Hello everyone. I just wanted to thank you for the love and respect you have shown my family over the past 5 weeks.

“It’s been the hardest time for all of us, and everyone is now trying to live a life without our brother (very hard to even type that).

Thank you for all of your support and also for respecting our privacy at this time.

‘There is no more suitable place to heal than in South Africa surrounded by mother nature and wonderful people and our little bundles of joy Cooper and Coco, have kept us going at all times. Thank you God.

‘Back to work for me in another part of the world that I love now… it all seems rather difficult to understand, but I’m doing my best. Take care of each other and Storm, myself and all my family, thank you.’

It comes nearly three weeks after Ronan held back tears as he dedicated one of his greatest hits to his late brother.

The devastated Boyzone star performed his first live show since the tragedy at Uptown Festival, along with Magic Radio, on South London’s Blackheath Common.

Beset by heavy rain one night, Ronan admitted that he was unsure if he would be able to fulfill his performance at the event due to the tragedy and subsequent burial of his brother on July 20.

He told fans, “The rain has finally stopped. For me it’s usually the other way around when I do these kinds of festivals, as soon as I walk on stage the heavens open, but I got lucky tonight – someone is looking after me.

“I didn’t know if I’d be here tonight or not, it’s been quite a time for our family so thank you so much for the warm welcome and I hope we get through this together – this will be a special one.”

The singer was visibly emotional as he opened up with a live performance of his 2002 number one single, If Tomorrow Never Comes, a song originally released by country star Garth Brooks.

The song’s poignant lyrics, which address a father’s love for his daughter, reflect on poignant lyrics including “I’ve lost love ones in my life/Who never knew how much I loved them/Living now I regret/That my true feelings for them are never revealed.’

Ronan was supported by his wife Storm at his brother’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Church in Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland on Thursday, July 20.

Ciarán was on his way to watch his son, Ruairí Keating, play for Cork City FC against Sligo Rovers FC when he was involved in a collision with two other vehicles.

The father-of-three, from Louisburgh, suffered fatal injuries while traveling with his wife Anne Marie on the N5 near Swinford, County Mayo, on a stretch of road known as an accident black spot. His wife was injured in the accident.

The driver of the other vehicle was to be treated for serious injuries, while Ann Marie, a high school teacher, was treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening at Mayo University Hospital.

At the funeral this month, Ronan performed a heartbreaking rendition of This Is Your Song as a moving tribute to his brother.

He told the mourners during the service, “I shouldn’t be singing it in these circumstances, but we are doing it and we will.”

The Irish singer said the ballad was written after their mother, Marie, died of cancer in 1998.

The touching song features the lyrics, “You were our friend, walk with you to the end, and one day we’ll all sing along, because this is your song.”

Ronan appeared overcome with emotion as he carried Ciaran’s coffin into the church along with his family while wearing a black suit and dark glasses.

Before singing, Ronan tearfully paid tribute to Ciaran’s three children – Conall, Ruairi and Aisling – saying they had made their father “very proud.”

He told mourners, “As a parent, all you want is to raise your children the best you can. Ciaran and Annemarie did a fantastic job – three incredible people.

“Your strength these past few days has been incredible and you have made your father very proud.”

Ronan’s wife Storm shared a message of grief on her Instagram on Saturday following the tragic death of his brother Ciarán.

In her first social media post since his passing, Storm shared an emotional quote that read, “And she’d be lying if she said sometimes she didn’t think about the moments that could have been and the memories that should have been. .’

Captioning the quote, she wrote “Grief” as she tried to process her feelings during this difficult time.

Storm was pictured last week comforting her husband, 46, at his brother’s funeral. She held Ronan tight outside St. Patrick’s Church in Louisburgh, County Mayo.

Ronan is said to have rushed to Ireland to be with his family after the tragedy.

He is the youngest of five children with a sister, Linda, and three brothers – Ciarán, Gerard and Gary.

Their father Gerry was a truck driver and his mother Marie was a hairdresser.

Ronan rose to prominence in the 1990s as a member of the Irish boy band Boyzone.

He later enjoyed a successful music career and hosted radio and TV programmes.