Westlife stars support Louis Walsh as his 'extraordinary' mum laid to rest
Louis Walsh's mother has been hailed as an 'extraordinary' woman, mourners at her funeral heard.
Maureen Walsh, 94, passed away on Monday (June 2), with her son Louis being known as the manager for pop acts such as Westlife and Boyzone, as well as a judge on The X Factor.
Acts who worked with Louis in the past, including Westlife's Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan, were in attendance for her funeral in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, as well as Eurovision winner Dana. Louis Walsh at the funeral of his mother Maureen. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Maureen's daughter Sara described her mum as an 'extraordinary' woman, telling mourners 'we celebrate all the 94 years of the extraordinary woman Maureen was and the incredible mark she left on us all.
'We had a great upbringing. We wanted for nothing. She pushed us to make the best of ourselves – she didn't do a bad job, I think,' she joked, while Maureen's son Frank said that she was the heart of their family's lives.
'We all loved her, respected her. She was a woman of great strength, loyalty and grace,' Frank said. 'Her life was not one of enormous gestures but countless small actions of goodness, kindness and love. She was hardworking, had great faith and found joy in the simple things.' Louis was joined by Westlife's Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne at the funeral of his mother. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Louis previously spoke about the closeness he had with his mother over the years, but revealed that his mother wanted him to go for a different vocation to his music managing career. Shane Filan and his wife Gillian console Louis Walsh at the funeral of his mother Maureen Walsh. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
'I absolutely hated school. My mother was hoping that her eldest boy would be a priest,' Louis told Nicky Byrne on his podcast. 'I came from a family of nine. They sent me to boarding school. Can I tell you how much I hated it?' Glenda Gilson at the funeral of Maureen Walsh. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Following Ms Walsh's requiem mass, her funeral cortege progressed to Kilkinure Cemetery for her burial. Kian Egan and his wife Jodi Albert console Louis Walsh at the funeral of his mother Maureen Walsh. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
She is pre-deceased by her husband Frank, daughter Catherine, parents Martin and Delia, brother Sean and son-in-law Pat O'Connor. She was the cherished mother of Evelyn (O'Connor), Louis, Paul, Frank, Eamon, Padraic, Joseph, Noel and Sara (Keogh).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Unconditional bail never felt so good': Barry Egan watches Kneecap celebrate freedom with hip-hop hymns for the Dublin faithful
There is only one band in the world with titles like that. And yet, on a long hot summer night, the atmosphere at Kneecap's sold-out show in Fairview Park on Thursday was as friendly and inclusive as any Westlife concert. There were kids with their shirts off playing basketball on the court outside the venue, as if they were in Brooklyn. Inside, fans were eating hipster burgers and chips or drinking pints of beer in the sunshine. But there were plenty of political statements around too. Many fans wore tricolour balaclavas and Ireland football jerseys or had Palestinian flags draped over their shoulders. One young man had a flag with the slogan 'From the river to the sea' on it. Another had a T-shirt with 'England get out of Ireland'. People were taking selfies beside a vehicle mocked up as a PSNI armoured Land Rover. On the wall beside it was the wording: 'More Blacks. More Dogs. More Irish. Mo Chara.' The most popular T-shirt of the night had the words 'Free Mo Chara' on it. At 8.50pm, the man the T-shirts were referring to bounded on stage to deafening applause and said: 'I'm a free man.' The 8,000-plus fans at the sold-out show were bouncing about inside the giant tent so vigorously that you could probably feel the vibrations all the way to Westminster Magistrates' Court, where last Wednesday the 27-year-old rapper (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) was granted unconditional bail after being charged with a terrorist charge. He is accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig last November. 'Unconditional bail never felt so good. I'm going to make the best of it,' he said. The crowd cheered and waved their Palestinian flags He was true to his word as he raced around the stage like a nationalist Mick Jagger in a shiny tracksuit. He was flanked by fellow rapper Móglaí Bap, with DJ Próvaí in his Tricolour balaclava behind them at the DJ console supplying the beats and some raps himself. Before they took to the stage there was a video screen with messages about Israeli genocide in Gaza, the 60,000 Gazans killed and the Irish Government allowing the US military to use Irish airports. ADVERTISEMENT The crowd cheered and waved their Palestinian flags and the show began with It's Been Ages — and Móglaí Bap showing off his bilingual lyrical dexterity: 'Oh it's been ages/since we made the front pages/Sin deireadh linn ár hiatus/Back to annoy c**ts that hate us.' The feel-good hip-hop had everyone under the big tent dancing like they were having the time of their lives. The feeling was reciprocated by the energetic three men in tracksuits and runners on stage. Next up was Fenian C**ts. Once you get past the title, it's a hip-hop hymn to the beauty of Protestants and Catholics in the North... ahem, getting it on. It had 8,000 people dancing and singing along to the tale of a latter-day Romeo and Juliet in Belfast, with an unhappy ending. Móglaí Bap raps about hooking up with a young woman who's as beautiful, he says, as the mythical Niamh Cinn Óir, the golden-haired lover of Oisín, son of Fionn MacCumhail. It might sound overblown, but it's fun. As pop critic Miranda Sawyer wrote last year: 'Like Eminem, Kneecap's humour is the key to their success.' Another song, the club-friendly banger Parful, is about young Catholics and Protestants dancing with each other in the North's clubs on a Saturday night. As Mo Chara rapped in Fairview: 'These young people have lived their entire lives in a society poisoned by sectarian hatred/Rave brings Protestants and Catholics together…' On Rhino Ket, they sing about the effects of coming home after a night on the tiles in their beloved Belfast, taking the drugs of the song title. 'Can't sit, can't think, can barely even walk,' raps Mo Chara. 'Dunno how the f**k we'll make it back to the Falls,' answers Móglaí Bap. We don't discriminate in who we piss off On another song about the joys of drugs, Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite, Mo Chara raps: 'I swear I haven't got any gear Mr Garda.' I was curious about the reaction to that one from any members of An Garda Síochána present at the concert. I spent a memorable few hours with the group at a hotel in Newry in 2021. On that occasion, they arrived late because their car broke down on the way from Belfast. When they walked in, a little sheepishly, Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap from West Belfast and DJ Próvaí from Creggan in Derry ordered flat whites, cappuccinos, herbal teas. Their only rock'n'roll behaviour was when DJ Próvaí, who wears a tricolour balaclava when he performs onstage, reached into his trousers, took his trademark headgear out of his underpants and threw it to me. (I still have it.) The Guardian recently described Kneecap as being post-Good Friday Agreement bad boys, taking out every old authority figure without fear. They quoted them saying: 'We don't discriminate in who we piss off.' And on Thursday night in Fairview, it would appear so. The Recap, their new single, is released tomorrow (though a bootleg version has been doing the rounds on SoundCloud for a while now) and it was one of the standout songs of the night. The track was inspired by UK Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch. Lest we forget, Kneecap won a court case last November against Badenoch after she had blocked an arts grant being awarded to the band, citing their politics as being anti-British. For two hours on Thursday, Kneecap were a blur of energy as they dared and prodded the audience to keep up with their exuberance — it's powerful, innovative, exciting and fun music. They sliced and diced their lyrics between English and Irish in their songs and the crowd lapped up every word. In short, it was a great show, all 17 songs of it. Yes, they're gobby, and yes, they're controversial. And yes, you probably won't like all — or any — of their songs, which are deliberately provocative. But as they say themselves, they are simply holding up a mirror to society. I think there is a huge sense of pride in Ireland for what Kneecap stand for The biggest cheer of the night came after they shuffled off and then returned to encore with Get Your Brits Out and Hood. The latter is about... well, as Mo Chara raps 'Low-life scum — that's what they say about me', while the former is about a made-up drug-fuelled night on the town with the grandees of the Democratic Unionist Party. They rap, with 8,000 people joining in: 'Arlene's throwing shapes/half a yoke nearly killed her/Jeffrey Donaldson's lost all his filters.' After the show, I spoke to Kneecap's manager, Daniel Lambert, who is also chief operating officer of Bohemians Football Club. 'It was a phenomenal night,' he said. 'The atmosphere was unbelievable. I have never felt noise like it coming off a stage. I think there is a huge sense of pride in Ireland for what Kneecap stand for — and that they are going around the world and bringing such a positive portrayal of Ireland. 'Kneecap deliver such positive messages. I think that they're a really important act at the moment — and we should also remember what Fontaines DC are doing, what the Mary Wallopers are doing, what Lankum are doing, what CMAT is doing, what Gurriers are doing, what Murder Capital are doing. 'What they're all doing around the world is great — going out there and bringing amazing music to people, but also a message of solidarity and empathy with Palestine, which is so important right now. 'I think Kneecap can forever hold their heads up high and know they've done — and are doing — something really special. I am really proud of them.'
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Kerry Katona's new boyfriend has got a GIRLFRIEND who accuses him of ‘dating TV star for fame'
KERRY Katona's new boyfriend has got a GIRLFRIEND who has made some accusations about him. Kerry's 6 Kerry Katona recently went public with her new man Credit: Getty 6 Kerry is dating Paolo Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Jessica claims she was Paolo's girlfriend at the same time he was on Celebs Go Dating Credit: Instagram / @jessicafayesmith_ A woman has claimed she was dating Paolo, 33, before he went on Celebs Go Dating, which is where he met Kerry, 44. The new couple went public last week, with fans stunned by the new pairing as their age gap of 10 years was unveiled. Jessica Smith, 25, has now said that Paolo is her boyfriend, and claims he never told her about going on the hit series. She claims the father-of-two only went on the show because he wants to further his career. Read More about Kerry Katona Jessica, who is a warehouse manager from Yorkshire, has now opened up in a new interview. She told "I do not believe that he has one single feeling for Kerry, he only cares about fame, and he'll be happy he's now being put out there." Jessica said she is a 100% sure that he didn't go on Celebs Go Dating to find love. Most read in Reality "He lied to me the entire time we were together. It was horrendous," she said. Jessica told the paper how she was taken by surprise by his Celebs Go Dating stint and new relationship with Kerry. Kerry Katona shows off two stone weight loss in low cut minidress She alleges that Paolo told her that he was going to business meetings in London when he was actually filming the reality-dating show. "Every single thing was an act. I feel like I was completely led the entire time," Jessica told the paper. Paolo also allegedly told Jessica that he told her he had filmed for a dating show "a long time ago". "He told me that 'it's nothing to do with love and it's only for the fame'," she recalled him saying. Kerry Katona's love life timeline Kerry's first high-profile relationship was with Brian McFadden, who was then a member of the Irish boyband Westlife. The couple married in 2002 and had two daughters together, Molly and Lilly-Sue, but divorce beckoned just four years later after infidelity claims. In 2007, Kerry married Mark Croft, a former taxi driver. Their relationship was tumultuous and marked by financial difficulties and accusations of infidelity. They had two children together, Heidi and Maxwell, before divorcing in 2011. Kerry has spoken openly about the difficulties she faced during this period, including struggles with her mental health and substance abuse. Following this, she entered into a relationship with George Kay, a former professional rugby league player. They married in 2014 and had a daughter, Dylan-Jorge (DJ). However, their relationship was fraught with issues, including horrifying domestic abuse, and they separated in 2017. Kay died in 2019 after 'biting into a ball of cocaine'. Kerry later found love again with Ryan Mahoney, a fitness trainer. The couple became engaged in 2020, and Kerry described Ryan as a stabilising and positive influence in her life. After increasing speculation late in 2024, Kerry revealed they had split over a "breach in trust" and Ryan had moved out of her home. He is also alleged to have told her: "I promise you, everyone goes on the show for fame and I'm just doing the same'." Jessica and Paolo started their relationship after he randomly messaged her on Instagram, with their bond blooming after several dates. While Paolo was on the dating show, he allegedly sent Jessica, who he told he wanted to marry, loved up messages. During the filming of the show in April and May, Paolo continued to send Jessica lovey-dovey texts, despite seemingly forming a bond with Kerry. Jessica said he eventually admitted to filming the programme. Speaking to the paper, she revealed: "I asked him, do you expect me to sit at home and watch this and still be with you and he replied: 'I hope you will do that but it's completely down to you.' "I hysterically cried all day at work, everything was a lie." 6 Jessica has said she was shocked to learn of Paolo's reality telly stint and new romance Credit: Instagram / @jessicafayesmith_ 6 Paolo has kids from a previous relationship Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 Kerry met Paolo on the hit series Credit: Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Eurovision star considered taking his own life after song contest
Former Eurovision star Joe McCaul has revealed he considered taking his own life after the song contest. Joe was part of brother and sister duo, Donna and Joe McCaul, who represented Ireland at the Eurovision in 2005 in Ukraine with their song Love while Joe was still just 17. After failing to qualify, Joe revealed he faced months of ridicule and only got a holiday to Crete out of it. Speaking to Brenda Dennehy on The Comeback podcast, he said: 'I remember when we didn't get in, the devastating effect that had on me. "I went back to my room, I was only 17, and I struggled very hard because that was more shame, more embarrassment, more rejection. Everyone was going out, and they (Donna and the crew) went to the finals on Saturday night, I didn't go, I just stayed in my hotel room.' He said when he returned to Ireland, he was ridiculed regularly. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week 'I think over the years, I was nearly taken advantage of. I was made an eejit out of by people, people in the media. That was hard because I was saying, 'Where is my self-worth, why can't I be assertive?' 'I found it very hard to be assertive because I didn't like conflict, and then because I didn't like conflict, if I reacted a certain way, some people would say 'Oh that was very aggressive'. So I couldn't even stand up for myself.' Joe said he thought they'd be 'millionaires' but all he got after Eurovision was 'a holiday in Crete'. 'I thought we were going to be millionaires. I thought I was going to be able to buy my mother out of the council estate. I got a holiday to Crete, that's what I got.' Joe is the youngest of six siblings and his mother raised them on her own. 'My dad, unfortunately, passed away a couple of years ago, but I had no kind of relationship with him. Alcoholism, unfortunately, took over his life and then he moved to London.' Joe said when a media outlet discovered his father's issue with drink it caused massive stress on the family. 'Once or twice I thought of taking my own life.' He said he had suffered recurrent intrusive thoughts about suicide from an early age. 'The intensity of it then would probably get a little more if I was under any increased stress or anything significant was happening in my life or something bad was happening… I was always terrified of the thought… I would always be going, 'f**k, I need to see a psychiatrist'.' After a stint on X Factor in 2015, where Simon Cowell called him an 'awful performer', Joe suffered at the hands of social media trolls again. 'And then there was the shame, the embarrassment, the rejection, and I just wanted it to be over there. 'The s**t that was put online, I remember my friends used to be sending them to me and the horrible stuff that people were saying. I used to have to say 'please do not send me this, I don't want to be looking at it'.' Joe revealed in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the end of 2013. 'I literally just lost the plot then. I think I went on a self-destruct button that was hit. I went off the rails for months.' He said he was on medication that didn't suit him at the time but has since changed medication and is currently symptom free and in remission. 'Fitness, running, doing kind of high-intensity interval based kind of training has been my saviour. Not just for my physical health because that's quite good but for my mental health, which is an ongoing struggle that some days I'm really, really shit. 'But I have really good coping tools and I have a really solid support group around me,' he added.
