Famed soprano Celine Byrne told Sean O'Rourke how her mother-in-law passed away and her father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a new segment on Today with Sean O'Rourke called Lockdown Anthems, the singer, whose performances have won her huge critical acclaim from all across the world of opera, joined Sean to share hers - listen above.
She also shared that since the beginning of this pandemic, her father was diagnosed with cancer as was her mother in law. Her mother in law also contracted Covid-19 and just passed away earlier this week.
Grief-stricken but positive, Celine told Sean she is looking for the positive in everything.
She spoke movingly of how her mother in law lived with Celine and her family but she had not been able to see her for the last three weeks.
Thankfully, her husband did see her last week. She spoke of singing at a Novena in Newbridge yesterday, which was being shared on webcam and she passed away during that time.
"I was fortunate enough to be in the church when she passed away," she said. "I see the blessings in everything'.
"I'm the type of person who tries to drive people... I want to celebrate her life."
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Unaware of all this, Sean praised her for keeping her appointment with the programme and assured her that he did not want to be insensitive by speaking about her chosen song, which was Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.
Celine said that, speaking from her mother in law's bedroom: "We all have to look for the positive somewhere, we have to seek something that will get us through this'.
"I have my faith. You don't have to believe in God to believe in something," she added.
Listen to more from Today With Sean O'Rourke here.
