In a deeply moving interview, singer-songwriter Christy Moore has spoken of how losing his father at the age of 11 has impacted on his life.
Moore was the inaugural guest on Ruairí McKiernan's Love and Courage podcast, and told the host that becoming a parent himself gave him a deeper understanding of losing his own father.
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"I was driving down the road one day and my eleven-year-old son was in the back seat of the car," he recounted.
"And I looked in the mirror and I saw him and suddenly it dawned on me the effect it would have on him now, at this moment, if he was told what I was told when I was 11. And it really hit home. That thing hit home to me that day, even though it was many, many years on."
Moore described the loss as "a shocking experience".
"It affected us all in different ways, and I believe all six of us are still affected by it, you know, by the impact that had on our lives," he continued.
The 73-year-old said seeing his mother raising six children as a lone parent brought home to him the need to help people going through the worst of times.
"I was blessed to grow up in a strong family environment," he recounted.
"And even though we lost our daddy when I was 11 and the eldest of six and the family was shattered by that, we still grew up in a loving, caring environment, you know. And, unfortunately, not everybody has that privilege."
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