Daithí O'Sé opens up about the heartache of losing his father: 'It definitely sticks with me'

Daithí O’Sé has opened up about one of the hardest moments of his life – when his father passed away in his arms and he had to tell his mother the heartbreaking news.

The RTÉ star’s father, Maidhc, lost his life from a heart attack back in August 2013, and he recalls the moments following losing his beloved father saying that, “It definitely sticks with me”.

“I really tried to shake him, to wake him up, but he was literally drawing his last breath, and that was it,” he said.

Heartache: Daithí opens up on tough time following his father’s death | VIPIRELAND.COM

“I remember looking at my mother’s face and telling her he’d gone. The silence was deafening, and that was the  hardest thing having to tell her that,” he told VIP Magazine.

The Rose of Tralee host welcomed his first son, Michael, with his wife Rita just months after his father’s death and in tribute to Maidhc, he named his baby boy after him.

Although Daithí’s son never got to meet his grandfather, he believes they passed by each other as one departed and one was welcomed into the world.

Tribute: Daithí named his son after his father with wife Rita | VIPIRELAND.COM

“I often think about that – it’s such a put that they never got to meet, but I do  believe there was some kind of rival handshake between them, as one departed, the other fella was on his way in.

“I remember when Michael was very young and my mother was minding him, and I heard her telling him about how she met his grandfather in Chicago, and Jesus, the tears ran down my face,” he recalled.

Daithí reveals that as his son grows, he wants to teach him things that his father taught him before he gets too old.

Life lessons: Daithí wants to teach his son valuable life lessons he learnt from his dad | VIPIRELAND.COM

“My father was 71 when he passed away and he worked very hard, but he enjoyed life as well.”

“I’d urge my son to get that work/life balance thing correct at an early age. I’m 39 and I’m trying to get that at the moment.

“Life goes by so quickly, and Michael is 20-months-old now, and you do think, ‘Good God, where did that go?,” he added.