TV Alan’s heartbreak for Greek fire widow Zoe
Star’s tribute to irish victim of greek fires
TV3 host Alan Hughes has said his “heart is breaking” for his pal Zoe Holohan after her husband Brian O’callaghan-westropp was killed in the Greek fires.
The Ireland AM presenter and his husband Karl Broderick are close friends with the couple and attended their wedding last Thursday.
Zoe and Brian O’callaghanwestropp, 46, got married at Clonabreaney House in Co Meath and flew out to Greece for their honeymoon.
In an emotional post on his Facebook page, Alan described Brian as “a gentleman” as he opened up about his shock at the tragedy.
He added: “It felt odd to take to social media up to now, but it feels equally odd not to acknowledge and pay tribute to our lovely friend Zoe and her lovely husband Brian, who [tragically] lost his life in Greece.
“A friendly, warm guy, ready with open arms for a bear hug, he was a gentleman. We can’t believe it was this day last week we shared in their beautiful wedding.
“Our hearts are breaking for Zoe, whos such a beautiful person… and indeed Brian’s mother, their family and friends... alan and Karl xxx.”
And yesterday it emerged Brian’s death is yet another tragedy for his family as his only brother Colin died in a motorbike accident in 1997.
His heartbroken mother Rosemarie, who also lost her husband when the boys were young, has flown out to Greece to bring her son’s remains home.
Colin worked with Fr Shay Casey as part of the chaplaincy team at Athlone Institute of Technology at the time of his death.
The cleric told RTE’S Morning Ireland: “They’d only two boys in the family and Rosemarie, who lived in Killaloe, Co Clare.
“Rosemarie is his mum and she is well used to tragedy.
“Her husband died when the boys were quite young and she brought them up very well.
“Colin was tragically killed as well, in a motorbike accident coming back up to the house here in March 1997.
“They were lovely lads, very caring and they were lads – great fun. I’ve got to know the whole family, I knew them before that as Colin was living here and he used to stay with my family a lot.
“Colin was only 21 when he died and it was tragic at that time.”
Fr Casey told how the brothers were selfless characters and were reared to be “generous souls” by their caring mother.
He added: “All the family were terribly outgoing and full of life, enthusiastic for life and really took it by the scruff of the neck. They done everything with a full heart and just got on with it and saw the needs of the people around them.
“Definitely, if he [Brian] saw someone in need, he wouldn’t be slow to help them.
“A generous soul, that’s just how they were reared, that’s the way Rosemarie would’ve wanted them to be.”
Fr Casey added Rosemarie planned to travel to Greece to identify the body and bring him back to be buried in Killaloe.
Brian and Zoe were honeymooning in the coastal resort of Mati, near Athens, when they were caught up in the horror wildfires that have killed at least 81 and injured nearly 200.
Marketing executive Zoe, who is in her 40s, remains in hospital with burn injuries to her head and hands.
Her brothers have flown out to be by her side as she recovers.
The number for the Irish Embassy in Athens is +30 210 723 2771 and the Foreign Department is +353 1 408 2000.