Brendan family secret agony
Mrs Brown’s Boys star tells of pain at family loss
THE sister of Mrs Brown’s Boys stars Brendan and Eilish O’carroll died in Canada last month.
Opening up about their family loss to the Irish Mirror, Eilish told how her comedian brother made it in time to have a last laugh with Fiona – “his second mammy”.
The former Dancing With The Stars contestant, who plays Winnie Mcgoogan in the hit show, said: “An awful lot had to be halted for me [recently].
“Sadly my sister took very ill and passed away in Canada on March 3.
“I had been out there with her for Christmas but we didn’t manage to get out until the day after she died.”
However, she told of her joy that Brendan managed to make it in time to say his goodbyes, flying in from his home in Orlando, Florida.
Eilish added: “He was there to see her and got her talking and laughing and singing and I knew she was hanging on for him.
“They were very close, she was like a second mammy. Very much so. For her I know it was her wish to see him and she did and that was lovely.”
The Dubliner said it was a blessing the tight-knit family were finished filming All Round To Mrs Brown’s and therefore able to spend time mourning their loss together.
The 68-year-old added“we got to stay there for a couple of weeks. And then we flew back here and we flew into lockdown actually.
“None of this had happened when we flew out but we flew back in on March 16 and we were straight into isolation because we had been on a long-distance flight and it has been the same ever since.”
Thankful for having had the time to be with her sister, she said: “Fortunately we weren’t scheduled to work. We’d already finished All Round To Mrs Brown’s in February so I had the time that I could actually go out and be with her and spend some time with her family.
“So that was a blessing and I’m looking forward to the tour that will hopefully start in June but who knows? I’m still in my head going, ‘Yeah, June it will all be over and we will be back to normal’.”
Despite her loss and the scary situation she returned to, Eilish revealed she feels extra fortunate and comforted to be able to lift spirits during this time of crisis.
She said: “Comedy tends to thrive in times like this, like in the last recession comedy took off.
“When people’s backs are against the wall and they don’t know what the future holds for them, humour tends to be the only thing that lifts them and provides a bit of respite.
“And thank God, I mean I am so privileged to be involved in that.”
And as All Round To Mrs Brown’s continues to provide comedy relief every Saturday night, she admitted she has become one of the biggest fans tuning in from home.
She said: “I sit down and watch it because it gives me a laugh.”
Brendan was there to see her. She was hanging on for him
EILISH O’CARROLL DUBLIN YESTERDAY