“SHE HAD SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO” — DEVASTATED FAMILY REMEMBERS DANIELLE O’KEANE, 37, AFTER TRAGIC CRASH FOLLOWING WESTLIFE CONCERT

The devoted mum-of-two had just enjoyed a rare night out with friends — with a family holiday to Mallorca only days away — when tragedy struck on the journey home.

What was meant to be a joyful night out watching Westlife perform in Dublin ended in unimaginable heartbreak for the family of Danielle O’Keane.

The 37-year-old mother-of-two from Saval, Newry, had travelled to Dublin with friends for Westlife’s concert at the 3Arena on Saturday, September 26.

After the show, Danielle and three friends travelled by rickshaw towards Dublin city centre to meet their husbands and partners.

But shortly after 11pm, tragedy struck on North Wall Quay.

The rickshaw hit a kerb or divider and overturned. Danielle suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was rushed to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, where she remained in intensive care.

She died five days later, on October 1, surrounded by her family.

“SHE WAS THE MOST ORGANised, LOVING, SELFLESS PERSON”

For Danielle’s loved ones, the devastating loss is almost impossible to comprehend.

Her sister-in-law Aisling O’Keane described Danielle as an incredibly loving and selfless person whose life revolved around her family.

“She was the most organised, loving, selfless person,” Aisling said, explaining that Danielle’s world centred on her husband and her children.

Danielle was the mother of two young boys, Caolán, five, and Cillian, two.

Her family had been looking forward to something special: their first family holiday together.

The bags had already been packed.

They were due to travel to Mallorca on October 5.

Instead, the family was left preparing to say goodbye to a mother who was only 37.

“THE BAGS WERE PACKED”

The heartbreaking detail has become one of the most painful reminders of how quickly life changed.

Danielle had sent a photograph of the packed suitcases to her sister-in-law shortly before the crash.

It was supposed to be a picture filled with excitement about the family’s upcoming holiday.

Instead, it became one of the final memories her loved ones have of her life before the tragedy.

Her brother-in-law Derek previously described Danielle as someone who was full of life, full of energy and had a heart of gold.

“WHERE IS MUMMY?”

Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of the family’s grief is being faced by Danielle’s two young sons.

Aisling revealed that the youngest child kept asking:

“Where is Mummy?”

The question captures the devastating reality facing a family that had expected Danielle to come home after a night at a concert.

Instead, her children are now growing up without their mother.

 A RARE NIGHT OUT

Danielle’s night at the Westlife concert was meant to be a rare opportunity to simply enjoy herself with friends.

Her sister-in-law said the four women had enjoyed the concert before getting into the rickshaw to travel towards the city centre.

The journey should have been the final part of an ordinary night out.

Instead, the accident changed everything.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate what happened and have appealed for witnesses and camera footage.

Road users who were in the North Wall Quay area between 10:30pm and 11:15pm on September 26 have been asked to provide any dashcam or other relevant footage.

 WESTLIFE REMEMBER DANIELLE

Days after Danielle’s death, Westlife paid a deeply emotional tribute to the woman who had attended their concert only days before.

During their performance in Newcastle, the band dedicated “You Raise Me Up” and “Flying Without Wings” to Danielle and others who had lost loved ones.

Shane Filan told the audience that the songs were being sung for Danielle and for everyone who had lost someone they loved.

For Danielle’s family, the tribute offered a poignant connection to the final happy night she had spent with her friends.

She had gone to the concert to make memories.

Now the songs she went to hear have become part of the memories her loved ones will carry of her.

REMEMBERING DANIELLE

Danielle’s death notice described her as the much-loved wife of Dave and dear mother of Caolán and Cillian.

She was also remembered as the beloved daughter of Michael and Pauline, sister to Barry and her twin Sean, and a much-loved member of a large family.

Friends have described her as an amazing woman who will be deeply missed.

And while the circumstances of the crash are still being investigated, those closest to Danielle are trying to hold onto something more important than the tragedy itself:

Who she was.

A loving wife.

A devoted mother.

A daughter.

A sister.

A friend.

A woman who had so much still to look forward to.

Danielle was only 37.

Her bags were packed for a family holiday.

Her children were waiting for their mum to come home.

And now, her family is left with memories of the woman they loved — and a lifetime of moments that should have been shared together.