“I’D GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE HER SMILE AGAIN”: HUSBAND’S HEARTBREAKING FAREWELL TO DANIELLE O’KEANE

The 37-year-old mother of two was remembered as an “angel on earth” at her funeral after she died from injuries sustained in a rickshaw incident following a Westlife concert in Dublin.

A husband’s emotional farewell has captured the depth of grief surrounding the death of Danielle O’Keane, a beloved wife and mother whose sudden passing has devastated her family and community.

Danielle, 37, from Newry, County Down, died on October 1, 2026, after spending several days in intensive care following an incident near Dublin’s 3Arena. She had been returning from a Westlife concert with friends when the tragedy occurred.

On Friday, October 9, family members, friends and mourners gathered at St Joseph’s Church in Sheeptown, County Down, to say goodbye to a woman remembered for her warmth, kindness and love of family.

“AN ANGEL ON EARTH”

During his emotional eulogy, Danielle’s husband, Dave, struggled to describe what his wife had meant to him.

He recalled how they had built a life together in just seven and a half years, welcoming their two sons, Caolan and Cillian, buying a home and getting married.

They had often wished they had met earlier in life because even a lifetime together never seemed like enough.

“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, both inside and out,” Dave said, describing her as selfless, kind and blessed with a smile that could brighten any room.

He explained that he had spent so much of their time together trying to make her smile.

“I’d give absolutely anything to hear that laugh or see that smile again,” he said.

His words offered a deeply personal glimpse into the relationship they shared — and the future he now has to face without his best friend.

HER FAMILY WAS HER WORLD

Dave remembered Danielle as a devoted mother and wife whose greatest happiness came from her family.

She was always thinking about their next adventure, looking forward to the experiences they would share and the memories they would create with their boys.

Now, those ordinary plans have become some of the most painful reminders of what has been lost.

“I’ve never felt pain like this,” Dave said, describing how lost and alone he felt without her.

Yet he also spoke about the two children who give him a reason to keep going.

When he looks at Caolan and Cillian, he sees the family Danielle loved so deeply — and the reason he must find the strength to face each new day.

A NIGHT OUT THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

Danielle had attended Westlife’s concert at Dublin’s 3Arena on September 26 with three friends.

After the show, the group reportedly travelled by motorised rickshaw towards the city centre to meet their partners.

According to published reports, the rickshaw struck a divider and overturned. Danielle fell into the path of an oncoming car and sustained catastrophic injuries.

She was taken to the Mater Hospital, where she remained in intensive care before dying five days later.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain a matter for the authorities, and responsibility should not be assumed before the relevant investigation has established the facts.

WESTLIFE’S MOVING TRIBUTE

The loss also touched the band whose concert Danielle had been attending.

During a performance in Newcastle, Westlife dedicated “Flying Without Wings” and “You Raise Me Up” to Danielle and others grieving the loss of someone they loved.

Band member Nicky Byrne asked the audience to sing “Flying Without Wings” for Danielle and her family.

Shane Filan also dedicated “You Raise Me Up” to those mourning loved ones.

The tribute brought another moment of remembrance for the Newry mother whose evening of music and friendship ended in tragedy.

A COMMUNITY REMEMBERS A MUCH-LOVED MOTHER

At Danielle’s funeral, Rev. Fr. Canon Francis Brown spoke about the profound sadness felt by her family and the wider community.

He reflected on a young woman who had looked ahead to the years still to come, with dreams and plans that would now remain unfulfilled.

Tributes from family, friends and colleagues have remembered Danielle as loving, selfless and warm-hearted.

But for Dave and their two boys, her absence will be felt in the smallest details of everyday life — the conversations they can no longer have, the adventures they will no longer share and the smile her husband wishes he could see one more time.

Danielle’s story is not only one of a tragic accident. It is also the story of a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend who was deeply loved.

As her family begins the painful journey ahead, Dave’s words remain a moving expression of that love.

“I’d give absolutely anything to hear that laugh or see that smile again.”

For those who loved Danielle, she will always be remembered as the woman who brought light into their lives — and whose memory will remain with them long after the funeral flowers have faded.