“I’D GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE HER SMILE AGAIN” — HEARTBROKEN HUSBAND’S TRIBUTE TO MUM-OF-TWO DANIELLE O’KEANE
“I’D GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE HER SMILE AGAIN” — HEARTBROKEN HUSBAND’S TRIBUTE TO MUM-OF-TWO DANIELLE O’KEANE
The 37-year-old died after a tragic rickshaw accident following a Westlife concert in Dublin. At her funeral, her husband remembered the woman he called his best friend and an “angel on earth.”
NEWRY, NORTHERN IRELAND — What should have been a joyful night out with friends became an unimaginable tragedy for Danielle O’Keane, a 37-year-old mother of two whose sudden passing has left her family and community heartbroken.
Danielle died in hospital on October 1, 2026, after suffering devastating injuries in an incident involving a motorised rickshaw in Dublin. She had attended a Westlife concert at the 3Arena on September 26 and was travelling into the city centre to meet her husband, Dave, and friends when the accident happened.
A NIGHT OUT THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY
According to reports, the rickshaw struck a kerb and overturned, causing Danielle and her companions to fall. Danielle was then struck by a vehicle on North Wall Quay.
She was rushed to the Mater Hospital, where she received treatment for critical injuries. Despite medical care, she died several days later.
Gardaí, Ireland’s national police service, appealed for witnesses and dash-camera footage from the area around the time of the collision as their investigation continued.
“AN ANGEL ON EARTH”
At Danielle’s funeral on October 9, her husband delivered an emotional tribute to the woman he had built his life with.
Dave described Danielle as the most beautiful woman he had ever known, both inside and out. He remembered her as kind, selfless and full of life, with a smile that could brighten any room.
He spoke of the life they had created together over seven and a half years: welcoming their two sons, buying a home and getting married. They had often wished they had met earlier because, even with a lifetime together ahead of them, it never seemed like enough.
He also shared the words that captured the depth of his grief: he would give anything to see her smile or hear her laugh again.
TWO LITTLE BOYS WHO NEED THEIR MOTHER
More than anything, Danielle loved being a wife and mother. Her family had been looking forward to a holiday together in Mallorca, with their bags already packed before the tragedy.
Now, Dave faces the painful task of raising their two young sons, Caolán and Cillian, while navigating life without his partner.
The loss has also devastated Danielle’s parents, siblings, extended family and friends. Those who knew her have remembered her warmth, kindness and the happiness she brought into everyday life.
A COMMUNITY UNITED IN GRIEF
Tributes have poured in from across Ireland. Westlife also honoured Danielle following her death, dedicating “You Raise Me Up” and “Flying Without Wings” to her memory during a performance.
Her funeral brought loved ones together to celebrate a life that ended far too soon. The gathering was not only a moment of farewell, but also a reminder of how deeply one person can touch a family and community.
Danielle was just 37. She leaves behind two young children, a grieving husband and countless people who will remember her with love.
For Dave and their boys, the hardest part is knowing that someone so central to their lives will not be coming home.
May Danielle rest in peace, and may her family find strength and comfort in the love surrounding them.
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