Ronan Keating has posted a throwback photo of himself with his mum, Marie Keating, and wrote an emotional message to her on the anniversary of her death. The star wrote: "Hey Mam, hard to believe it's been 19 years since we said farewell. Still feels like yesterday. Missing you every single day. Thank you for all you sacrificed for us kids. We are the people we are because of your love. Love this pic taken in the Lord Mayors Pub in swords on my 18th birthday. She thought I was gonna drop the cake after spending the day making it. Love ya mama."
His fans were quick to send well wishes to the 39-year-old, with one writing: "All my love mate! Would have been my Mum's birthday today, happy memories of her coming to say hello backstage. All the best to you and Storm." Another added: "Awww Ronan that brought a tear to my eye, your beautiful mum will be watching you with such pride." Ronan's mum passed away aged just 51 after battling breast cancer in 1998. The star and his four siblings set up a foundation in her name and the singer has previously opened up about the charity, and how he wished he had been more educated before her diagnosis.
GALLERY: MUCH LOVED FACES GONE TOO SOON
He told the Daily Mail: "Every now and then, at our black-tie charity events, somebody will stand up and talk about how the Foundation's helped them and I think, 'Why can't that be my Mam standing there saying that she's okay?'. We were uneducated. Mam was uneducated. If our service had been around then, Mam would have known about cancer, would have known what to look for and how to check herself. I find it very hard not to have her around, especially because of the kids - she was such a brilliant grandmother. I feel there's a gap that she's left in so many aspects of my life. You find things to fill it. You have to."
GALLERY: RONAN AND STORM KEATING: THEIR LOVE STORY IN PICTURES
