An incredible Laois woman who channelled her grief into something positive for thousands of people left the Late Late Show audience in awe tonight.
Ballinakill woman Colette Byrne launched widow.ie after the loss of her husband Peter Byrne.
Peter was only 32 when he was killed in a road accident in Wolfhill, Laois, in August 2008.
Their married life was cut drastically short to just four years. Colette and Peter’s daughter Kate was only three years old at the time.
“There was no way I could prepare for this. It was completely out of the blue. Myself and Peter we were looking forward to our life in our 40s and in our 50s and how things could progress and all of a sudden a young, healthy man – his life is cut short,” Collette told presenter Ryan Tubridy.
Collette was joined on the couch by John Fitzsimmons and Venicia Quick, who also lost their loved ones tragically early in their lives.
“I had great support but there was a point where I just wanted quiteness, where I could quietly grieve for Peter.
“But it was difficult – you wanted the peace and quiet but the peace and quiet was very difficult. The quietness was defeatening. I’d lit the fire and all you could hear is the fire. I couldn’t turn on the radio because the radio was full of love songs. It was hard.”
Collette also spoke about how people tried to encourage her that she could get married again, ‘but in your heart you’re still married’.
“It’s so hard to process that you’ll never see your husband again.”
She said that she wants to continue hearing about Peter and hearing his name, and how their daughter Kate handled the death.
“Kate was very young when Peter passed away and it took her a while to understand why daddy can’t come home, daddy’s passed away.”
Collette spoke about how she knew that Kate had realised Peter had passed away.
“She was watching a show and the daddy character came into it and God love her she burst out crying. It was at that moment that I knew she understood.”
Widow.ie is an online self-help resource where widows, widowers and bereaved life partners can all contribute.
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