Funnyman Jason Byrne has lifted the lid on how therapy is helping him come to terms with his father’s death, his marriage split and loss of work.
The Dubliner’s dad Paddy passed away on February 24 last year after having a stroke days before Covid-19 restrictions were put in place for the first time.
The Ballinteer star, 49, admitted it has taken him the year to come to terms with his loss.
He told The Sunday Independent: “It’s only now that I’ve stopped getting tearful and have started to come to terms with his death.
“My mum talks to him when she’s outside, which is lovely, because if you don’t, they say the person dies twice.”
The comic – who has been keeping busy with his podcast Mind Your Loaf, his app iLaugh and online sketches – feels politicians “don’t get” how decimated the arts industry is.
He said: “The Government doesn’t seem to get it that the arts, the actors, the comedians, all the theatres, everybody that works in the industry, bring in so much revenue and we haven’t been treated well at all. We are going to need another round of funding.”
But he credits a “great therapist” for helping him through the hardships during monthly sessions online.
Jason added: “I don’t have depression, like clinical depression, because we spoke about that.
“It’s mental fatigue and that’s why I go to therapy to try and, you know, cope with everything that has been going on.”
