Love Island star Greg O’Shea has told of his heartbreak losing his nana to Alzheimer's.
The Limerick native won the hit show last year and left the island for a few nights to attend his grandmother’s funeral.
Greg, 25, said: "My grandmother passed away last summer during my small stint in Love Island.
“It was very sad, she lived by herself until she was 80 years and she was very independent.
“We started noticing she was starting to get confused and would take a couple of seconds to know who you are.
“She unfortunately got a stroke & she paralysed her voice and wasn't able to swallow."
Brand ambassador for Alzheimer's Ireland, Greg added: "She got worse and worse, the last time I saw her I was holding her on the ground like a baby.
“It was very sad as she was an independent woman, to holding her in my arms and she couldn't speak.”
Speaking to Alan Hughes on Ireland AM on Thursday morning, Greg said: “This is why I am helping Alzheimer's Ireland and will do what I can to create more awareness.”
The rugby union star said winning Love Island had it’s down sides and told how fans can be demanding.
He said: “Obviously when I first came out it was as crazy, there was millions of people watching my every step.
“But since I’ve got further away from it, I’ve dealt with it even better, being with the team has really put manors on me, it’s been my main focus.
“People in some way feel like they own you and you owe them something.
“Even yesterday I was live on Instagram and people were still giving me comments and their opinion of what they think of me.
“There’s a lot of positives come from it, but negatives too.
“If I was any way inclined to think that way it could have sent me down a very bad path but I’ve a lot of good friends and family around me so I kind of shrug it off.”
