RTE’s Jacqui Hurley has opened up about how losing her tragically losing her brother, in his 20s gave her a ‘kick up the arse’.
The sports presenter’s younger brother Sean was killed in a road accident in 2011, when he was just 25.
And mum-of-two Jacqui, 37, said she has a whole new perspective on life, after realising all of the things that he never got to do due to his untimely passing.
“I think when you’ve had tragedy in your life, it does give you perspective.
“And I know when my brother died in 2011, it was a horrendous year, but once we got past that first year, I think our family made a commitment to each other that we were going to make life as bright as possible, because we know how fragile it is,” she told RTE Guide.
“That sounds really cliché, but my 25-year-old brother died with a bucket list that you could only dream about and making the decision as a family to go about and fulfill his wishes and doing those things is what has given me perspective on life, because I don’t want to be leaving a list like that.
“It gave us all a good kick up the arse, to say that if you want to do something, just do it.”
The Cork native is optimistic to get away on a family holiday later on this year, and to Japan for the Olympics this summer.
She said she also applies the same positive attitude to her work life as well.
“My gut instinct would be to say yes to things, unless it feels wrong to me or I’d be making a holy show of myself.
“But generally my optimistic side would say ‘yes, let’s go for it.’”
It’s been almost ten years since her brother passed away and the family hope to mark the anniversary in some way, depending on Covid restrictions.
“I can’t believe he’ll be gone ten years this November, it’s crazy,” Jacqui said.
“The first year is like the longest year ever because you have all those first year milestones, his birthday, Christmas, all the occasions that are really difficult as a family to overcome.
“But since the first year, I feel like all the other years have flown.”
