The mother of Stephen Gately and a former Boyzone bandmate have told of their joy that a park is to be named after the popstar.
Dublin City Council has agreed to rename the Royal Canal Linear Park after the tragic singer-songwriter who died in 2009 at the age of 33 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
His proud mum Margaret said her son would be so pleased with the honour but also “shy” about it.
Telling how he is always in her thoughts, she added: “Every single day, I pray for him every night.”
Stephen’s Boyzone pal Keith Duffy told RTE Radio One’s Ray D’Arcy Show: “Wow, the hairs are standing up on the back of my neck.
"I’ve nearly got a tear in my eye, I’m absolutely blown away by that, it’s beautiful, it’s really beautiful.
“Honest to God I’m delighted. I mean, I try so much in everything I do to try and keep the memory of Stephen alive because he died way too young and he was only coming into his own.
"He was such a great, great talent, coming from Sheriff Street in the inner side of Dublin, and it was a huge success story and it was so devastating when we lost him nearly 11 years ago.
"I’m delighted for Margaret, his mother, I’m delighted for his family, I’m delighted for Sheriff Street.”
Independent councillor Anthony Flynn and former Lord Mayor Christy Burke proposed the move to honour Stephen, inset with Boyzone, at the six-hectare green area in the North Wall area.
