Westlife in emotional tribute to Gerry at Croker gig

WESTLIFE made an emotional tribute to late broadcaster Gerry Ryan during their sellout concert in Croke Park over the weekend.

Up to 82,300 fans heard the Irish boyband dedicate their hit 'Flying Without Wings' to the broadcaster who died on April 30.

The five-piece Irish group, who Ryan had supported from their earliest days, also performed at the RTE personality's funeral on May 6.

And the wife of singer Ronan Keating made a return to the social scene on Saturday night when she was a guest of the pop band.

The 36-year old, who is also a close friend of Cecelia Ahern and her sister Georgina Byrne, who is married to Westlife star Nicky Byrne, attempted to dodge media.

Arriving at the stadium, she was given a VIP pass and seen being escorted around the backstage area by Westlife manager Louis Walsh. She later attended Krystle nightclub where the band had booked a VIP suite.

Meanwhile, Ryan's favourite band Snow Patrol also spoke this weekend of their shock at the sudden death of the presenter.

When RTE colleagues hosted a tribute show to the broadcaster, they closed the Ryan Line for the final time with the Snow Patrol song 'Chasing Cars', a song Ryan had played incessantly on his 2FM show.

In 2008, Ryan revealed how the band's music had helped him through the break-up of his marriage.

He had the honour of introducing the group on 'The Late Late Show' when he stood in for Pat Kenny.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody revealed they were touring last month when they were told of Ryan's death.

"It was so tragic. He'd told us personally how much 'Chasing Cars' had meant to him."
Fuente: http://www.independent.ie