Disaster star Sharon Horgan's father passed away earlier this week.
The 53-year-old Irish actress and author is mourning the loss of her father John, a New Zealand farmer, who died as a result of cancer.
The family, including Sharon's mother Ursula and four siblings, will bury John in the Lough village of Termonfeckin on Tuesday.
His heartbroken family announced this week: “The death has occurred of John (Donald) Horgan of Strand Rd, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, formerly of Bellewstown, London and Christchurch, New Zealand.”
“He was a much loved husband to Ursula, father to Maria, Sharon, Lorraine, Shane and Mark and grandfather to Sadhbhy, Amer, Marianne, Charlie, Sadie, Neala, Joni and Aoibh.”
Sharon Horgan's father passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer (the actress is pictured in March)
“The funeral to celebrate the life of a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and good friend will take place on Tuesday 2 January 2024 at 1pm at Immaculate Conception Church, Termonfeckin.”
A source close to the family told The Sun that John had been ill for some time before his death, explaining: “The whole family was with him when he died.” He was a very proud father, they are a very close unit, when it comes to families.
“He loved that none of his children let his fame get to their heads, and he ate them all very prudently.”
“He was firm but fair and everyone loved him. “They are a very reserved family and are not sure how they will deal with his death.”
Sharon previously reflected on her father's unlikely career change when she moved home from the UK at a young age.
She recalled: “I was born in London and when I was very young my family owned a pub in the East End – the deep East End where the Kray brothers worked.”
“One day someone came to my father and asked him for an alibi for something very serious.
“That’s when my parents decided to move to Ireland with my sister.”
“I don’t know how you get started in turkey farming. But I guess he was trying to find something that would work for us as a family.”
Sharon later made a short comedy, The Week Before Christmas, about the busiest time of year in the Horgan household.
She also joked that, in the eyes of her rugby-loving father, she would never be able to match her brother Shane's sporting achievements, despite receiving widespread recognition for her TV work.
Sharon said: “As for Shane, our dad is New Zealander. So can you imagine how proud he is of being the son of a rugby player?
“Of course they're proud of me too.” But it's just TV, you know, it's not like I'm doing something important like saving the world! Or play rugby!'