Fair City Star Úna Crawford O’Brien Shares Heartbreaking Life Journeys
Úna Crawford O’Brien, a familiar face from the long-running Irish soap opera Fair City, recently displayed remarkable fortitude while appearing on Miriam O’Callaghan’s popular Sunday morning program. The actress opened up about deeply personal and profoundly challenging chapters of her life, offering a candid glimpse into her strength and resilience.
This month, Úna revealed that she has transitioned her husband, fellow actor Bryan Murray, to full-time care. Bryan, who captivated audiences as Bob Charles on the RTÉ soap for two decades until his retirement in early 2025, is currently battling Alzheimer’s disease. His departure from Fair City marked the end of an era for many viewers who had come to associate him with the beloved Carrigstown character.
During her heartfelt conversation with Miriam, Úna recounted the difficult process of recognising the early signs of her husband’s declining health. She explained how Bryan was determined to continue working on Fair City for as long as possible, with the unwavering support of the cast and crew playing a crucial role.
“They (the Fair City cast) became very good towards the end,” Úna shared, detailing the practical assistance provided. “He was fed his lines through an earpiece. Before that, he would have his lines tucked underneath the tea towel if he was working in the Hungry Pig or in a newspaper, and the other actors were just fantastic in helping him.” This testament highlights the profound camaraderie and dedication within the Fair City production.
Beyond the immediate challenges of her husband’s illness, Úna also bravely addressed another deeply personal sorrow: the loss of her daughter from her first marriage. These are topics she admits to rarely discussing publicly, making her willingness to share them all the more poignant.
Reflecting on her daughter, Úna told Miriam, “It was actually her birthday, on the 15th of this month. She would have been 36.” The actress then described the devastating circumstances of her daughter’s death. “It was a cot death,” she explained, her voice heavy with emotion. “She was an extremely happy, healthy baby, and she died on the 12th of July. It was a roasting day, and she was a fantastic sleeper, and I just went up to pick her up… she was blue, and it was horrendous.”
The memory of that fateful day remains etched in her mind. Úna recalled the immense joy she felt upon becoming a mother. “I thought my life was made,” she said. “I have my gorgeous son, my gorgeous daughter, and then she died.” The grief, she revealed, was an all-consuming force that took years to process. “It took years for me to not feel physical pain… And I miss her. I was only thinking about her the other day and wondering, you know, how different life would be.”
Úna also touched upon how navigating the profound grief of losing her daughter may have contributed to the breakdown of her marriage. She explained that she and her former husband approached their sorrow in different ways, which ultimately created a divide between them. “In time, she said ‘We became great friends in the end, and that was part of last year being so bad as it was. He died in February last year. So it was, it was just an awful year.'” The loss of her ex-husband the year prior added another layer of immense sadness to an already difficult period.
Despite the immense personal tragedies she has endured, Úna Crawford O’Brien concluded her interview with a powerful message of hope and determination. She reassured Miriam and the viewers that she is not succumbing to despair. “I’m coming through,” she declared, a testament to her enduring spirit and the strength she continues to find within herself. Her openness serves as an inspiration, highlighting the multifaceted nature of life’s challenges and the remarkable capacity of the human spirit to persevere.
