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| Aslan singer Christy Dignan dies after long illness | Aslan singer Christy Dignan dies after long illness |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Christy Dignam said he had wanted to be a singer since childhood | Christy Dignam said he had wanted to be a singer since childhood |
| Christy Dignam, the singer from Irish rock band Aslan, has died after a long illness. | Christy Dignam, the singer from Irish rock band Aslan, has died after a long illness. |
| His daughter Kiera announced his passing on behalf of the family in a Facebook post. | His daughter Kiera announced his passing on behalf of the family in a Facebook post. |
| She said the family conveyed the news "with a broken heart". | She said the family conveyed the news "with a broken heart". |
| "Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home, today 4pm Tuesday, June 13 2023 after a courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family. | "Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home, today 4pm Tuesday, June 13 2023 after a courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family. |
| "We ask that you honour our family's need for privacy during this immensely painful period," the post said. | "We ask that you honour our family's need for privacy during this immensely painful period," the post said. |
| "Let us all hold him in our hearts and cherish the remarkable life of a talented singer, great story teller and amazing person." | "Let us all hold him in our hearts and cherish the remarkable life of a talented singer, great story teller and amazing person." |
| Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Dignam and his bandmates in Aslan had a "remarkable connection" with their audience. | Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Dignam and his bandmates in Aslan had a "remarkable connection" with their audience. |
| "Christy was central to that connection, with his passionate performances ensuring a memorable night every time Aslan played," he said. | "Christy was central to that connection, with his passionate performances ensuring a memorable night every time Aslan played," he said. |
| Mr Higgins said people in nearly every town in Ireland would have their own memories and "will feel like they had a personal connection with Christy". | Mr Higgins said people in nearly every town in Ireland would have their own memories and "will feel like they had a personal connection with Christy". |
| In a tweet, Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said Christy Dignam was "a true legend of Irish music". | |
| "His brave and dignified battle with cancer inspired many," he said. | "His brave and dignified battle with cancer inspired many," he said. |
| Christy Dignam was born in Dublin in May 1960 and grew up in Finglas, in the north of the city. | Christy Dignam was born in Dublin in May 1960 and grew up in Finglas, in the north of the city. |
| Best known as the singer of Irish rock band Aslan, he began his music career in 1980 with the band Meelah XVIII. | Best known as the singer of Irish rock band Aslan, he began his music career in 1980 with the band Meelah XVIII. |
| Narnia link | Narnia link |
| He formed Aslan in 1982 with fellow Dubliners Joe Jewell, Billy McGuinness and Alan Downey. | He formed Aslan in 1982 with fellow Dubliners Joe Jewell, Billy McGuinness and Alan Downey. |
| The band took their name from the lion in CS Lewis's series of Narnia books. | The band took their name from the lion in CS Lewis's series of Narnia books. |
| They went on to release six studio albums, the most recent in 2012. | They went on to release six studio albums, the most recent in 2012. |
| Among their most successful singles were This Is; Crazy World; Where's the Sun and Shine a Light. | Among their most successful singles were This Is; Crazy World; Where's the Sun and Shine a Light. |
| The group split up in 1988 before reuniting after what was intended to be a one-off charity gig in Finglas in 1993. | The group split up in 1988 before reuniting after what was intended to be a one-off charity gig in Finglas in 1993. |
| In a 2022 interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Mr Dignam said: "From the time I can remember, I just wanted to sing. That's all I ever wanted to do. | In a 2022 interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Mr Dignam said: "From the time I can remember, I just wanted to sing. That's all I ever wanted to do. |
| Aslan had been set to tour the Republic of Ireland this year | Aslan had been set to tour the Republic of Ireland this year |
| "I remember, when I was 13 or 14, realising that just because I wanted to be a singer didn't mean I was going to be a singer. I had to make it happen." | "I remember, when I was 13 or 14, realising that just because I wanted to be a singer didn't mean I was going to be a singer. I had to make it happen." |
| 'A bit of a Lazarus' | 'A bit of a Lazarus' |
| He overcame many battles during his life, including drug addiction, sexual abuse suffered as a child and debilitating bouts of depression. | He overcame many battles during his life, including drug addiction, sexual abuse suffered as a child and debilitating bouts of depression. |
| Mr Dignam was diagnosed with amyloidosis in 2013 and was initially told that he might have just a few months to live. | Mr Dignam was diagnosed with amyloidosis in 2013 and was initially told that he might have just a few months to live. |
| The disease causes an abnormal protein to build up in the body, triggering organ failure. | The disease causes an abnormal protein to build up in the body, triggering organ failure. |
| In 2014 he told the Irish Mirror he was surprised to have made it to his 50s: "I was in a plane crash a couple of years ago, I struggled with drug addiction and now this cancer thing, so it is a bit of a Lazarus. | In 2014 he told the Irish Mirror he was surprised to have made it to his 50s: "I was in a plane crash a couple of years ago, I struggled with drug addiction and now this cancer thing, so it is a bit of a Lazarus. |
| "That's three lives gone, I've six left." | "That's three lives gone, I've six left." |
| He said that after the diagnosis the only thing that was important to him was to be with his family for a little bit longer. | He said that after the diagnosis the only thing that was important to him was to be with his family for a little bit longer. |
| "I have grandchildren now and I wanted to see their Communions and Confirmations - those little things that you want to be here for," he said. | "I have grandchildren now and I wanted to see their Communions and Confirmations - those little things that you want to be here for," he said. |
| Aslan had been due to tour the Republic of Ireland this summer as well as performing in Londonderry's Millennium Forum on 15 July. | Aslan had been due to tour the Republic of Ireland this summer as well as performing in Londonderry's Millennium Forum on 15 July. |
| But in statement on their social media pages, the other Aslan members said they were "devastated that all future shows will be cancelled" due to Mr Dignam's ill-health. | But in statement on their social media pages, the other Aslan members said they were "devastated that all future shows will be cancelled" due to Mr Dignam's ill-health. |
| Mr Dignam leaves his wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera, who is also a singer, grandsons Cian and Jake and granddaughter Ava. | Mr Dignam leaves his wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera, who is also a singer, grandsons Cian and Jake and granddaughter Ava. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Dublin | Dublin |
| Music | Music |