Irish TV star Sharon Horgan pays tribute to 'darling' father following his death

Irish actress and writer Sharon Horgan has honoured her “darling dad” John on social media after his death in December.

The Catastrophe star recently returned to Instagram after a hiatus from social media and explained that she was struggling to “learn how to accept condolences properly”.

Horgan’s father, who was originally a farmer from Christchurch, New Zealand, had been battling cancer before his passing. His funeral took place in County Louth, Ireland in January.

Paying tribute to her father online, the Bafta award winner shared a series of cherished family photos with him throughout the years and wrote: “I haven’t posted for a while.

“My darling dad died at Christmas and I hadn’t – and still haven’t – learned how to accept condolences properly.”

The 53-year-old admitted that his absence at the Irish Film and Television Awards had motivated her to be more open about her grief as she reminisced about their fond memories at the event.

She continued: “I was at the IFTAs [Irish Film & Television Awards] at the weekend and it was my first one without him and lots of people talked to me about having met my dad and what a gorgeous man he was. And he really was. Such a dude.

“I was so proud of him and how he could talk to anyone.

“I remember him bending Brian Gleeson’s ear last IFTAs about how characterfully he ate an egg and onion sandwich in Bad Sisters,” she fondly remembered.

“He was my biggest cheerleader but also the best at levelling it all and reminding you not to get ahead of yourself that none of it matters.’

Horgan also said how her dad “loved nothing more than tickling a grandchild or having a pint in the sun”.

“And he really rocked a hat. I miss him terribly,” she added, alongside pictures of herself with John over the years, including at the IFTAs with her mum, as well as a selection of him in hats and holding his grandchildren,” she continued.

“Sending love to anyone who’s lost someone they love be [sic] recently or not so recently. Life is hard but it does go on.

“So. Back to posting photos, thanking people for dresses and what not and plugging my wares. Think he’d be happy with that.”

The film star’s brother Shane is a former rugby player for Leinster and Ireland, while her sister Lorraine is also an actress and younger sibling Mark is an award-winning broadcaster.

Her parents had previously lived in Hackney, London, where she was born. They ran a pub before relocating to Ireland, and went into poultry farming.