Dermot O’Neill has announced the death of his wife Patricia ‘Chickie’ Maguire, 60, who died in the early hours of the morning at St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown in Dublin, just months after being diagnosed with cancer in January

15:13, 02 Jun 2026Updated 17:58, 02 Jun 2026

An elderly individual, dressed in a dark coat and a cap, is seated on the stairs of an interior space. The individual is engaged in a phone conversation, holding a phone to their ear. The walls of the space are adorned with an orange and floral wallpaper pattern, and the staircase is made of white wood.

Dermot O’Neill as Grandad in hit Irish sitcom, Mrs. Brown’s Boys. (Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Alan Peebles)

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Dermot O’Neill has been left heartbroken following the death of his wife just months after she was diagnosed with cancer. The actor, who portrays Grandad in the Brendan O’Carroll sitcom, confirmed the passing of his beloved wife Patricia ‘Chickie’ Maguire, 60, on June 1.

Dermot, 67, revealed that his wife of 14 years died in the early hours at St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown in Dublin after medics discovered multiple tumours in her stomach and gave her only months to live. He said: “We are absolutely devastated. I am going to miss her so much.”

Dermot’s statement to The Irish Sun arrives mere months after his wife learnt of her illness. Chickie received her cancer diagnosis in January, following a hospital visit in Spain where she was due to have a hernia removed.

During that procedure, medics discovered the tumours and determined surgery wasn’t possible. Subsequently, Chickie underwent chemotherapy treatment at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.

Chickie had previously discussed her diagnosis with The Irish Sun. She explained that while offered treatment at a Spanish hospital, she chose to “come back to Ireland” as she feared that remaining in Spain meant she would “never see my kids again”, reports the Mirror.

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Chickie and Dermot O’Neill. (Image: Alamy Stock Photo)

The mother-of-seven also described the difficulty of informing her children, particularly her sons Salvador and Evan, whom she told alongside Dermot. She recalled how her husband “put his hand on my knee” before they “all hugged and cried”. Heartbreakingly, her sole desire was to celebrate one more Christmas with her loved ones, as she had a three-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, and her “dream is to make it to Christmas Day and give her a kiss”.

Dermot and Chickie tied the knot in 2012. The pair first crossed paths at a Brendan O’Carroll concert and they waited 20 years before exchanging vows. Dermot had previously revealed details about the unconventional proposal. He messaged Chickie: “Do you want to be Mrs O’Neill?” She responded affirmatively by text and they wed shortly afterwards.

An elderly individual, adorned with a cap and a long white beard, is seated on a couch, appearing visibly distressed and shouting. A middle-aged man in a suit and tie is leaning over, attentively observing the elderly person. In the background, various household items and decorative objects are visible.

Dermot as Grandad in Mrs. Brown’s Boys. (Image: BBC)

Chickie, who had previously supported Dermot through his cancer recovery in 2020, commended her husband for his care. She described him as “amazing”, particularly since their age difference meant he never anticipated watching his wife fall ill. Dermot is 14 years her senior.

In Mrs Brown’s Boys, Dermot portrayed Harold Brown, the father-in-law to the lead character, Agnes Brown, played by Brendan O’Carroll. He frequently endured mockery from his daughter-in-law, who resented caring for him following her husband’s passing.

Dermot and Brendan O’Carroll have been friends for more than 20 years.

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