"You keep going" Micheál Martin brings viewers to tears talking about his late children

The Taoiseach [Prime Minister] and his wife Mary lost their five-week-old son Ruairí to cot death in 1999, and their daughter Léana died in 2010 shortly before her eighth birthday. They're also parents to Micheál Aodh, Aoibhe, and Cillian.

Appearing on Virgin Media’s show "The Assembly", Micheál was asked what motivates him to go on in times of grief, with his answer leaving many watching in tears.

Micheál started his answer by saying that until Ruairí died, he and Mary had "never experienced that kind of trauma" and that he was ‘hit for six’ by the loss.

He told how it was his other children who gave them the strength to keep on going, saying: "You have to get up the following morning, to get them breakfast, and to play, and [there's] something in the human instincts, you continue on, you keep going."

When their daughter Léana died, Micheál said it was "absolutely devastating", and he went through "a lot of soul searching."

"You could retreat, and not do things, and I was young enough at the time, but if I had retired at that time or didn't go on, I think that would probably [have] had a worse effect on my life," he said.

Micheál continued: "You don't make these decisions as kind of totally rationally. You just keep going in some respects; work and routine in nature are very, very important to overcome or deal with trauma.

"It'll never bring you your loved ones back, but it enables you to try and live life to the best of your ability and to the fullest extent that you possibly can."

Viewers were blown away by Micheál's response, with many saying they hadn’t realised he’d gone through so much loss in his life.

"Crying watching this, what a strong man. I cannot imagine the pain he went through, this was so raw and so real. Goes to show we are all human and experience pain and trauma in life no matter who you are or what you work at big hugs and what a great interview," wrote one person.

"Hats off, so well received and such a thoughtful and considered response," added someone else while a third said: "My eyes went teary twice in this episode. Well done."

Watch Micheál speak below:

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.