Northern Ireland singer Rose-Marie Kane dies at 68

Northern Irish singer and entertainer Rose-Marie Kane has died.

She was 68.

The entertainer, originally from County Down, has released 19 albums.

She has played several times to sold-out crowds at the London Palladium and appeared on the Royal Variety Show.

She was also known on television and radio and was a former judge on the BBC talent show “Go For It”.

“I miss her terribly”

Mrs Kane grew up on a farm outside Newry and was the eldest of six children.

A post on their Facebook page said:

“It is with heavy hearts and enormous sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Rose-Marie in her beloved second home of Blackpool. Rest in peace my love.”

Belfast-based radio and television presenter Robin Elliott was friends with Ms Kane.

In a Facebook post, he wrote that he was “completely devastated.”

“We will miss her terribly,” he said.

“Terrible news”

The singer was scheduled to host an evening of music and entertainment at the Joe Longthorne Theatre in Blackpool at the end of June.

Singer-songwriter Janey Kirk said she was “completely shocked” and “deeply saddened”.

“We spoke just last week. I knew she wasn’t well, but I certainly didn’t expect this terrible news. I will never forget the memories and the laughter. Never again dear hearts from the dearest heart,” she added.

The Northern Ireland director of LGBTQ+ magazine GNI, Daniel May, said he was “utterly shocked and devastated”.

“I will miss her. We were great friends. We always had so much fun. It is an honor to have had you as a friend,” he said.

“Everyone loved her”

Former BBC Radio Bedfordshire editor Mike Gibbons said: “It has been a real pleasure to have Rose-Marie as one of our guest presenters. She has worked particularly with the Irish and country music community in Luton and the three counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

“She was a great, intuitive presenter and everyone loved her.”