Bryan Murray's partner on his Fair City retirement 'He thinks there’s nothing wrong'

Bryan Murray is retiring from Fair City.

The actor has portrayed the character Bob Charles for 20 years after first joining the cast in 2005.

The soap star and his co-star and real life partner Una Crawford O'Brien shared that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago.

Read more: Fair City's Una Crawford O'Brien shares what made her fall in love with co-star Bryan Murray

Read more: Fair City's Una Crawford O'Brien says partner Bryan Murray sometimes doesn't know who she is

Bryan will make his last appearance on our screens on Thursday, 24 April.

Una opened up about the decision for him to step back from Fair City, six years after he first found out about his condition.

She told RSVP Live: “I didn’t have it with him. He has gotten increasingly worse. He’s been diagnosed for six years and the progression has been there. He’s not aware so we didn’t have to have that conversation.”

She explained that due to his condition progressing, Bryan isn’t aware that he has memory issues.

“He wouldn’t know what we’re talking about,” the actress shared. “He himself thinks that there’s nothing wrong with his memory. That can be very difficult. Besides that, he wouldn’t have the comprehension nowadays to know what you’re talking about.”

The cast and crew behind Fair City have been incredible over the past few years, she stated.

“They’ve been incredible,” Una said. “They couldn’t have done more. I think it’s all to do with looking outside the box. He was an actor, he knows what he does and it kicks in. The muscle is still there.

“They facilitated that to the best of their ability and they have been fantastic. Unfortunately, it can’t continue because he is getting worse.”

Acting has been a part of Bryan’s life for over five decades, with Una explaining that’s one of the reasons they didn’t share his Alzheimer’s diagnosis for a few years.

She said: “That’s why we didn’t say anything for two years because that’s what he has been doing for some long. He joined the Abbey Company and got his first contract there on his 21st birthday. He’ll now be 76 in July. That’s what he has always done.

“My mother had Alzheimer’s and I knew that it could only get worse. I was more aware of what the impact would be.

“I think when he was diagnosed initially they said mild cognitive impairment, so he clung onto that for dear life, probably hoping that it would never get any worse.

“It had more of an effect on me than on him, I think.”

She shared that since sharing Bryan’s diagnosis, she has been approached by fans of the show who have had their own experiences with the diseases.

Una said: “We are in people’s living rooms or sitting rooms four times a week. They feel that they know you.

“It also allows them to speak freely about it as well if they have someone in their own family with Alzheimer’s because they can identify with it.

“It has been very good that it has opened up that dialogue so people feel free to talk to me about it and their own situations.

“I always think that talking about things is a really good and healthy thing to do.”

Una Crawford O'Brien and Bryan Murray are back as ambassadors for Alzheimer's Tea Day.

Register now on www.teaday.ie to receive your free organiser's toolkit, packed with everything you need to host a Tea Day event on or around Thursday, 1st May 2025. Funds raised through Alzheimer's Tea Day support critical services like the Alzheimer's National Helpline, Daycare programs, home care, family carer training, social clubs, and Alzheimer's cafes. Your contribution can truly make a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia.