The legendary trad musician says she is content with her life the way it is, and that she wakes up every morning grateful for her family and friends
Sharon Shannon
Sharon Shannon says she doesn’t have space in her head for romance, and she is happy with her life the way it is.
The legendary trad musician was left heartbroken when her long-term partner Leo Healy passed away aged 46 in 2008.
Sharon said grief hit her “like a tonne of bricks” when it set in that Leo was gone, but was blessed to have had him in her life.
The much loved accordion did find love again with his brother Jimmy, but it didn’t work out and she is single.
Now, Sharon says she is not looking for romance and is perfectly content without a man.
She said: “I love my life the way it is.
“I don’t have space in my head for romantic love any more, it’s too much trouble.”
Sharon is a big animal lover and lives with six cats and five dogs.
The musician feels lucky to have a great network of family and friends around her.
“I love animals, that’s true, but I love people too,” she told the Irish Mail on Sunday.
“I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people and I remind myself every night going to bed and waking up every morning, that I’m grateful for family and friends.
“It’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Sharon Shannon confirmed her split from Jimmy back in 2021.
She said at the time that things “didn’t work out” between them but she is not dwelling on the past.
“I did have another relationship afterwards but it didn’t work out but that’s the way life is, I suppose,” Sharon told host Brendan Courtney on RTÉ show Keys to my Life.
“I am very happily single.”
Sharon confirmed that she was dating Jimmy back in 2017.
She said that the romance blossomed out of a friendship and things happened very naturally between them.
She told the RTE Guide at the time: “He’s solid as a rock. Jimmy is Leo’s brother. Jimmy and Leo were very close and when Leo died, he was devastated.
“I didn’t really know Jimmy that well back then but we became friends after Leo died.
“Jimmy was heartbroken as well and he helped me through a really tough time. For ages, we were the best of friends and then we got together.”
The Clare woman added: “Now some people think that is weird, but it seemed just natural to us. He’s a good man and very good for me.”
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