Fair City star Bryan Murray moved to full-time care as Alzheimer’s worsens
Bryan Murray, known for Fair City and Brookside, has been placed into full-time care as Alzheimer’s progresses. His wife Una Crawford O’Brien urged people to support Alzheimer’s Tea Day.
Fair City legend Bryan Murray has been moved into “full-time care”, with his Alzheimer’s disease continuing to progress.
The Dublin-born actor, best known for his acclaimed roles on Irish screens, has had his day-to-day reality change sharply over the past year, according to his wife, Una Crawford O’Brien.. Speaking around Alzheimer’s Tea Day 2026, she described how caring responsibilities have grown “far greater” and how routines have shifted from managing the present to now feeling the absence of the person he used to be.
Una said the past year has brought a painful new rhythm. “Up until now I didn’t have time to think,” she said, adding that her days had been “completely focused” on Bryan and his needs. Now, she explained, there is space to grieve. “Now I have time to miss him.”
As part of the awareness drive, the couple urged people to get involved with Alzheimer’s Tea Day on Thursday, May 7—whether that means hosting a garden tea party or simply sharing a cuppa with friends.. Una said Bryan would not only want support for Alzheimer’s awareness, but also reassurance that others are not facing the journey alone.
The story has resonance beyond the family circle.. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can often move from something manageable to something all-consuming, and the emotional load can be as heavy as the practical one.. Una’s account—transitioning from “not having time to think” to openly describing sadness—illustrates how memory loss doesn’t only take away recognition, but also reshapes relationships, plans, and identity over time.
Bryan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019, but continued working for years, including appearing on Fair City.. He later retired in 2025 after two decades playing Bob Charles on RTE’s long-running soap.. Before that retirement, he also chose to go public with his diagnosis in 2022, aiming to raise awareness and encourage other people affected by the disease to speak up and seek support.
Una has previously said Bryan doesn’t seem happy in the way he used to be.. In an interview, she described that he “doesn’t know about anything really,” framing his current state as both confusing and emotionally difficult to watch.. Those comments underline a reality many families face: with Alzheimer’s, the person you knew may still be present, but the world inside their mind can feel out of reach.
For long-time viewers, Bryan Murray’s name is tied to some of the most memorable moments in Irish television history.. On Brookside, his short run as Trevor left a lasting mark on soap storytelling, including a storyline that shocked audiences and became widely remembered for its dark turning point.. On Fair City, he later built a different kind of connection with viewers through his long-running character work.
In reflecting on his career, it becomes clear why the move into “full-time care” has been felt so widely: Bryan’s on-screen performances were familiar to audiences for decades, and his work often carried an intensity that viewers recognized as real commitment.. For families watching someone decline, that sense of familiarity can make the loss sharper—yet it also helps explain why public awareness efforts like Alzheimer’s Tea Day matter.
Now, with the announcement of full-time care, the focus shifts to support and understanding—particularly for carers who balance love with exhaustion.. Misryoum understands that as Alzheimer’s progresses, the need for reliable help and community backing becomes more than a headline; it becomes a daily lifeline for those trying to keep dignity and comfort at the center of care.. The coming months will likely test that support again, but initiatives like the May 7 tea event are aimed at making sure families can reach for help sooner rather than later.