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Stephen Gately: Your memories

The Boyzone singer Stephen Gately has died, aged 33 while on holiday in Majorca. How will you remember him?

After answering an advert in a Dublin newspaper in 1993, Stephen joined Boyzone and had huge success with at least six singles reaching number one. He went on to have a successful career on stage in London's West End.

In 1999 Gately also made headlines after announcing he was gay. He wed his partner in a civil partnership ceremony in London in 2006.

What are your memories of Stephen Gately? Did you ever meet him? Did you work with him?

Read more on this story

Published: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 06:41 GMT 07:41 UK

All comments as they come in

Added: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 02:27 GMT 03:27 UK

The loss of life at 33 is a tragedy,
Stephen was a talented guy with so much to live for.
Heartfelt sympathies to his partner Andrew, parents. his Boyzone brothers, friends and fans. He will be sorely missed by all.

barbarawallis, chigwell essex

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Added: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 01:39 GMT 02:39 UK

The good die young and are called home to keep an eye on the rest of us.

Ann, Cheltenham

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Added: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 24:20 GMT 01:20 UK

I have so many fond memories of boyzone,and especially of my favourite stephen! I find his passing unbelievably sad and shockin an my heart goes out to his family an friends! I started to follow boyzone from the start after the passing of a close family member I was devastated and as a treat my mum bought be a ticket to their first ever concert in manchester, I never looked back I bought every magazine, paper, cd,video, dvd and went 2-3 times to each tour they did! May u rip ste love u forever x

stacie, manchester

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Added: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 24:10 GMT 01:10 UK

I am 40 years old,never liked boyzone music nor pop music.I feel very sad today.stephen just came across as any normal kind off guy to me.nothing fancy about him.a decent human being.why this happens,we will never have that answer.he was one of the good guys,i will remember that.goodnight stephen.

colin anderson, glasgow, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:39 GMT 00:39 UK

"What you have to understand is that some of us have seen people with true talent in life,
i.e. Doctors,Surgeons,Charity Workers and many other really worthy people pass away in early age without so much as one line on HYS.
M.P.Fiddler, Poundland "

And that gives you the right to invade this HYS with disrespectful postings? This HYS is about one particular young man who in his own way showed great bravery, and who died tragically young. If all you can do is criticise, then please go away.

[Roddyrhino]

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:21 GMT 00:21 UK

My wife was a primary school teacher,and taught hundreds of school children how to read,write count and about God,over a period of twenty odd years.She died suddenly of a stroke at the age of forty-five,leaving a husband and her five children bereft of wife and mother,her death did not make one inch of print in any newspaper.She did more in one day of her life than any POP star ever ever achieved in one day of theirs...R.I.P.StephenGatley,please everyone remember my wife in your prayers also.

Tom mac

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:16 GMT 00:16 UK

we will always love you..Ronin if you read this please can you do an album for him as you did for your Mother,, as this helped so much to keep the people we love close to our hearts.Its hard tobe away from what we know ....IRELAND we love ypu ....yeah made us so PROUD tobe what we are.....STEPHEN we love you...GOD BLESS YOU FOR EVER>>>>>>

ann renfrew, london

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:13 GMT 00:13 UK

My heart broke when a friend phoned to tell me about Stephen's death. I have cried for two days. I loved Boyzone and loved stephen. He will be greatly missed. I attended a concert in May in Belfast & had a brilliant night.
Condolences to his Partner Andrew, His family and of course his 4 other brothers Ronan, Keith, Shane & Mikey. Our lives will never be the same without you here.
Stephen U Rocked at Beyonce's "Single Ladies"! Stephen you were a star now ur a shooting star! Love you always.X

Caroline, Derry

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:09 GMT 00:09 UK

I never listened to boyzone nor cared much for pop music.yet the sudden death of stephen has filled me with sadness.no amount off compassion will fill the void in his families life.I suppose all we can really do is think of him fondly.Thats what i choose to do.goodight Stephen.

colin anderson, glasgow

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:02 GMT 00:02 UK

Reading the comments I see most are from the UK, as it should be. I first saw Stephen Gately several years ago in a TV special on our PBS (Public Broadcasting) honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber, and BoyZone sang. I taped the show & watched it several times & particularly enjoyed his voice & the Band. And I remembered that voice when I heard this news on BBC World Service. Stephen had a wonderful voice, and his death really is a tragic loss as I'm sure he would have had a long career in entertainment.

Gary Duncan, Boston, USA

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 23:01 GMT 00:01 UK

It's a strange life isn't it. I feel very sad for Stephen but even more sad for those left behind. Yet he has received more messages of condolences, (and even some statements of utter bewilderment) than soldiers who, being even younger than him have died in a needless war abroad. Yet, when I state this fact in a tasteful manner my HYS is rejected. I fully understand that he was an icon to the gay community, but above everything he was a human being who died before his time. Ring any bells?

Worry Wort, Sheffield, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 22:48 GMT 23:48 UK

My condolences to Stephen's family and friends.

Although not a fan myself, I will give credit to talent and say that the world will be a lesser place for his loss.
RIP.

Paul White

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 22:42 GMT 23:42 UK

I loved the goody goody charm that the Boys had and still have, their Irish accent and I love the fact that no matter what, they never gave up on their dream. It helped me come to realise how much I loved to write and sing. The first time I recall knowing Stephen and what he liked was when I read that he was a big Michael Jackson fan and I heard him sing Ben on the album A Different Beat it's one of my favorites.

RIP Stephen
condolences to his family and friends

Love

Ser :) xxxxx

Sarah Jane Preston, Caernarfon

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 22:14 GMT 23:14 UK

so sad to hear about his death, i will always have memories of him like meeting him in London and seeing Boyzone in concert, although he's gone, he will remain our hearts forever.
R.I.P Stephen and God Bless....

He was my fave member of the group and i'm sure for many of you, but Boyzone will never be the same without Stephen.

Louise Griffiths, Liverpool, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 12 October, 2009, 22:02 GMT 23:02 UK

R.I.P Stephen Gately

My thoughts r with ur partner, family, friends, fans, louis walsh and rest of the band

I was glad that i saw u in Cardiff's concert in june this year as i have been a fan of boyzone since the band started in 1993. i was gutted when u split up, but life went on, when boyzone announced they were back 2gether again i was chuffed and made sure i saw ur concert, i will b going 2 c boyzone again next year but u will b sadly missed.

Ffion, Bridgend

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