IRISH singer Philomena Begley has opened up about her recent health struggles.
The Tyrone native underwent heart surgery in 2019 after becoming sick while on a nationwide tour.
Philomena was on the road with Mike Denver when she began to feel unwell and was forced to seek medical help.
In a recent interview with RSVP Country, she explained: “I had heart surgery in 2019, I got a valve in. I was breathless and the doctors brought me in and discovered I needed a valve.”
The 82-year-old had the operation in May that year but it was followed by a relentless infection that lasted for months.
The country singer was then diagnosed with a “kind of pneumonia” and she “couldn’t get rid of it”.
She revealed that a small care team visited her to give her injections over the course of a week.
Philomena eventually returned to touring in 2020 just weeks before the pandemic hit, which forced another pause in her career.
She explained: “I got back on the road with Mike the following January and then two months later the pandemic hit. That was another wee break I had from music, but I made use of it.”
Despite the health scare, the 82-year-old has said: “I’ve never really had a problem I couldn’t overcome. My children will tell you I complain a lot though [laughs].”
She also spoke candidly about her outlook on life and admitted she doesn’t dwell on her own illness.
Philomena said: “I complain every now and again, but when I look around and see people who are genuinely sick I realise what’s wrong with me is nothing.
“It’s just overthinking things you don’t need to be concerned about.
“Overthinking is the worst, it’s worse than anything. I try to get on with it because there are other people who are worse off.”
Philomena recently shocked fans with an “absolutely unbelievable” performance on The Late Late Show.
A past episode saw the biggest names in Irish country music join Patrick Kielty for a Late Late Country Music Special.
Philomena Begley, Cliona Hagan, Michael English and Gerry Guthrie all played a game called Wild West Roulette.
‘SUPERSTAR’
The Co Down presenter pressed the buzzer to spin the wheel and see which artist came up.
The country stars then had to nominate themselves to sing a song by that artist.
When it landed on ABBA, Philomena was ready and raring to get up and sing her heard out.
The 80-year-old shouted: “Yes, it’s me!
She explained: “I tell you what, I bought an album years and years ago of ABBA and I came across this song – The Way That Old Friends Do.
“I had it recorded and it did very well for me too. It bubbled in the British charts. That’s my claim to fame.”
The Tyrone native gave a knockout performance and wowed the audience
