Music mogul Louis Walsh has said he never wants to be sick again in hospital after his cancer battle – saying ‘it was just so scary’.

The Westlife manager was diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia, a rare, slow-growing type of blood cancer, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 73-year-old later shared that the condition is gone and he is doing fine.

But speaking to host Diana Bunici on her podcast The Delusional Optimist, Louis said he never wants to be sick in hospital again.

‘I don’t want to get sick. I don’t want to be sick in hospital. I was once, and it’s just so scary. Even the sight of those blue outfits scare me. They were very good to me. I was in the Mater Private, and they were so good to me.

‘That’s one thing I think we have here. We have great doctors and we’ve got great nurses. We all need them and they’re not paid enough,’ he said.

The Mayo native also shared his heartbreak over losing his mother, Maureen last year.

The mother-of-nine passed away at St Attracta’s Nursing Home in Charlestown, Co Mayo in June 2025, at the age of 94, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Speaking over a year after her death, an emotional Louis said that when she died ‘it was a release for her’.

‘Maureen was 94. She had nine kids. She was in a home for years. It was the best thing for her because she was just there.

‘She didn’t know anybody. It’s what she would have wanted, so you know when she died, it was a release for her and probably us as well.

‘My sisters went there every single day because she was right beside us in Kiltimagh. Oh God, it’s life,’ he said emotionally.

‘That’s why you have to enjoy it every day.’

Louis also said losing both his parents gave him a huge perspective to start enjoying life.

‘It’s living in the moment, and a lot of Irish people think it’s wrong if they enjoyed themselves. No, it’s not. More is more. I enjoy the simple things,’ he added.

Louis opened up about his love for cars, revealing he once bought a Rolls Royce off Elton John. He said he also likes to splurge in Brown Thomas from time to time.

‘I like to go to Jeff in Brown Thomas because he gives me good discount. He tells me what’s right and what’s not right.

‘I buy a lot of cars. I did buy a car from Elton John once, a Rolls Royce. It was a silver car with the white wheels and all that. I bought it because I was a fan of his and I loved the car.

‘But I didn’t drive it around town much. It was beautiful. I loved it. I love cars. I drive a G wagon at the moment. It’s electric and I love it.

‘I do buy a lot of pictures, like kind of artworks. I have a good few Warhols. I know a good bit about them. Life’s too short. You have to enjoy it,’ he added.