Michael O’Leary has sent his best wishes to Ciara Kelly following hip surgery earlier this month. 

The Newstalk Breakfast presenter underwent the procedure after feeling “significant pain” for some time. 

"I was in denial for a very long time because I am a walker and I am an independent type," she told listeners. 

"I just kept thinking, 'Oh this'll go away'; it doesn't go away, it's a progressive thing.

"In my head it was all going to go away until a kind of realisation dawned on me eight months ago that my life had gotten smaller.

"My life was not the life I wanted to lead anymore; I was saying no to things.

"I was limited, I was unable to attend things I wanted to do - I was opting out quietly of things that I would have wanted to have done."

Now Ciara is “feeling ridiculously well” and Mr O’Leary has added his voice to a chorus of well wishers. 

Last week, the Ryanair boss told journalists at his company’s AGM, “I always look at the Newstalk schedule, I mean they do a great morning [show] with Shane and, errr, Ciara.” 

“I have a secret crush on Michael O’Leary, but I won’t say that in public”

All is forgiven after Michael O’Leary gets in touch with the @NTBreakfast team to apologise for forgetting Ciara’s name in a @SkyNews interview with @SMurphyTV last week 🤭

Good to know Michael is a fan… pic.twitter.com/ND9EH9fRgl

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 18, 2023

Afterwards he emailed in to say, “Dear Ciara, 100,000 apologies for not being able to instantly recall your name in answer to a left field question at last Thursday’s AGM. 

“As an avid daily listener to Newstalk Breakfast - except when Shane is rabbiting on about the League of Ireland - it will never happen again. 

“Good luck with the hip recovery. Best wishes, Michael O’Leary.” 

Ciara replied that she was “blushing” and that she had a "secret crush” on the businessman.

Main image: Michael O'Leary and Ciara Kelly