Ronan Keating's solo concert ended with Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch joining him on stage at the Royal Albert Hall.

The group then sang Gave It All Away with Gately's last vocals echoing through the arena.

"The time has come to celebrate an amazing life and smile, because Stephen never stopped smiling and singing," Duffy told Sky News Online.

"He was the colour in our band, he was this big flamboyant presence and he would have wanted us to be happy."

Thousands of fans cheered wildly as each member of the band addressed the sell-out crowd, thanking them for their support since Gately's death last October.

"You have followed us for 17 years, you have made us welcome in your towns and cities and we will never forget the love and support you have shown us," Keating told them.

"Stephen will always be with us, when we sing, when we perform. He will live on in our music."

Boyzone's new album Brother topped the midweek album sales and is on track to reach number one in the UK chart this weekend.

Gately would have celebrated his 34th birthday next Wednesday, St Patrick's Day.

"We all miss Stephen so much, but there is strength in us being together," Graham said.

"People have been amazing to us. I use Twitter a lot and the messages from Boyzone fans around the world have really lifted me.

"And for that I just want to say thank you, a very sincere thank you."