It was a very poignant moment.
Karl Shiels, who played Robbie Quinn on the RTÉ One soap, passed away suddenly last month at the age of 47.
Last night, viewers saw Robbie leave Carrigstown for a business trip abroad.
“Right, cab’s outside, you sure you are going to manage without me?” he said to Carol, played by Aisling O’Neill.
Fans of the soap were heartbroken by this line, knowing that Karl will never grace the show again.
They took to Twitter to share their sadness:
Good bye #robbie you be sadly missed on our screens #FairCity
— donna marie smith (@smithydonamarie) August 7, 2019
Its still so hard to comprehend that the wonderful and inspiring #karlshiels is gone.Heartbreaking for fans, must be a million times worse for his beloved family and #FairCity family. Robbie and Carol were the BEST duo/ couple and thank you to Karl and @aislingchris_o for that ❤
— Emma Carroll ? (@McsEmma) August 7, 2019
The poignancy of Karl Sheils’ (Robbie) final scene is unreal.
His last episode airs 24 days after his death.
One of the best actors in the show. #FairCity pic.twitter.com/BYRUgU6j3n
— Seán O’Regan (@SeanOR95) August 7, 2019
Goodnight and goodbye #Robbie. Missed already. #FairCity
— Niamh MC Brennan (@NiamhMCBrennan2) August 7, 2019
Are you sure you’re gonna manage without me ?#FairCity pic.twitter.com/AYIvNqJdDt
— Natalie??✨ (@WestWonderZone) August 7, 2019
Ah no….. Are you sure you’re gonna manage without me ????? It’s so heartbreaking. #FairCity
— Fair City Fans (@faircityfans) August 7, 2019
Oh, Robbie. I’ll miss ya. ???? #FairCity
— Ellen Madigan エレンマディガン ?? ?️? (@black_sheep1981) August 7, 2019
The plot was rewritten after Shiels’s unexpected death in July.
“We all miss Karl, who was a wonderful actor and friend, and Fair City will miss Robbie Quinn, who was a blaze of trouble and fun during his time in Carrigstown,” said Brigie de Courcy, the soap’s executive producer.
Shiels joined Fair City in 2014 as bad boy Robbie and quickly became popular with viewers.
His character was involved in a number of major storylines during his five years in Carrigstown.
He was also widely known for his work as a theatre actor.