Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating The 42-year-old singer on his time in Boyzone and being friends with the late George Michael
MY SECRET SKILL is being good at Lego. Having four kids who range from two to 20, I’ve built a lot of Lego in my lifetime.
MY MOST TREASURED POSSESSION is a guitar that my wife bought me. It’s a Johnny Cash Martin guitar, which I play all the time and write my albums on.
MY PLAN B was being a sprinter. Before Boyzone, I held the Irish 200-metre record. My brother was on an athletics scholarship in America and I was going for the same idea. But then everything got flipped on its head when I joined the band.
I’M DEFINITELY A SPIRITUAL PERSON and I pay attention to my feelings and to the universe and what it has in store for us all.
SOCIAL MEDIA is a curse. On one hand it’s a wonderful promotional tool, but on the other it’s terrible. It’s so narcissistic and it can be a dangerous thing. If people can use it positively in an enriching, nourishing way, then it’s great. But you don’t see that an awful lot.
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN MY LIFE has been George Michael. He was very important to me and was one of my musical heroes growing up. Then he became a good friend and mentor and someone I’d lean on. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE OUT THERE because we’d be naive to think we’re alone in this massive, crazy universe.
THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES I’VE FACED are the deaths of my mother and Stephen Gately. My mum had cancer, so you’re kind of building walls and preparing to protect yourself, but with Stephen it was so out of the blue. He was so young – it was the craziest thing ever in our lives. It’s still hard to understand.
MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT is my children. And still being here today and somewhat relevant!
MY IDEA OF CHILLING OUT is sitting with my wife, Storm, in the garden with a bottle of rosé. That’s happy days.
THREE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE ME are committed, hardworking and loving.
I’D SPEND MY LAST 24 HOURS with my family. I’m so happy when we’re together, eating great food and laughing.
I’D TELL MY 16-YEAROLD SELF don’t take yourself too seriously and just have fun. I worked hard in making sure the band worked, but those six years went by in the blink of an eye and I wish I had enjoyed it a bit more.
THE LIFE MOTTO I LIVE BY is your health is your wealth.
THE FIRST PERSON I’D CALL IN A CRISIS is my wife. I lean on her for advice and support. She’s a clever woman and very strong.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED as a good human being who made people laugh. Visit lphconcerts.co. to get tickets t Ronan’s upcoming s at Castle Howard Kimbolton Cast