Yvonne was born in Naas Co.Kildare on the 8th February 1974. Her parents are Michael and Ann Connolly. She also has a brother James who is about 2 years older than her. Yvonne grew up in the country and had a very sheltered life. She and her Mum shared a big passion for horses. At the age of 12 Yvonne was sent to a boarding school and has said that she didn't really enjoy it. Stating that she lived for the weekends when she would ride and show jump her horses and it was also when she got time to see her 2 best friends Adele and Cecily, who also shared an interest for horses.
Her Mum Ann works in a Antiques shop called Grannies Attic in Naas and her Dad Michael is a business man. Yvonne brother James Connolly is married to Linda who is Jacks God-Mother. James and Linda have two children James aged about 7 and Jilly about 4. James works with his Father. Yvonne has stated that she gets on very well with her parents and her brother.
At the age of 18 Yvonne went to Cardiff University in Wales, she was studying to be a physiotherapist, although Yvonne made new friends in Wales, she missed her family & friends that much that she returned back to Ireland a couple of months into the course. Her best friend Cecily let Yvonne come and work in her beauty Salon and it was there that Yvonne was found by the Emerald Isle Modeling Agency where she worked as a model. Yvonne had long blonde curly hair & when she cut it, it did her image a lot of good, making her a Super Model and Ireland best.
Yvonne Keating
Yvonne Connolly, became Yvonne Keating on 30th April 1998, when she married our Ronan Keating. They had both previously met at a shop in Naas when the were teenagers. Ronan was working with his Dad delivering fizzy drinks and Yvonne was stood outside, Ronan described her as a pretty thing, with pig tails & braces on her teeth dressed in the full horse gear. She smiled at one another & said hello. Ronan's Dad Gerry commented on how nice she was and that was it!
It was then early 1997, when a friend of Ronan's introduced him to Yvonne in the Chocolate bar, Dublin. They became good friends and later realised that they had once met as teenagers and it wasn't long after that, that Ronan realised his love for this women. He told her one evening and discovered that she felt exactly the same! They became a couple in late 1997, but Ronan's mother Marie became ill with breast cancer and this put a strain on their relationship and I have reason to believe that they separated for a while. In this time Yvonne became attached to formula one ace Eddie Irvine, eventually Ronan and Yvonne worked through their problems and were stronger than ever. It was in 2 February 1998 that Ronan would need Yvonne like never before, when sadly his mother passed away!
When March time came, Ronan realised that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this women and proposed to her on bended knee in his bedroom!!! Once the Irish model had realised he was serious, she was more than happy to become his wife. The couple had planned to marry in Florida with their best friends Glin & Elaine Donnolly, but in April following the death of Ronans Nanny and Cousin Ronan need to take a break, so the couple went to the Caribbean isle of Nevis, where they decided to marry early!
