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IN NEWCASTLE CO.WICKLOW

The New Model Wife Who Is This Boy's Own

Boyzone singer Ronan Keating has spoken for the first time of his secret whirlwind marriage. The 21-year-old proposed to girlfriend Yvonne Connolly on the Caribbean island of Nevis last week while on compassionate leave following a string of family deaths. Days later they were married in a beachside service.
"I am the happiest I have ever been," Keating said. "People might say I've broken a million hearts but I've met the right girl and I hope the fans understand that she's made me very happy. Yvonne has helped me through a terrible year. I just wish my mother could have been there."

Doctors told Keating to take a break from the band after his mother Marie died of cancer in February. His grandmother Annie Keating died within weeks followed by cousin Laurinda Clarke, 16, who had meningitis.

Boyzone's latest single All That I Need entered the charts at number one 12 days ago. But Keating pulled out of an appearance on Top Of The Pops last week because of the stress of the bereavements. friends were worried about how he would cope with the grief and the pressure of fronting Britain's most successful boy-band.

"It's been a hard couple of months for me and Yvonne has been there for me," Keating said. "She has made things easier to bear. This made our relationship even stronger. She hasn't taken Mam's place but I get the same feeling of strength from her."

He added: "My brother Gary was best man but no one else knew we were there. My dad was at home in Ireland but is delighted. It was a wedding and honeymoon rolled into one."

Model Yvonne, 24, said: "It has been a very difficult time for Ronan and going away really helped him. Now he is the happiest I have ever seen him."

Keating is already back at work with the band. After the wedding ceremony, the couple flew to New York before joining the rest of the band in Monte Carlo for last night's Music Awards.

By Alun Palmer - Showbusiness reporter for the Daily Mail - May 8th 1998

Dublin

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!

Boyzone on Set Filming New Video in Dublin Pub Exterior shots of band members of Boyzone, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy on set with a film crew in a pub on September 16, 1998 in Dublin, Ireland.

Model Yvonne Connolly has said she is over the moon about her dream marriage to Ronan Keating earlier this month *The newly wed says that she still hasn't come down to earth since she ..

Newspaper: Sunday World (Dublin)

Dublin