WESTLIFE’S Shane Filan wed his childhood sweetheart yesterday — and both were sights in white. Thousands of fans braved heavy rain to see the singer and beautiful bride Gillian Walsh, both 24. Bandmates Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Bryan McFadden and his wife Kerry were among the 500 guests at Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo, Ireland. And Ronan Keating, 26, and wife Yvonne, 29, arrived to screams from fans.
The Sunday Mirror - RONAN & GEORGE'S £32,000 GIFT December 28th 2003 - By Emma Cox TV Correspondent
GEORGE Michael and Ronan Keating last night won £32,000 in a special celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in memory of their mothers - who both died from cancer
Former Wham! star George gave his half of the cash to Macmillan because one of the charity's nurses looked after his mother when she was dying.
And ex-Boyzone frontman Ronan gave his money to his own charity, the Marie Keating Foundation, which was set up in his own mother's memory.
George said: "One of the things Ronan and I have in common is that we both lost our mothers within a year of one another to cancer.
"In my case there was a Macmillan nurse who helped my parents throughout.
"They provide an amazing service and I thought this would be a good way to show my gratitude."
The "Cosford Riggers" team represent RAF Cosford's Airframe Training Squadron (AFTS) in the London Marathon 2004. AFTS recently won a high-profile competition with Heart FM radio station for Ronan Keating to perform in their hangar.
The exclusive concert was an overwhelming success for everyone involved. Ronan’s enjoyment of the show was obvious – the smiles said it all. The performance will live long in the memories of everyone lucky enough to secure a ticket.
All the Cosford Riggers team have been involved in fund-raising previously, and are co-ordinating their efforts this year to raise money for Samaritans.
Ronan was impressed with our cause, and fully supportive of our intent to make an exclusive memento available to you - the Ronan Keating fans.
RAF Cosford produced two large posters to different designs. Before leaving the station, Ronan autographed the poster featured in his dressing room (see photo above). This poster is now available for you to win as part of a worldwide Christmas competition.
Everyone supporting our fundraising by donating more than £5 (five UK pounds) between now and Christmas Eve will be entered into a grand draw. Entries to the competition will cease at 12.00hrs (midday) GMT on 24 Dec 2003. The draw will take place in the afternoon – a representative from Samaritans will draw ONE Golden Ticket. The winner will be announced on Christmas morning – the ultimate Ronan Keating Christmas present.
Once the winner is announced, we will confirm identity/delivery instructions and forward the poster by express mail – anywhere, worldwide!
It is our sincere hope this poster is won by a true Ronan fan. We are seeking to maximise fundraising without ripping fans off. For less than the cost of a Compact Disc you have the chance to win an exclusive one-of-a-kind record of a remarkable event.
All that’s left is for you to secure your place in the draw. Entrants MUST use the “Sponsor us now” option, rather than “Pay on completion.”
Please spread details of this page (www.justgiving.com/cosford) to Ronan fans everywhere – further details, pics etc will be posted at Kev Place’s personal site (www.thats-my-boy.co.uk) in the near future.
Ronan joined us on our Xmas show to talk about his new album and new image. His third solo album is called TURN IT ON and was released on the 17th November. Ronan has co-written all but two of the tracks on the album, a lot of which are very personal to him. In particular, THIS IS YOUR SONG, which he performed on the show for us tonight and which he wrote about his mother shortly after she died from breast cancer. Ronan also spoke to us about his very public split from ex-manager Louis Walsh, and what he thinks of Louis slagging him off in the press.
Ronan meets air frame technician, Hayley Edgar after performing his concert
Hundreds of service personnel had the best lunch break ever as pop heart-throb Ronan Keating flew into RAF Cosford for a special concert.
And the 26-year-old songwriting sensation said the gig, which took place in a huge hangar at the airforce station, was the most bizarre venue he had played in the whole of his career. He performed a half-hour set after the station staff won it as a competition prize from Heart FM.
The smiling singer, dressed casually in jeans and a jacket, chatted to the crowd before performing five of his biggest hits, including If Tomorrow Never Comes and Rollercoaster.
Fans in the 700-strong invited audience cheered and sang along as the former Boyzone frontman performed his trademark dance moves flanked by two military jets.
Speaking afterwards, Ronan said it had been "absolutely incredible" to perform in the huge hangar.
"It was just fantastic, I don't get to do things like this very often," he added.
"It was very strange to sing with huge aeroplanes to either side of me and the venue was unbelievable."
He added he had been busy promoting his latest album, Turn It On, which was released in November and would be heading off to Ireland after the gig for a television appearance.
He paid tribute to the crowd and said it was great to be able to bring some festive cheer to families.
Competition winner, Corporal Kevin Place, said: "I wanted to get Ronan to play as a good morale boost. There are a lot of people on the station who still have loved ones away from home in the Gulf and elsewhere, which is particularly tough at this time of year."
The "Cosford Riggers" team represent RAF Cosford's Airframe Training Squadron (AFTS) in the London Marathon 2004. AFTS recently won a high-profile competition with Heart FM radio station for Ronan Keating to perform in their hangar.
RAF Cosford produced two large posters to different designs. Before leaving the station, Ronan autographed the poster featured in his dressing room (see photo above). This poster is now available for you to win as part of a worldwide Christmas competition.
worldwide!