Ronan Keating is to headline this year's Balloon Festival
Chronicle & Echo
POP star Ronan Keating will headline this year's Northampton Balloon Festival
after agreeing to perform at the three-day extravaganza.
The 26-year-old singer songwriter will appear live on stage at the Racecourse on
Saturday, August 21, performing classic hits such as Life is a Rollercoaster and
When You Say Nothing At All as well as previewing tracks from his
eagerly-awaited new album. The former Boyzone heartthrob, who has sold more than
17 million albums, added his name to a clutch of stars already performing
including Sugababes and Big Brovaz. Councillor Judith Lill, Northampton
Borough Council cabinet member for events, said, "To have such a well- known
international recording artist as Ronan Keating appearing at the Northampton
Balloon Festival 2004 makes what is already a great event even better.
"The concert promises to be a memorable occasion for everyone attending and we
are sure Ronan will raise the festival's profile even further. "With his
addition to the programme and the appearance of Sugababes and Big Brovaz on the
Friday night, we believe that we have put together a range of artists that will
appeal to a wide audience over the weekend. "Tickets for the concert go on
sale tomorrow and cost £12.50 if purchased in person from the Northampton
Visitor Information Centre in Guildhall Road or Spinadisc on Abington Street.
Peter Newman, tourism and events manager at Northampton Borough Council, said:
"Ronan Keating's concert is an additional date to his national tour and the fact
that he has agreed to appear at this year's Balloon Festival shows its
importance in the national events calendar. "The concerts are a real opportunity
for the residents of Northampton and the surrounding areas to see such a
well-known international recording artist here in their own town. The fact
that we have managed to secure such well known artists in our first year of
staging such high-profile concerts reflects the determination to ensure that the
Balloon Festival continues to offer a unique experience to the residents of
Northampton and the surrounding area."
Tickets for the gig will also be available online at
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk
or by phoning 0870 534 4444. 30 June 2004
Ok! Magazine issue No. 425 date: July 6th 2004
Sir Elton’s Garden Party
The World’s biggest stars descend on old Windsor for the Chopard White Tie and
Tiara Ball
OK! caught up with pop star Ronan Keating and his gorgeous wife
Yvonne, who was dressed in a white Roberto Cavalli dress. Ronan, who revealed
that he’s been busy in the States promoting his latest single with LeAnn Rimes,
said ‘This is the third time we’ve been to the White Tie and Tiara Ball. It’s
always a great night out and it’s good to support the charity.
With Ronan are Charlotte Wolseley Brinton (left) and Lucy Gemmell (right)
Fantastic screenshots of Leann Rimes and Ronan performing at the Oxygen Custom Concert in New York added! - Click here
Thanks to Marcia from Leann Rimes' Official forum!
Fantastic photos of Ronan in Vienna added! - Click here
June 28th 2004 English translation of German Bonn concert review added - Click here
Sir Elton John & Chopard host the Sixth White Tie & Tiara Ball
June 26th 2004
On June 24th 2004, Sir Elton John opened his Windsor home to friends and celebrities for his 6th White Tie and Tiara Ball, raising funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The event raised over £4 million. Among the celebrities who attended the event were Ronan and Yvonne Keating, Mary J. Blige, Bryan Adams, Elizabeth Hurley and Sarah, Duchess of York, to name but a few.
This years
event was themed in the period of Imperial China. Chopard, who sponsored the
event, presented the latest in their series of Elton John Watches, each of which
benefits the foundation.
Elton John founded the non-profit foundation in 1992, it provides funding for
prevention education programs and direct patient care services which support
people of all ages living with HIV/AIDS. The foundation has now
distributed more than $40 million grants worldwide.
Visit Chopard.com to read more about the Elton John AIDS Foundation and this years White Tie and Tiara Ball.
Photo © Chopard
Ronan confirmed to appear at Northampton Balloon Festival
BBC Northamptonshire - June 26th 2004
Ronan
is confirmed to be appearing at this years Northampton Balloon Festival:
The 2004 Northampton Balloon Festival takes place on the Racecourse over the
weekend of 20-22 August.
A weekend later than usual, the festival is changing more than just its
scheduling.
As well as the hot air balloons, some big named stars are set to perform at the
musical concerts held on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon.
Already confirmed for the Friday night concert are chart toppers Sugababes with
support from Big Brovaz.
Other names have yet been confirmed for the rest of the weekend but it is
expected to be a diverse line-up to appeal to a broad audience.
While entry to the balloon festival remains free, this year's concerts will
charge entry. Friday night's concert will cost £8 entry.
Like the past two years, BBC Northamptonshire will be covering the event in a
variety of ways. The website will be updated nearer to the event, but any
questions can of course be sent and we'll do our best to answer them.
In the meantime, don't forget to browse through last year's content to see what
the festival's about and relive the sunny weekend fun.
© British Broadcasting Corporation
Northamptonballoonfestival.com
The Northampton Balloon Festival is an action packed 3 - day family event. There
will be a mix of spectacular hot air ballooning, roadshows, entertainment,
displays, exhibitions and trade stands for all the family to enjoy. This is a
great event for a free family day out with the only charges being for the live
concerts.
This year the event will feature balloon tethering, inflation races, morning and
evening balloon races and on the Friday and Saturday evening the memorable
Balloon Glow.
© Northampton Borough Council
Oxygen Custom Concert - Behind–the–Scenes
Country
pop star, LeAnn Rimes, ROCKED the CroBar in New York City on June 23, 2004,
along with her special guests for the evening: Irish singing sensation, Ronan
Keating, of Boyzone, Johnny Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) and American Idol
phenomenon Diana DeGarmo. LeAnn’s Oxygen Custom Concert debuts Sunday, June 27th
at 10pm/9C, but you can catch a sneak peek of pre–concert action today, with
this exclusive gallery of all—access snapshots. - Click
here
The Duet
LeAnn and Ronan are singing their hit ballad "Last Thing on my Mind" which Ronan
co–wrote and recorded with LeAnn. Oh! the harmony, Oh! the voices, well done.
Copyright © 1998-2004 Oxygen Media. All Rights Reserved.
Cast Your Vote for Ronan!
Tell BRMB what you think in their interactive vote. It only takes two ticks and
the results are displayed automatically.
They have six acts and counting lined up for July 10th and they want to know who
you'll be screaming for. Featuring well-established artists such as
Jamelia and Ronan Keating, alongside up-and-coming bands such as Bellefire,
Party in the Park is shaping up to be a one-stop-shop festival for music fans.
Cast your vote for Ronan now! To vote, go to our
Support Ronan page
and click on the BRMB link, then on 'Cast your vote' -
Don't forget to check back for the results.
June 22nd 2004 - Take Ronan's advice, chaps - Click here
Turn It On Tour moved back by 11 weeks
Ronan's Turn It On Tour has been rescheduled as Ronan has to record his
brand new album which will be released later this year. Click
here to see the new dates.
All tickets already purchased will be fully transferable. Contact the venues if
you have any queries or would like more detailed information. For more details,
visit
www.ronankeating.com
Ronan Keating reveals how an emotional trip to Ghana has changed him interview added
KEATING TAKES SOME BEATING -
Daily Mirror M@ilbox
THANK you for your article on Ronan Keating's visit to Ghana (Daily Mirror,
June 9).
It highlighted how international trade laws have destroyed the livelihoods of
the people of Ghana and forced them to break up rocks for gravel.
The following day I watched Ronan's video diary shown on This Morning, and a
more genuine person could not have been chosen to bring this matter to people's
attention. - N Reed, Kent
WELL done Ronan Keating for going to Ghana to see the problems people in Africa
face.
He's following in the footsteps of those other great Irish pop stars who work
for charity - Bob Geldof and Bono.
FOR information on how you can help Christian Aid's Trade Justice campaign, call
0845 330 0500 or visit
www.christianaid.org.uk/campaign (or in Ireland
www.christianaid.ie/campaign)
© Trinity Mirror Plc
To protect the privacy of those who wrote the above letters to the Daily Mirror, names, addresses and email addresses have been removed.
June 14th 2004 - Ronan Keating: Living life and loving it interview added
June 12th 2004 - Photos from the SWR3 festival - Click here
"Irish pop star Ronan moved by the 'inhumanity' of trade injustice. Article and photo are courtesy of Christian Aid"
Ronan
Keating with Kofi Eliasa. Kofi was a farmer but now works 12 hours a day in a
quarry often earning less than £1 a day. Kofi's tomato farm was driven out of
business by cheap subsidised imports. Image: Christian Aid
Pop star Ronan Keating has returned from Ghana with Christian Aid angry at the
injustice of the impact of international trade rules on poor farmers.
Ronan said he was determined to share the stories of the people he met in the
fields and markets of Ghana, in the hope people will be inspired to campaign for
trade justice.
In the paddy fields of Dawenya, an hour's drive from the capital Accra, Ronan
met Ernestina Doku, a widow with three children. Despite the rich and fertile
land, Ghanaian rice farmers are struggling to make a living. 'My husband died
because rice could not sustain our family', Ernestina said. 'We had no money for
medical bills and he died at home. Many rice farmers have been forced to leave
the fields.'
Ernestina's life is made harder because IMF and World Bank rules prevent the
Ghanaian government from supporting its farmers and restricting its imports from
rich countries. Ernestina is not alone. Ronan met other farmers whose
livelihoods are also under threat.
In Sunyani, Agatha Yumbia told Ronan how she struggles to support her elderly
mother and extended family by selling chickens. However, her business simply
can't compete with the cheap frozen chickens imported from Holland and Canada.
Ironically, while Agatha's government is forbidden from giving her financial aid
to raise her chickens, those from abroad are heavily subsidised. 'We just want
to take care of the children but our government is not allowed to help us' said
Agatha.
The most moving moment for Ronan was meeting Kofi Eliasa who made a living as a
tomato farmer. Now Kofi works a 12 hour day in the searing heat breaking stones
in a quarry. On a good day he earns £1 a day. 'I haven't eaten all day because I
have no money to buy food.' Said Kofi. Ronan was moved to tears by what he saw.
'This quarry, this inhuman place, is what happens when trade doesn't work. These
are farmers who cannot afford to work the land.'
'I've had an unbelievable life-changing experience in Ghana' Ronan said. 'My
duty to the people I met to speak out about trade justice begins now that I'm
back. Once people hear the message, I can't believe people will turn away.'
Click on Christian Aid at the beginning of this article to go to their site and watch the videos.
© Christian Aid 2004
Ronan Keating, Christian Aid Ambassador
Keating: wanted to give something back
As
an international pop star, Ronan Keating is used to crowds of
screaming fans and exciting tour venues, but his latest trip took him to
Ghana in West Africa. He was there as an ambassador for the charity
Christian Aid and saw the effect international trade rules are having on
some of the poorest people in the world. The problem is being caused
by cheap subsidised food imports, which are destroying the country's farming
economy.
Ronan Keating joined Bill and Natasha live in the Breakfast studio this
morning. He explained how he made contact with Christian Aid after
reading an article in a magazine about Third World debt. They
organised his trip to Ghana, to meet the country's farmers and see their
problems first hand.
"I was excited and scared at the same time," he explained. "But when I got
there it ws unbelievable. They were brilliant and welcoming."
Christian Aid says thousands were able to make a living from farming, but
that the IMF and World Bank have forced Ghana to stop helping its own
farmers and open its market to foreign goods.
Subsidies
Cheap tomatoes, chickens and rice are flooding into the country according to
the charity - all of which is subsidised.
The Irish pop singer said: "What's happening in Ghana is wrong and changes
need to be made.
"I am joining Christian Aid's call for trade justice - not free trade, poor
countries have to be able to support themselves.
Upsetting
During his trip at the end of May, Keating met a former tomato farmer called
Kofi, who could once afford to send his children to school.
He is now forced to work in a quarry for £1 a day breaking stones from dawn
to dusk.
Keating now wants international trade rules to be changed and publicity
surrounding his trip has been deliberately timed to coincide with the G8
summit in Georgia. During the trip, Keating went shopping for the
ingredients for a local dish called Jollof rice, and helped to prepare a
meal. He also met rice farmers in their paddy and watched them tending
their crop - they were able to tell him about their struggle to compete with
US and Asian subsidised rice.
© British Broadcasting Corporation
"Christian Aid's trade justice ambassador Ronan Keating. Photos are courtesy of Christian Aid."
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|
Ronan goes to Market |
Hearing Kofi's story |
Ronan's message |
Francis Ackuah-Kudjoe |
You can also watch videos of Ronan in Ghana here
Please do not use the above photos anywhere else without asking Christian aid for permission - contact details are in this article.
© Christian Aid 2004
THE AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT OUR 'GIFTS' TO AFRICA
June 9th 2004 -
Daily Mirror
EXCLUSIVE: Ronan Keating meets farmers breaking up rubble for £1 for 12 hours'
hard labour
From Ros Wynne-Jones
RONAN Keating is angry, upset and confused. Behind him, where the afternoon
sun beats against the deep walls of the quarry, 170 men, women and children are
pounding rocks.
Streaked with sweat and dust, the strongest workers will earn under £1 for 12
hours' hard labour.
Almost all of the stone-breakers here on the road between Sunyani and Akomadan
in Ghana, were once farmers tilling the rich soils. Now their fields grow rotten
with wasted foods.
BACK
BREAKING: Ronan watches three former farmer's wives break rocks for a living
"Look at these people," the 27-year-old singer says. "This quarry, this
inhuman place, is what happens when trade doesn't work. These are farmers who
cannot afford to work the land."
Ghana's marketplaces are flooded with cheap imports from Western countries which
heavily subsidise agriculture. Yet Ghana, where 80 per cent of the
population live on less than £1.50 a day, is barred by international trade laws
from helping its own farmers.
A man shows us his hand, where part of his index finger is missing.
School-age children hammer rocks as do empty-eyed women with babies tied to
their backs. They are creating gravel for construction and road-building.
It is Ronan's first journey as a Trade Justice ambassador for Christian Aid and
he makes no attempt to hide his emotions. "What chokes you is the way they smile
and welcome you," he says. "There is no bitterness."
Sweat pours from Kofi Eliasa, 33, as he lifts his pickaxe. "I used to have a
one-acre tomato farm but I couldn't feed my children," he tells Ronan.
The singer has spent the past week with the Daily Mirror and Christian Aid,
visiting farmers across central Ghana to investigate how unfair trade laws are
destroying livelihoods.
His journey has brought him 3,000 miles across the world from his home in
Dublin, then 1,300 miles on potholed and dangerous roads through rural Ghana and
into contact with some of Africa's poorest people.
"This week has been like nothing I've ever known," he says. "The sense of
injustice is so strong and yet the people are so patient."
IMPOSSIBLE
START: A woman has her baby strapped to her as she transports rocks.
Children often have to work as soon as they are able to foregoing school
In 1983, Ghana, like many of the world's poorest governments, accepted loans
from the IMF and the World Bank. As a condition, the government agreed to stop
subsidising its farmers. Yet we in the West continue to subsidise agriculture.
As the G8 group of the world's most powerful nations meets in Georgia today,
Christian Aid is calling for poor countries to be given the right to help their
farmers - so they can begin to trade their way out of poverty.
"Asking poor countries to compete with the West is like a school team playing
Manchester United," Ronan says. "You know who'll win. The richest countries
already had a head start and yet we're the ones allowed to help our farmers."
WHILE on the long road north, Ronan talks about how realisation dawned on him.
"I didn't know what was going on outside Dublin until I was 16 or 17 and started
to travel with Boyzone.
"I remember going to Bangkok and the poverty made me sick. I felt then as if I
had a duty to give back, after being given so much. Not just money but
opportunities."
In the villages, families prepare Jollof Rice, from chicken, rice and tomatoes.
Ghana produces all three in abundance, yet as locals desert their feilds,
families are eating Texan rice with Italian tomatoes and EU chicken.
In the paddy fields at Dawenya, Ernestina Doku, a widow with three children, is
tending rice seedlings.
"My husband died because rice could not sustain our family," she says. "We had
no money for medical bills and he died at home. Many rice farmers have already
left their fields to break stones."
Ronan introduces us to farmer David Sakyi-Amah, 27. "He's my age," says the
star, who ponders the nature of a world where he is worth an estimated £8million
and David struggles to feed himself.
"I could have been born here, David could have been me. But I was born in the
West," he says. "We always had food on the table and clothes on our backs. These
people have nothing."
In Sunyani, seven hours' drive north, we meet 30-year-old Agatha Wayire, who
owns a chicken shed. She and her mother Mary, who keeps goats, are both widows
who support 19 people in their extended family. They are struggling to
send the younger ones to school and are left with no money for healthcare - and
the youngest child has malaria.
"We just want to be able to take care of the little ones," Mary explains. "But
our government is not allowed to help us."
It is the same story in the tomato fields at Akomadan, where the fruit hangs
rotting.
Ama Sewa, 49, tells us she has four children. Last year, she saved up for a
sewing machine to supplement her earnings but then her grand-daughter became
desperately ill and they had no money to pay the hospital. To save her
grand-daughter, she sold the machine.
There are tears as Labi, our translator, tells her story. Later that night,
Ronan, who has two children - Jack, five, and three-year-old Marie - speaks to
his wife Yvonne on the phone. "It's hard to get across the emotions," he says.
"When I get back I'll tell her everything."
SLAVE LABOUR: Skilled farmers are reduced to struggling by due to unfair
trade laws
Ronan
won't lose sight of the big issue amid the succession of harrowing stories.
"Yes, this is a global issue and about countries being able to turn their
economies around."
In the marketplace in the capital, Accra, stacks of tinned EU tomatoes are
selling for half the price of fresh.
Sacks of Texan rice have replaced local rice on stalls. Live chickens cost £6
each, but badly-thawed frozen chickens go for £1.20 a kilo.
We have rice from Dawenya, tomatoes from Akomadan and a chicken from Sunyani.
Victoria Adongo, a campaigner from Isodec, Christian Aid's partner in Ghana,
lets us crowd into her kitchen where she shows Ronan how to make Jollof Rice.
The chicken's neck is wrung, the tomatoes and onions softened in soyabean oil.
To produce this dish with Ghanaian ingredients, Ronan has travelled 1,300 miles
across the country. "I've gone to bed every night on this trip feeling angry and
confused," he says. "I'm still only learning. But I've come to believe
that Trade Justice can really work."
THE singer already supports other charities and has his own, the £1million Marie
Keating Foundation, which he founded after he lost his mother to cancer in 1998.
"The difference is that this isn't about people at home putting their hands in
their pockets," Ronan says.
"This is about joining a campaign to get our governments to use their position
on the IMF, the World Bank and World Trade Organisation to change things.
"Once they hear the message, I can't believe people will turn away."
Victoria gives Ronan a carved wooden drum covered with animal skin. "In Africa,
when we want to convey a message to people far away, we beat a drum," she says,
and her eyes fill with tears. "We want you to beat a drum for us, Ronan."
On the way to the airport, Ronan says: "People keep saying 'don't forget us'. I
think, 'How could anyone'?"
He looks out at a pile of gravel. It might have passed unnoticed a week ago but
now we know how it came into being - blocks of rocksmashed by human strength and
perseverance. Like the drum, it seems a a metaphor.
"My job hasn't even begun yet. It starts when I get to the UK and tell people
what's happening here.
"When they hear the truth."
For more on Christian Aid's Trade Justice campaign, visit
www.christianaid.org.uk/campaign
(in Ireland: www.christianaid.ie/campaign)
or call 0845 3300 500
HOW THE IMF RUINED GHANA
1983: Jacques de Larosière, the French managing Director of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), gives the green light to £1.2billion worth of loans to
Ghana - but with the most stringent conditions ever known in Africa, including
the removal of all subsidies to its farmers.
Thousands of farmers who grew rice and tomatoes and raised chickens suddenly
stopped receiving subsidies and state-owned farm machinery, such as combine
harvesters and tractors, is privatised.
Local farmers in Ghana quickly go out of business, unable to compete with the
subsidised imports.
Chicken farms close, tomatoes rot in the field and even though huge amounts of
rice are eaten in the country, most comes from Texas, and Ghana's ricebowl the
Katanga Valley turns to dust.
Instead the destitute farmers spend their days breaking stone in terrible
conditions for less than £1 for 12
hours work. Once assured of passing their farms onto their children, now they
have nothing.
Meanwhile cheap rice from the United States, European Union subsidised tomatoes
from Italy, and subsidised chicken from Holland floods into the country.
© Trinity Mirror Plc
New Archive news added
Ronan on BBC Breakfast on November 6th 2003 - Click here
Ronan on BBC Breakfast on May 10th 2002 - Click here
Ronan turns it on in Ghana and calls for Trade Justice
Christian Aid - June 8th 2004
As world leaders meet at G8 summit in Georgia this week, Ronan Keating has
joined the call for trade justice declaring international trade rules immoral.
Returning
from a trip to Ghana with Christian Aid, the multi-platinum selling recording
artist says, 'Having seen what I've seen I now realise international trade rules
are criminal and must be rewritten if thousands of people across Africa are
going to have the chance to survive, and care for their families.'
The Christian Aid organised visit to Ghana was Ronan's first trip to west
Africa. Ronan saw the disastrous effect international trade rules are having on
some of the world's poorest people. Ronan met chicken, tomato and rice farmers
and saw first hand how difficult it is for them to make a living.
Once thousands of people across Ghana were able to make a living from farming.
However, under pressure from rich countries, new rules have been brought in and
are cutting this lifeline. The World Bank and IMF have forced Ghana to stop
helping its own farmers and open up its markets to foreign goods. Cheap,
subsidised tomatoes, chicken and rice are flooding the country, out-pricing
local goods and ruining thousands of livelihoods.
Ronan described how upset he was to meet Kofi a former tomato farmer who now has
no other option but to work in a local stone quarry. Kofi used to be able to
send his kids to school and feed his family by selling his own tomatoes.
'Imported tomatoes have made his old lifestyle impossible so he now works in a
quarry from 6am till it gets dark, breaking stones. He goes home with a £1. Just
£1 a day. This just can't go on,' Ronan said.
'What's happening in Ghana is wrong and changes need to be made. I am joining
Christian Aid's call for trade justice - not free trade. Poor countries have to
be allowed to support their own people and use whatever tools they need to lift
their people out of poverty. Hopefully people will feel the same way I do once
they hear the stories we have to tell. Together we can make a difference.'
Thanks to Karen!
© Christian Aid 2004
Marie Keating Foundation website revamped
The Marie Keating Foundation website has been given a new look, with even
more information on various types of cancers, a gallery of the family and past
fund raising events. And of course the story of how the foundation was set
up in memory of Ronan's mother, Marie. You can now also donate to the
foundation online. To visit the website click on the logo on he right
frame of our site.
Cosgrove Hall eggs on Shelltown
Skwigly Animation Magazine
June 3rd 2004
Manchester
based animators, Cosgrove Hall are working with Irish based Shelltown
productions on yet another fabulous kid’s show with a difference! Shelltown
follows the tales of three mischievous young eggs, Splat, Cracker and
Exactly, who reside in a town where all the buildings and cars are egg
shaped!
Irish singing superstar, Ronan Keating’s acting talents are about to be put
to the test as he becomes the voice of the main character “Splat”. Ronan is
so sure of the project’s success he has invested in the Irish company and is
also composing the show’s music! Ronan comments “As a family man with kids,
when I saw Shelltown I thought it was fantastic and I really wanted to be
involved with the project and the company”.
Ronan will be joined by “Queen of the Jungle” Kerry McFadden who is to voice
the lead female character Cracker. Names also linked to the project include
Oscar winning actor Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), Kenneth Brannagh (Henry
V/Harry Potter) , and comedian Johnny Vegas.
The
series was devised by Patricia Parsons-Sparkes and her husband Bernard
Sparkes from Ballymoney. The stories and characters are based on the bedtime
tales they dreamt up for their 13 children. Bernard Sparkes “It’s great to
finally see the stories coming to life – not satisfied with them just being
bedtime stories the children were always asking when they’d be able to see
Splat on TV – and now they will!” The couple brought the concept to Cosgrove
Hall who have worked with them to develop the characters and are presently
working on the two minute pilot episode. The 26 x 11 CGI series is expected
to go into full production in early Autumn.
Ben Turner, Creative Director, Cosgrove Hall Digital “Shelltown is yet
another great project to work on. The programme is getting massive support
from all corners which is proof that we have a strong, fun and visually
fantastic programme – Ronan’s involvement has just strengthened what is sure
to be an international hit”.
It has already been indicated by Irish Channel RTÉ that they will acquire
the series and with huge interest from an American broadcaster the Shelltown
team are presently looking for a UK based broadcaster and distributor.
Stars get animated Manchester Online Carmel Thomason
Copyright © 1999-2004 Shelltown Productions Ltd
IRISH singer Ronan Keating and "Queen Of The Jungle"
Kerry McFadden are the latest stars to lend their personalities to animators
at Cosgrove Hall. They are to be the voices behind characters on the
Chorlton-based company's latest project, Shelltown, which follows the tales
of three mischievous young eggs, Splat, Cracker and Exactly, who live in a
town where all the buildings and cars are egg shaped.
The series, which is expected to go into full production this autumn, has been devised by Patricia Parsons-Sparkes and her husband, Bernard Sparkes, who developed the idea from bedtime tales they dreamt up for their 13 children.
"It's great to see the stories finally coming to life," says Bernard. "The children were always asking when they'd be able to see Splat on TV, and now they will."
Oscar-winning actor Julian Fellowes, Kenneth Brannagh and Johnny Vegas have also been linked to the show, which sees Cosgrove Hall collaborate with Irish company, Shelltown Productions.
And, although the cartoon is still in the pilot stage and has yet to be snapped up by a UK broadcaster, it is clear former Boyzone star Ronan is already confident of its success.
Not only has he agreed to become the show's lead, Splat, he is also composing the music and has invested in the company. "As a family man with kids, when I saw Shelltown I thought it was fantastic," says Ronan.
Visit the Cosgrove Hall website here Visit the official Shelltown website here
© Copyright 2004 GMG Regional Digital
Louise Redknapp and Ronan Keating on cancer and how it affected them - Click here
Ronan Keating and Leann Rimes Talk About Acting In Video
Undercover - June 1st 2004
Acting
didn't come all that naturally for Leann Rimes and Ronan Keating when they
filmed the video for their duet 'Last Thing On My Mind'. They had an
audience - their partners.
"It was quite an emotional video and a lot of emotion between the two
characters which is both of us" Ronan Keating told Associated Press. "Both
of us were quite embarrassed because at the end when we really interact both
partners were in the corridor watching it on the screen, we didn't know how
to react and then the two of them came in and said "for God's sake try and
pretend like you like each other".
'Last Thing On My Mind' features on Ronan's latest album 'Turn It On' and
Leann's 'Greatest Hits'.
Click
here to watch the Associated Press Ronan Keating and Leann Rimes
video from ROO Media Corporation
© Undercover Media Pty Ltd
BBC Radio 2 Sold on Song Top 100 - When You Say Nothing At All is No. 23!
Ronan
Keating’s first solo hit was released a month after he split from Boyzone in
the summer of 1999. It hit the number 1 spot and stayed for 2 weeks, no
doubt greatly aided by its use in Brit romantic comedy Notting Hill. Leading
lady Julia Roberts apparently cried when she first heard it. “When she told
me that, it was kind of an omen for me that it was going to be a hit,” Ronan
reported. It has indeed been a real money-spinner for Keating as appeared on
his 4.4 million-selling solo album and also appeared on the soundtrack the
film. The song stayed in the charts for 15 weeks, re-entering 3 months later
then once again that January. Written by US country artist Alison Krauss, it
was produced by Steve Lipson who recorded Boyzone’s hit of another cover
“Baby Can I Hold You Tonight”.
© British Broadcasting Corporation
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Ronan Keating - BBC Breakfast
Friday, 10 May, 2002
He's left Boyzone far behind - and at twenty five, he's
heading towards the status of elder statesman of
Irish pop.
Ronan Keating appeared live on Breakfast this morning.
Click here for Ronan's tour dates and venues
In nine years in the pop business, Ronan's chalked up five CDs - and his
second solo album is due for release next week.
"Destination" comes out next Monday (May 13). Ronan says:
"It's
the first record I've made that really feels like a body of work.
"I want people to see me for who I really am. And I don't think they've seen
that in yet in those nine years - who I am and what I'm about.
"This is the next step. It's definitely a progression. It's the best piece
of work I've ever done and I feel very confident with it.
"I can stand proud with these songs. I believe in them - I just hope
everyone else does."
Ronan's tour dates and venues
Monday 10 June Birmingham NEC
Tuesday 11 June Birmingham NEC
Thursday 13 June Wembley Arena
Friday 14 June Wembley Arena
Sunday 16 June Cardiff Arena
Tuesday 18 June Cardiff Arena
Thursday 20 June Glasgow SECC
Friday 21 June Glasgow SECC
Sunday 23 June Dublin Point
Tuesday 25 June Belfast Arena
Friday June 28 Nottingham Arena
Saturday 29 June Manchester Arena
© British Broadcasting Corporation