The Kelly Show - The Last Ever - Friday 16th December 2005

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Gerry Kelly: What a thrill it is to have these next guys on the show, two brilliant artistes in their own right and two great friends of the Kelly Show; and they've come together again for a very special song. With The Long Goodbye would you please welcome Paul Brady and Ronan Keating.

Ronan performs The Long Goodbye with Paul Bradley accompanying on piano

Gerry Kelly: Now you two wrote that song didn't you?

Ronan: We did indeed

Paul: A few years back

R: A few years back yeah

G: It was an odd collaboration you two getting together wasn't it?

R: (Laughs) was it? Why is that?

G: Whose idea was that? Who thought of that?

P: I don't know, you had just left Boyzone and you were heading out on your own

R: Yeah

P: And you were moving to the song writing area, I had been writing for many years and it kind of; sort of made sense for us to get together and see what would happen ya know?

G: And something wonderful happened

R: Well you never know with any collaboration but it worked it was great, he's such a legend and to get the chance to work with him was fantastic for me and to try out something like that was fantastic, we had a great time. It was very easy ya know, it was brilliant, magic.

G: I have the feeling, every time I see you I just have the feeling that I've watched you grow

R: (Smiles) I've watched you grow tonight! (Points to TV monitor beside him and the audience laugh)

G: Well I'll show you something, how much you've grown as well (Gerry embarrasses Ronan by showing him and the audience a sequence of past appearances on the show; from a hopeful 17 year old up to a performance of Lovin' Each Day)

R: Oh my God, look at the head on me (Laughs) thank you

G: It's been an amazing road for you

R: Yeah it's been fantastic

G: Have you ever thought from those early days that you would be where you are today?

R: I had hopes and dreams ya know? You never imagine to come through, it's been a brilliant brilliant ride. I hope it keeps going I hope it's not over

G: What about these young fellas Paul coz you made your own niche and your own market and so's Ronan now, but if you look at some of these X Factors and so on would you want to begin in the business as it is today?

P: I think it's a lot harder now, I think there's a lot more people making music now. I think everybody is making an album now and like; it's very hard to get your work heard because there is such a log jam of product trying to get through the same size space and it's really really hard now and I'm very glad I was doing it when I was doing it.

G: You're heading off next year; you're doing a tour of Ireland, you're doing a tour of America?

P: Aha

G: In a lot smaller venues I noticed why is that? Not the big venues

P: Well this year out I started off touring all round Ireland in all kinds of places and in the last twenty years all I've really done is I come to Belfast I do the Waterfront or I do the Opera House or whatever. Same in Dublin or Galway or Cork and I kind of missed all the places and in the last twenty years, particularly around, in Ireland there's been a lot of the smaller towns have got now new theatres. Like 300/400 seater theatres that weren't there when I was starting out. I just want to go back to some of those places I've never been to in years and play to audiences really close up

G: A great opportunity for people to see you up close

G: Congratulations on the new baby, Ali

R: (Grins) thank you very much

G: That's three now

R: Three (nods)

G: Are you continuing or is that your lot?

R: Oh I don't know (laughs with the audience) I don't know now

P: Tie a knot in it

R: Tie a knot in it yeah I know I tell ya, she's just wonderful she's 3 months old now and it's been brand new all over again ya know?, you forget what it's like. Jack and Missy are 6 and 4 and err the sleepless nights and stuff, it's tough but it's been brilliant

P: (Mocking groan)

R: (laughs) I know ya breakin' me heart, but it'll be a great Christmas. Absolutely she's beautiful she's fantastic

G: Can I thank the pair of you for all that you've done for the show over the past 17 years you've been great guests and it's always been a pleasure to have you both

P & R: Thank you

R: Thank you for always having us on and helping us out in our careers it's been….ya know without people like you Gerry we wouldn't get out there.

(Ronan turns and leans over the back of the sofa to reach for something)

R: I wanna give you this; I wanna give you this…..

G: Oh my goodness

R: Just wanna give you this disc, from Boyzone and from myself thank you

G: Aww thank you (they shake hands)

R: And there's something else, we were looking back at footage over the years and we noticed that you like to gatecrash a few songs yourself, have a look at this

(A sequence of clips is shown to Gerry singing with past guests)

G: Thanks for that Ro