Lobby Lives BBC N.I. - Tuesday October 11th 2005

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Narrator: The hotels expecting a very famous visitor, Ronan Keating's staying during his charity walk through Ireland to increase cancer awareness.

Reception/staff: He hasn't checked in yet but there is one allocated for him, he's gonna be here for 3 nights, him; his brother and his sister. I remember they came in last year as well, so yeah they're here anytime they do the walk, they're always coming here, limping sore feet in a bad way. And they actually sometimes they would have a physio room set up as well. And get them massaged, I'll not be massing him coz he's not my type, but you never know some of his minders might be a bit, see me disappearing (blushes)

(Local school girls wait excitedly for Ronan to appear holding a large cheque)

Girls: We've come to give him our cheque, we done a fun run, the Belfast marathon fun run in aid of 3 charities and his was one of them and we raised £100 for him coz he's lovely (giggles) and he's a great singer too, we'll all be star struck yeah (more giggles)

Are you nervous?

Girls: Yep yeah I am

Reception/staff: He hasn't really got a good day for walking but quite a lot of people here in the hotel are big fans of his but I'm not really one of his biggest ones.

Manager: We're expecting Ronan Keating and his family, his wife and his entourage. They're coming in he's doing his, is it around Ireland walk for the Marie Keating cancer fund. And here comes his physio bed (a table folded in half is wheeled on a trolley to the lift)

(Scenes outside in the rain and Ronan comes into view with the team and the cars)

Narrator: And Ronan eventually arrives with his entourage of walkers in tow. Since he set out from the Giants Causeway; he's already walked 65 miles and despite the fact that there's another 293.5 to go and it's raining he's in good spirits.

(Ronan greets the school girls)

R: Hi guys how are ya? Thanks very much

Narrator: All the money raised on the walk in support of the Marie Keating Foundation and Cancer Research UK

R: How did you raise the money?

Girls: We did a fun run

R: Fun run? Well done; how many miles did you do?

Girls: 5 miles

R: Well done thanks a million great stuff, there ya are there's your pen, thank you very much

(The manager greets Ronan at the entrance doors and shakes his hand)

R: Oh my I'm wet, thanks again thanks for having us back

Manager: You're very welcome, not a problem

R: I'll tell ya what it's wet out there

M: You're staying tonight?

R: I've gotta come back, I'm coming back up tomorrow afternoon

M: Oh right, you're going back out again, you're a bit wet

R: I'm very wet, I'm looking forward to a hot shower and my feet….I had to change me shoes a couple of mile back they were so wet; they're alright now. My God

M: So all the rooms are allocated, who's going to what room

R: Thank you brilliant, thank you very much

M: You're welcome

(The girls say goodbye to Ronan as he's heading to the lift)

R: Thank you very much, well done

Girls: Good luck

He said thank you very much, I got a hug and all so I did (giggles) he was really nice

What did he say to you?

Girls: He said well done and like thanks very much and all and that he was coming back next year on tour, yeah

Did you get a photograph?

Girls: Yeah we got photographs and all yeah…...shaking

M: Why are you shaking?

Girls: Excited

M: Do you all think he's lovely and all?

Girls: Yes

Narrator: After freshening up; Ronan gets a chance to relax in the foyer

R: It's really great, we got a great response out on the street, we came along into Belfast yesterday and the buzz was amazing. The rain came down now pretty heavy all day but the people were out in their droves throwing money in the buckets screaming, clapping, shouting it was really fantastic.

The first 2 days were beautiful then the rain came down but then ya know we're not here for the weather, we're here to walk so it's good. I've been coming, staying in the Europa probably for about 10 years, I mean from the early Boyzone days to now. It's somewhere if I'm ever meeting anyone in Belfast I'll always say meet me in the Europa coz I know how to get here, it's one of those places I know quite well in Belfast. I've got quite a few friends in Belfast and we'd meet up here. I like going out in Belfast quite a lot and the Europa is one of those, it's like the Westbury in Dublin ya know, it's the type of hotel you always meet people in the lobby, you have a drink with them before you go out maybe and it's a good atmosphere. They always look after me very well.

We'll have a quick dinner tonight probably a hot soak in the tub and a good bath and then we'll; early night, up at 8.00 in the morning quick breakfast, well a good breakfast in the morning and then we leave from right outside the hotel and we'll walk 22.9 mile tomorrow just outside Banbridge.

Narrator: Next morning sees a lively hotel foyer and head concierge Martin Mulholland is keeping a close eye on the action (Ronan and the teams luggage is being loaded onto trolleys and sent outside to the car)

Martin: This morning Ronan Keating is starting the next leg of his charity walk from the hotel. He's supposed to be leaving about 8.30 but they've got a mile of entourage and there's a lot of cars there as well. So at the minute it's sort of very congested outside, I'm sort of hoping they get on the road as quick as possible.

Narrator: Ronan Keating is doing his warm-ups for the next leg of the walk and some very dedicated fans have got up extra early to wish him well and snatch a photo. And Ronan seems very happy to oblige

(Phyllis the cleaner starts on his room)

Narrator: But Phyllis gets the best deal of them all, she's got the enviable task of cleaning Ronan Keating's bedroom

(Phyllis is in the bathroom)

Phyllis: He must bring his own gels and things, probably buys the expensive stuff (smiles) I had his father here yesterday, he is like his father so he is, he has the same hair; the same like sandy hair

(Ronan loads the car)

Narrator: Mission accomplished for James and his team, for Ronan Keating he still has a way to go as he sets out to complete the rest of his walk