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Special Olympic opens in
Dublin - 24.06.03
The 11th Special Olympic World Summer Games 2003 kicked off in the Irish capital
Dublin on Saturday, with nearly 80,000 spectators, including Irish
President Mary McAleese and South African leader Nelson Man-dela, present at a
ceremony to welcome 7,000 athletes.
It is the first Special Olympics for people with learning difficulties to be
held outside the United States. The event, held every four years like the
normal Olympics, was first organized in 1968. Japan will host the eighth Special
Olympic Winter Games in 2005 and China will host the next summer games in 2007.
"We are so proud to have you here. We are absolutely thrilled to be the first
country outside the US to host this spectacular event," McAleese told
the athletes in Dublin's Croke Part Stadium at the opening ceremony.
The athletes, who are from 166 countries and regions, including Afghanistan and
Iraq, will compete for nine days at 23 venues in Ireland and Northern
Ireland, making the games the world's biggest sporting event of the year.
"You inspire us to know that all obstacles to human achievement and progress are
surmountable. Your achievements remind us of the potential to greatness that
resides in every one of us," said Mandela.
Boxing legend Muha-mmad Ali led out the more than 1,000-strong US team, and
former Irish soccer captain Roy Keane led out China's contingent. Among
those entertaining the crowd were Irish pop bands, U2 and the Corrs, along with
singer Ronan Keating. Film actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was also
present.
Big Irish party launches first Special Olympics outside the US - 24.06.03
DUBLIN: The 2003 Special Olympics kicked off in the Irish capital Dublin on
Saturday with a big party and a parade of athletes from 160 countries who will
compete in nine days of events.
A crowd of over 85,000 watched the opening ceremony of the world’s biggest
sporting occasion this year in the city’s Croke Park stadium. South African
former president Nelson Mandela and boxing legend Muhammad Ali were among VIPs
launching the games.
It is the first time the Special Olympics for people with learning difficulties
have been held outside the US. It is separate from the Paralympics which caters
for athletes with physical handicap. Founded 35
years ago by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, younger sister of the late US President
John F Kennedy, the Special Olympics motto is: “Let me win, but if I cannot
win let me be brave in the attempt.”
The ceremonies were broadcast live on TV and radio and Ireland’s President Mary
McAleese said each athlete was already a champion after working so
hard to get to the games. “We are so proud to have you here. We are absolutely
thrilled to be the first country outside the United States to host this
spectacular event,” she said.
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said the organisers had achieved the “largest mass
mobilisation of voluntary effort ever witnessed in Ireland”. “Watching
each of these athletes compete may leave many of us feeling personally humbled
by their courage, and of course, their sheer enjoyment in using the
skills which they have learned and developed,” he said.
Teams from as far apart as Albania and Zimbabwe entered the stadium, accompanied
by special guests. Muhammad Ali led out the US team, movie star Arnold
Schwarzenegger was with Australia, and former Irish soccer team captain Roy
Keane led out China. There were loud cheers when teams from
SARS-affected countries entered the stadium.
They had almost missed the games as a result of travel restrictions. There was
also loud applause for a small Iraqi team attending the games for the first
time.
The Olympic flame, lit in Athens earlier this month, was carried through Dublin
to the stadium on Saturday after relays of runners had carried it across Europe.
An athlete from Derry in Northern Ireland, David McAuley, 16, was chosen to
light the Olympic flame in Croke Park. Among those entertaining the crowd were
Irish pop bands U2 and the Corrs, along
with solo artists Ronan Keating and Samantha Mumba and the event featured the
biggest ever performance of the international hit show Riverdance.
Muhammad Ali presided at a ceremony when the Olympic oath was read. Croke Park
was familiar turf for him – in 1972 he beat Al “Blue” Lewis in a boxing
bout here. Genealogists have uncovered a link between the former heavyweight
boxing champion and Shriver, who delivered a special address at the
opening ceremony.
Both their great-grandfathers emigrated to the United States in the 1800s having
lived within kilometres (miles) of each other in County Clare in
the west of Ireland. Extensive arrangements for hosting the games have involved
over 30,000 volunteers. They are costing around 57 million euros to stage,
including the donation of products and services. The run-up to the Special
Olympics has seen 177 towns on both sides of the Irish border hosting team
delegations. —AFP
Flame of Hope
lights up the Dublin Games - 24.06.03
A Special evening as 80,000 pack Croke Park for Olympics opening
By Alf McCreary
email:
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Members of Pakistan team. SPECIAL Olympics athletes made cartwheels of joy and
danced to the music of the night as the World Games opened with a stupendous
spectacle of rhythm, colour, drama and display to a packed audience of some
80,000 people at Dublin's Croke Park.
The entire ceremony was broadcast live on Saturday evening by RTE to an
international audience of millions.
More than 7,000 athletes with learning difficulties from 160 international
delegations paraded into the stadium on a cool midsummer night in front of
enthusiastic crowds of family , supporters and friends, and each country had a
special welcome.
The biggest cheers were given to the small team from Iraq , which was hosted by
Larne, the huge Team USA, which had been the guests of Belfast, and most of all
to Team Ireland which, as the host country, came into the arena last.
Some 30 of the 500 competitors with Team Ireland are from Northern Ireland.
Team USA was led in by former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali,
who was driven in a covered vehicle and was given a hugely enthusiastic
reception.
He, in turn, greeted people who came to meet him on his way around the arena.
The 14 athletes from Curacao, who had won the hearts of their host town Bangor,
were among the first to enter the stadium and took their place
near the giant stage in front of the historic Hill 16.
The magnificent Croke Park and Ireland had never experienced anything remotely
like this before.
A host of superstars including The Corrs, Ronan Keating and U2 staged a top-line
concert which would have attracted a capacity audience in its
own right.
There were also guest appearances from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jon Bon Jovi, a
rehabilitated Roy Keane, and several other well-known achievers.
The entire programme of entertainment, speeches and guest appearances was
presented with skill and sensitivity by Northern Ireland's Patrick Kielty.
However, the true stars of the evening were the Special Olympics athletes
themselves.
Instead of sitting quietly in their rows of chairs in the body of the arena,
some decided to stage their own impromptu concert.
When The Corrs began singing, members of Team USA and others broke ranks and
found space at the side of the arena where they danced, made cartwheels and
hugged each other with joy.
The spirit of the evening was well captured by two world-famous veterans.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver told the audience that when she founded the Special
Olympics in 1968 there were only two sports represented, and now there are 21.
Nelson Mandela, the 21st century's icon, looking frail but still strong in voice
and spirit, said it was his great personal privilege to be present, and the
crowd returned the compliment by standing in homage to him during his entire
speech.
As darkness fell the opening ceremony reached its unforgettable climax.
Police out-riders with flashing blue lights escorted the Flame of Hope and the
Law Enforcement and Special athletes runners into the arena after the
long journey throughout Ireland.
It seemed such a long time since the blazing flame arrived on the island as a
tiny light in a miner's lamp at Bangor last Friday.
The huge crowd rose to its feet, waved multi-coloured flags and roared its
approval as the Olympic Torch was carried around the arena by different
athletes until it finally reached the stage at the front.
The honour of running with the Flame of Hope over the last few yards was given
to the young Derry athlete David McAuley, who lit the giant torch at the side of
the stage.
A huge wall of flame shot up the tower and lit the night air. The Flame of Hope
had truly arrived.
Nelson Mandela declared the World Games "Open " and history was made.
It was a night never to be forgotten by those who were privileged to be there.
Ronan's Big Spender - 23.06.03
Ronan Keating has just brought
the new BMW car/ppl carrier. There is only going to be 11 of these cars imported
into this country and his is one of them. So keep an eye out for this new car/ppl
carrier as not sure exactly what it is yet.
Additional
stars confirmed for Coulter's UCH show - 22.06.03
Limerick post -
Fri, 13/06/03
Additional stars confirmed for Coulter's UCH show
by Keith Kelly WITH filming of the Coulter and Company TV show just over a week
away, another batch of stars have been confirmed as appearing on the show.
Samantha Mumba, Atomic Kitten and Ronan Keating have all confirmed they will
take part in the show, which is being filmed at the University Concert
Hall over 10 months in June and July. In all, more than 50 starts of TV, the
stage and music will come to Limerick to take part in the television show, which
will be aired on RTE television every Friday night for 10 nights over the summer
period - it is to replace
the Late Late Show in the station's summer schedule. Other national and
international stars who will spend time in Limerick this summer include Nanci
Griffith, Barry Douglas, John Prine, Justin Hayward,
Suzanne Murphy and Rebecca Storm and many more stars are adding their names to
the list every day - members of the Irish rugby team have also been
confirmed as taking part in a sports special on one of the nights.
Tickets for the
Limerick recordings are available from the UCH box office - contact (061) 331549
for details - tickets range in price from 12.50 euros
to 17.50 euros.
A special meeting with
Ronan Keating - 16.06.03
Two Tralee students were so gobsmacked with their pop idol Ronan Keating that
they combined a good deed with meeting him during his Walk Around Ireland for
Cancer.
Second year students at Mercy Mounthawk Emma O'Connor - daughter of
Noreen and Gene McElligott of Rathass - and Claire Flahive, daughter of Caroline
and Richard of Kielduff, got in contact with the Marie Keating Foundation
committee, who were organising the Ronan Keating Walk Around Ireland.
The determined girls headed off to Mitchelstown where they were kitted
out with t-shirts and collection buckets and they accompanied their hero through
the streets of Mitchelstown last week, collecting money for the Foundation.
"It was very exciting to meet Ronan," said Emma this week. "We were delighted to
be able to join the collectors for such a good cause.
"Ronan started his walk a few weeks ago and it seems that he has lost weight. We
walked through Mitchelstown with him collecting for the Foundation and he
stopped the bus two miles outside the town where he got off and allowed us take
photos of him.
"His sister Linda Keating and brother Gary were with him. Ronan is very fit and
a very fast walker - we had trouble keeping up with him. It was very exciting
because he was surrounded by people and by the press who were all taking
photos."
According to the girls, the pop star was very friendly and chatty.
The two girls - who have seen Ronan in concert and have his CDs - were so
impressed that they left Tralee early on Sunday morning to go and meet Ronan
again on the last leg of his journey in Kinsale.
Ramblin' Ronan - 16.06.03
Ronan Keating has successfully
completed a massive 360-mile walk the length of Ireland. He trekked from the
Giant's Causeway to Kinsale in Cork, averaging about 20 miles a day in all sorts
of weather. Naturally, this was a charity thing, in this case for Cancer
Awareness. Ronan's mum Marie died of cancer five years ago and the family set up
the Marie Keating Foundation which runs three cancer awareness units which tour
the country.
Ronan told BBC Radio Ulster that he did the walk because "I thought it was
something different, something that people would not expect you to do, that
would make people dig deep. That's why I came up with the idea for the walk."
He's been full of praise for all the folk he met along the way, who
shared their own cancer tales with him: "The stories that I hear on the road,
people walking with me, telling me about their parents, about their children, it
breaks your heart. It's nice to think we're out trying to make a difference. The
support on the road was unbelievable and I want to say a big thank you to all
the people that came along and threw money into our buckets."
When it was all over he'd managed to raise a whopping £100,000, and celebrated
with a final night party: "We had a crazy night last night and we didn't get to
bed until six in the morning. I'm going to relax for a
few days and then get working on a new album, which should be due out at
Christmas. I'd like to do something to raise money next year but I'll take a few
weeks to think about it.""
Ronan is
snubbed in his quest for movie holy grail - 11.06.03
Ronan Keating can put away his doublet and hose because he won’t be making his
acting debut in King Arthur. The pint-sized pop star fancied himself as Sir
Lancelot and auditioned for a part before producer Jerry
Bruckheimer and director Antoine Fuqua in April.
Alas for Ronan, his hopes of derring-do have been dashed. No Irish actors have
landed significant parts in the big-budget blockbuster. Though good enough to
play wild Scots for Mel Gibson in Braveheart, none has been invited to King
Arthur’s Round Table.
Ronan may be proving his chivalry and stamina by trudging the length and
breadth of Ireland in the name of charity, but couldn’t persuade casting
director Frank Moiselle or producer Bruckheimer, the man behind hits such as Con
Air and The Rock to put him in a suit of armour.
Ronan declared his desire to become a film star 2 years ago, shortly after his
ambitions of pop fame in the US turned pear-shaped. The former Boyzone star has
never let his limitations get in the way of his ambitions but America has proved
an elusive goal. Undeterred, Ronan turned his attention
to movies, signing up with top Hollywood acting agency William Morris and hoping
to follow in the footsteps of Leonardo Di Caprio and Brad Pitt.
His first stab at a theatrical role came to naught when he failed to land the
lead role of Billy Liar in a west end revival of the musical. Then he lost out
to Ewan Mc Gregor for the male lead alongside Nicole Kidman in
Baz Luhrmann’s Oscar Winning – Moulin Rouge. At the time he generously
commented, “I have lost the only two acting roles I have gone up for. I met with
Baz and we had a good laugh but I lost the role to Ewan which is kind of
understandable – he’s incredibly talented.”
After that he appeared to put his plans of thespian fame on hold until the try
out for Kind Arthur. Frankly, though, a horse riding, cudgel waving Ronan would
be hard pushed to strike fear into a posse of schoolgirls, so
it’s back to the drawing board.
(The Diary, Ireland on Sunday - 8/6/03)
For baldly going where few men have gone before, well done Ronan! - 11.06.03
After a sustained spell of criticism – of everything from his bust up with Louis
Walsh to his declared presidential ambitions – Ronan Keating is suddenly having
a high old time in the media.
His walk around Ireland in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation has been widely
held up as evidence that the boy really is now a man. People who wouldn’t cross
the road to buy a Boyzone record have been happily
filling Ronan’s buckets for a good cause, while on Thursday, one woman did cross
the
road to arrange an emergency overdraft to facilitate her buying Ronan’s
underpants for E2,250, also for the charity.
But in the midst of all this heroic fundraising and positive publicity, another
epic event in the young star’s life has been singularly
overlooked. On Monday, he was photographed at the start of the Women’s Mini
Marathon in Dublin, lending his support to his wife, Yvonne who was walking for
the
Marie Keating Foundation. And those photographs, smiling out of the newspapers
the next morning, showed more than any sponsored walk, that the singer has
indeed reached maturity. Because, on the evidence of the lens, Ronan Keating is
going bald. There he was, and there it wasn’t, if you
follow.
But while other men faced with one of nature’s cruelest jokes resort to
extraordinary lengths (often quite literally) to disguise their receding hair,
Keating has gone the bold road and cut his roomy barnet close. There is no place
for Is He or Isn’t He on Keating’s head. He is. To paraphrase
his fellow northsiders, say it loud : “He’s bald and he’s proud.” While he’s
being heartily backslapped all round at the moment, Keating deserves a special
pat on the head for his decision to brazen out the baldness. Irish men are not
universally known for their vanity but for some reason, they are absurdly
sensitive when it comes to hair loss. For every Shay Healey and Ronan Keating,
there are a dozen Terry Wogans, each of them agonizing over ways to make a
little go a long way.
But we say, Life is a rollercoaster and it’s better to ride it with a close crop
than cry for help. After all, as young Ronan is clearly
discovering, we can’t all be as blessed upstairs as Donny Cassidy Indeed,
Donnie’s
son’s wedding photos in VIP testified that even his own young lads have all been
blighted by male pattern baldness, while their father continues to sport his own
luxuriant hair. And be assured it is his own – it’s been said he even has the
receipt to prove it!
It's a long way to Tipperary, etc.
- 11.06.03
Entertainment Buzz - Canada
Pop star Ronan Keating has walked the length of Ireland to raise cash for cancer
charities. "There were ups and downs and pains," he said, "but we got through it
and we had a great time." Keating, formerly of the Irish pop group Boyzone, set
out May 17 from the Giant's Causeway in the northeast and reached the Old Head
of Kinsale in the southwest on Sunday. Family and friends accompanied the
26-year-old for most of the journey, which raised more than $170,000 Cdn for
cancer charities. The singer's mother died of breast cancer.
Miss Ireland - 10.06.03
Ronan will be the
juri of "Miss Ireland" on August 1st in City West
Hotel (Dublin)
Lovely Ciara crowned Miss Waterford
NINETEEN-years-old Leaving Cert. student Ciara Bailey, from Lismore Park, was
finding it hard to keep her mind focussed on her exams this week having been
crowned Miss Waterford.
She scooped the prize of €1,000, €300 to spend in A-Wear and €750 entry to the
Miss Ireland competition. Blue-eyed Ciara, who sits her Leaving Certificate at
the Presentation Convent commencing today
(Wednesday, is a part time model with Waterford model agency, Prima, run by its
director Katherine Cahill.
Andrea Roche, who owns the franchise for the Miss Ireland for Miss World
competition, was in Axis Mundi to judge the 16 finalists and choose the winner.
At the private party to announce the winner on Friday night, Andrea Roche
commented that the standard in Waterford City was very
high. She said there were at least five girls who she thought could have won the
final.
About Ciara Bailey, who is daughter of Ann and Liam Bailey, she said, “Ciara
really has everything, she is tall at 5’ 8”, slim, beautiful, but is also lovely
to talk to and has a great walk.”
Prima’s director Katherine Cahill said Ciara has a lovely, sunny personality and
had always behaved very professionally over her
last three years with Prima. I’ve no doubt that she will do well in Miss
Ireland.”
Miss Ireland will be held on August 1 at a televised event in City West Hotel,
Dublin. Andrea announced that singer RONAN KEATING and Louis Walsh will
be among the judges this year. Julia Morley, who runs Miss World, will also come
to Dublin for the event.
At the private party to announce the winner on Friday night, Andrea Roche
commented that the standard in Waterford City was very high. She said there were
at least five girls who she thought could have won the final.
A runner-up was also chosen on the night, in the event that Ciara Bailey will be
unable to contest the final in August. The runner up
was Sarah Fleming, from Shannon Drive in Avondale, who is a student at WIT.
Four of the other finalists were also from Prima, namely Danielle Lauri, Erica
Ryan, Vanessa Casey and Una Kelly, who all did Prima’s self-improvement and
deportment course.
Organiser of this year’s Miss Waterford, Ross Allen, said he was delighted with
the level of entry this year. “We had sixteen great contestants and there is no
reason why Miss Ireland can’t be found in Waterford.” Ross Allen also thanked
the sponsors of this year’s
event, which included Axis Mundi, Faithlegg House Hotel, WLRfm, Flash’s Bar in
High Street and A-Wear.
Ronan praises "magical" support -
09.06.03
Irish pop star Ronan Keating has described the people who supported him on his
360-mile charity walk in Ireland as "magical".
The former Boyzone frontman
raised more than 100,000 euro for cancer charities during the 23 day walk from
the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim to Kinsale in County Cork.
He visited 610 towns along the way, walking an average of 20 miles each day
before finishing the trek on Sunday.
Some of the cash will go to the Marie Keating Foundation, which is named after
the singer's mother who died from breast cancer.
Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Monday, Keating said the amount raised was well
beyond his expectations.
He said: "The support on the road was unbelievable and I want to say a big thank
you to all the people that came along and threw money into our buckets.
"We were walking at about four miles per hour and doing about 15-minute miles.
We tried to keep that pace up for the whole 360 miles and we did.
"There were times when it was hard because of an injury and then when the rain
was lashing down with the trucks going past, but it was very enjoyable when the
people were coming out to support us - it was really magical."
Ronan said the original goal of the Marie Keating Foundation was to put three
mobile units on the road to raise cancer awareness.
"So far, we have had about 20,000 people on board the units and 1,000 of them
have been referred to specialists," he said.
All money raised in Northern Ireland will go to Action Cancer while funds
collected in the Irish Republic would go to the Foundation.
The Dublin-born singer revealed there was a little celebration to mark the end
of the walk.
He said: "We had a crazy night last night and we didn't get to bed until six in
the morning so I'm going to relax for a few days and then get working on a new
album, which should be due out at Christmas.
"I'd like to do something to raise money next year but I'll take a few weeks to
think about it."
BBC UK
Ronan
completes nationwide tour . . . on foot - 09.06.03
Ronan Keating celebrates after reaching journey's end yesterday at the Old Head
of Kinsale following his sponsored walk along the length of the country for the
Marie Keating Foundation.
Three weeks after he began his epic 359-mile journey, pop-star Ronan Keating
reached his final destination yesterday, happy in the knowledge that he raised
more than €100,000 for cancer awareness.
The former Boyzone singer began the marathon walk at the Giants Causeway in Co
Antrim 22 days ago, and travelled through 10 counties to reach the old Head of
Kinsale yesterday afternoon.
Despite having attended a fundraising ball in Cork city the previous night, the
singer didn't waver from completing his aim of walking the last 20 miles of the
journey.
Crowds of well-wishers and fans lined the Co Cork streets as Keating and his
sister Linda - who is the chief executive of the Marie Keating Cancer Awareness
Foundation - and other family members completed the walk.
Also there to cheer him over the finish line was his wife Yvonne and two
children. The Foundation was established three years ago following the death of
the singer's mother - Marie who died of breast cancer - to help raise awareness
of the disease by putting mobile information and check-up units on the road.
Ronan, who was accompanied at various stages on the 500km trek by fans and
supporters, admitted that it was tough on the road at times, especially given
the changeable weather conditions.
"It's lashed down on us over the three weeks and there's been times when we've
had to go on with pain killers and packs of ice but it's been a great success.
The reception we got on the streets was brilliant," he said. "The last few miles
and the last stretch really was the hardest. But there were so many people to
welcome us over the line, and it was a bit emotional when we saw the pink
ribbons lined out to bring us home," an exhausted Ronan said.
The singer's brother Gary said the walkers were "absolutely ecstatic. They are
going to party until they drop tonight", Gary said. "But judging by how tired
they are, they'll probably be in bed by nine."
The Marie Keating Foundation has provided three cancer information and awareness
units that have visited more than 750 sites here. Keating said the cash raised
during the walk would finance other units. All money raised in Northern Ireland
will go to Action Cancer while funds collected in the Republic will go to the
Marie Keating Foundation.
Irish Independent
Keating completes charity
trek - 08.06.03
A jubilant Ronan Keating completed
his marathon charity walk across Ireland today, and then vowed to party until
the early hours. The pop star finished the gruelling 357-mile coast-to-coast
journey - which raised more than £70,000 (€100,000) for cancer charities - and
immediately cracked open two bottles of champagne. Family and friends were set
to join him at a party in Cork city to mark the singer`s achievements.
A jubilant Ronan Keating told Sky News: ``It was unbelievable, I can`t believe
it. It is fantastic. ``There was ups and downs and pains but we got through it
and we had a great time.``
Hundreds of fans turned out to help the 26-year-old chart star finish the last
leg of his walk from Co Antrim in the north to the Old Head of Kinsale in Co
Cork, one of the country`s most southerly points.
Despite periods of bad weather the former Boyzone singer was greeted by bright
sunshine as he took his final steps through Co Cork. All money raised in
Northern Ireland will go to Action Cancer while funds collected in the Irish
Republic will go to the Marie Keating Foundation, set up in memory of his
mother, Marie, who died from breast cancer.
During the walk Keating was accompanied by a number of family members and
friends, but the only others to walk the full length of the country were his
stylist and head of security.
His brother Gary told PA News: ``The three boys are absolutely ecstatic.
``I can`t believe the elation here. They couldn`t be happier.
``They are going to party until they drop tonight.
``But judging by how tired they are they`ll probably be in bed by nine o`clock.``
The Marie Keating Foundation has provided three cancer information and awareness
units which have visited more than 750 towns, cities and corporate sites on the
island. Keating said the cash raised during the walk would fund other units.
``I would love to think we could put another unit on the road in the north,`` he
added.
``This is about cancer awareness. Cancer can be cured if it is caught on time.``
96 FM
Ronan ends charity
trek - 08.06.03
Weary chart-topper Ronan Keating has finished a
357-mile walk to raise money for cancer research. Keating set-off 22 days ago on
the journey from the northernmost to the southernmost tip of Ireland. He took on
the challenge to raise awareness of cancer - a disease that claimed his
mother.Keating says he is trying to promote the fact that early detection of
cancer often saves lives.
"The reason why we came out on the road is cancer awareness, to make people more
aware."
Battling blisters, rain and a string of niggling injuries, the singer admits
there have been some tough times on the road.
"There were times when the injuries got very hard, they were very difficult to
get through, strapped up and icing them and on pain killers.
"But we fought through it," he said.
The singer has raised more than £100,000 and praised wellwishers for their
support. He arrives at the Old Head in County Cork this afternoon.And after more
than three weeks on the road, the former Boyzone member is looking forward to
getting back to his day job.
"It's been easier singing, there's no
doubt about it," he said.
Sky News
Walk Ireland - 06.06.03
Ronan is nearing the end of his mammoth walk from the top
to the bottom of his native Ireland. After starting in County Antrim on May 17th
he will finish at the Old Head of Kinsale this Sunday 8th. By the end He will
have walked 500km and raised somewhere near €100,000 for the Marie Keating
Foundation. For the last couple of days Ronan has been suffering from bad shin
splints (aching legs!) but he says that the response from people along the route
has kept him going and he’s not going to give up now.
www.ronankeating.com
New Material - 06.06.03
Through June and July Ronan will be writing material for
a new album in LA, NY, London and Dublin. After the chart success of ‘Long
Goodbye’ and the new live track ‘On My Way’ Ronan is keen to push his song
writing more and more for the new album. Although it’s very early days we’ll
hopefully see a new single and album later this year.
www.ronankeating.com
Special Olympics - 06.06.03
Ronan will perform at the Opening Ceremony for the
Special Olympics to be held in Dublin on Sat 21st June. The Special Olympics
will be the biggest sporting event ever held in Ireland and Ronan is honored to
be appearing in his hometown in front of a TV audience of millions worldwide.
www.ronankeating.com
Woman's love for Ronan is just
pants-
05.06.03
A single mother paid £1,610 (€2,254) for a pair of ex-Boyzone star Ronan
Keating’s underpants and extended her overdraft to raise the cash.
Mother of three Justina Bearman, 33, bid for the light blue autographed Yves St
Laurent boxer shorts in a charity event.
Then she went to her local Nat West branch to extend her overdraft so she could
pay for them.
“The bank knew what the money was for,” said Mrs Bearman, from Falmouth,
Cornwall.
Her bid was the highest for any of the items sold on the Pirate FM radiothon -
easily beating the £800 (€1,120) paid for a Michael Owen football shirt.
Mrs Bearman lived for a time as a child in Dublin, where her younger sister
lived on the same estate as Keating.
“I have always been a Ronan fan. He was always the one I lusted after in Boyzone,”
she said today.
Mrs Bearman became embroiled in a telephone bidding war for Ronan’s underwear.
“There was no way he (the other bidder) was going to get them,” she said.
“I wanted them because Ronan is my babe and he always has been.”
Ronan’s prize pants are now hanging in a frame on Mrs Bearman’s lounge wall but
she is having second thoughts about what she has done.
She has thought about selling them to Ronan fans over the Internet but she has
not got a computer.
Nick Lake, chairman of the Pirate Trust, Pirate FM’s charity wing, said today he
was “absolutely staggered” at Mrs Bearman’s bid.
“There was healthy bidding going on, and the trouble she went to to get them
was quite extraordinary,” he said.
Pop
princess joins galaxy of stars for Coulter music extravaganza - 05.06.03
The Irish Examiner 05 Jun 2003
By Kathryn Hayes
POP princess Samantha Mumba last night confirmed she will perform at the
University Concert Hall in Limerick as part of a series of music concerts being
filmed there for RTÉ.
Presented by music maestro Phil Coulter, Coulter & Company runs for 10 nights at
UCH from June 22 to June 26 and from July 3 to July 7.
The show will be aired on RTÉ1 from June 27 at 9.30pm and will run over a
10-week period.
While the complete line-up for all 10 shows has still to be announced, artists
including Ronan Keating, Atomic Kitten, The Waterboys and The Four of Us have
already been confirmed.
Other musical luminaries such as Nanci Griffith, Rebecca Storm and James
Galwey are also included in the line-up.
And yesterday, Samantha Mumba confirmed that she will take to the stage on the
opening night.
"Samantha Mumba has now confirmed that she will perform on June 22, which is
the opening night," said a spokeswoman for the event.
Coulter & Company will also host some of the You're a Star talents, including
the two finalists, Mickey Harte and Simon Casey, and Limerick runners-up Lisa
Bresnan and Joanne Fahy.
According to Phil Coulter, hosting his own show is a "dream come true".
He said: "To host my own TV show, interviewing colleagues, friends and many new
faces doing what I love best is probably one of the most exciting opportunities
that I have worked on to date," he said.
"I recorded a video in University Concert Hall Limerick a few years ago and I
wanted to come back and do a show ever since. It was my idea to bring Coulter &
Company to Limerick so I'm delighted that the show has worked out so well to
date.
"The people of Limerick have welcomed me with open arms and I am really looking
forward to spending time here while I record the shows," he added.
For more information on Coulter & Company contact the UCH box office on 061
331549.
