View allAll Photos Tagged TheMirror
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
In this picture, bottom left, there is a sparrow hawk trying to pick off a starling. It failed.
See my film on
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
See my film on
Description: painting of a QR code in The Mirror by Fabrice de Nola.
Date: June 27, 2011.
Photo by: Linda Randazzo.
Cite as: Fabrice de Nola, 2011. The Mirror, work in progress, detail.
Fabrice de Nola is an Italian-Belgian visual artist. He was the first artist in the world to create works of art, in 2006, using painted QR codes containg web links and texts readable through mobiles.
ファブリス・デ・ノーラ イタリアの現代美術家である。2006年には、世界初のＱＲコードを組み込んだ油絵を完成。
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Use fresh garland in a tree shape and decorate it like a tree makes a great decoration on a mirror or large window. Decorate like you would a tree even with a star on top.
Description: Fabrice de Nola The Mirror (detail), acrylic and oil on canvas, cm 100 x 120.
Date: July 1st, 2011.
Note: on left side of image the QR code link to the Letter from a Fukushima mother.
The right QR code link to Backyard World, a website that posts news, analysis, images, videos, and other references about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis.
From July 1st to September 4th, 2011, the painting was exhibited at the Riso Contemporary Art Museum, Palermo, Italy.
Cite as: Fabrice de Nola, 2011. The Mirror (detail).
Teaser for the exhibition The Mirror by Fabrice de Nola at the Riso Contemporary Art Museum of Sicily, Palermo, June 2011.
Title: The Mirror - Teaser 2
Type: video
Length: 29 sec
Editing: FDN, Claudia Di Gangi
Soundtrack: The Waiting Room by Chewing Magnetic Tape
Project: Backyard World
A few frames from Andrei Tarkovsky's The Mirror. I don't know the name of this actress.
Animated below, or view "original size".
Invitation card for the exhibition The Mirror by Fabrice de Nola.
Museo Riso, Palermo, Italy.
(source: De Nola News)
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
See my film on
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
In this picture, centre left in the gap within the flock, there is a sparrow hawk diving into the flock to try to pick off a starling. It failed.
See my film on
For more information here's a link to Every Picture Tells A Story our new post card gallery. www.mindsimedia.info/SaleStuff/20thCentRetro/PostCards/Th...
Taken yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 1st July) for the Project 52 group.
Rolf Harris was yesterday found guilty on all 12 charges of indecent assault, he was charged in August last year and his trial started in May.
More on the story: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28094561
Location is Asda Supermarket in Wythenshawe
I can't help but notice the strange phallic shape of this formation within the immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna. Fanastic flowing shapes.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
See my film on
OK! - Interview 1998
"MY REAL MISS WORLD AND OUR BABY"
Ronan Keating and pregnant wife Yvonne in the beautiful Seychelles talking exclusively
***
An in depth interview in the Seychelles - RONAN KEATING.
Surrounded by beautiful women, the Boyzone star only has
eyes for his wife Yvonne... Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating, the host of the recent, revamped Miss World competition, was the envy of men around the globe. Surrounded by 87 of the world's most beautiful women in the stunning tropical surroundings of the Seychelles, Ronan was a very, very lucky man. The competition was won by Miss Israel, Linor Abargil, but for 21-year-old Ronan, there's only one women in the world - his stunning model wife Yvonne who's expecting their first child in March. Between his duties as the host of Miss World, the handsome blond singer made time to enjoy the white beaches and amazing scenery of Mahe Island in the Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles with his wife. The couple, who married in a secret ceremony on the Caribbean island of Nevis last April, looked like they were still enjoying their honeymoon as they whispered private jokes and walked hand-in-hand through the clear waters off the beaches of Mahe. And Ronan and Yvonne, 24, invited OK! along to share their paradise holiday, revealing their plans for parenthood and the future.
***
At 21, do you feel old enough to be married and a father, Ronan?
Ronan: I joined Boyzone when I was 16, and I've travelled around
the world three or four times, meeting lots of different people.
I feel like I've done what a lot of other people don't do until
they're 30 or 40 years of age. The next step for me was to marry
the woman I love and who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
And from the smiles on your faces, you're obviously enjoying
married life...
Ronan: Oh you know, cheap car insurance, reduced mortgage - I
recommend it! [laughs]. No, I love the secure feeling of being
at home together, lying on the couch, holding each other and
knowing that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together.
And you planned children from day one?
Ronan: We want to have kids young so we can relate to them. We
don't want to be 50 when the kids are 20. And we'd like to have
a big family - please God. I come from a large family, and although
Yvonne just has one brother, she wants a big family too. Anyway,
why not? Look at the opportunities we can give our children -
what could be better? Yvonne: We want to be around when we have
grandchildren, too.
Ronan, how will you fit fatherhood into your hectic schedule?
Yvonne: From not until Christmas, Ronan's only working off and on
for a few days in America, but we can cope with that. Then he's
taking a lot of time off in January and February. He's also having
time off from the band during March when the baby's due.
Ronan: I think everybody knows I'm going to be around when our
baby's born and to be with Yvonne when she's pregnant. It's our
baby we're having - someone who will be with us for the rest of
our lives. I want to be there from the first day.
Where does your future with Boyzone fit in?
Ronan: It's going to be very, very hard - tough in fact. But
hopefully, as the baby grows up, he or she and Yvonne will be
able to travel with me and the band. If they can't come away with
me then I'll go home - but we'll work around it somehow by me
working at home so it shouldn't come to a choice between my family
and my career.
So Keating Junior will have quite an unusual childhood, then?
Ronan: As much as I want my son or daughter to have a stable
background and schooling and things like that, I also want him
or her to travel around the world and learn to be streetwise.
While there was nothing wrong with my childhood, I never left
Ireland until I joined the band at 16. I'd just like my child
to try the food of the world and to meet different people from
different cultures. Because it's a wonderful world out there.
Yvonne: My upbringing was pretty much the same as Ronan's, but
even more sheltered because I'm from the country, not from Dublin.
I was brought up riding horses and going to horse shows and things
like that - a simple country life!
Is financial security important to you?
Ronan: No. That's not the main thing we can offer them. We love kids
and want to give them the world.
Yvonne: We love having our nieces and nephews around to the house.
A few weeks ago, we came home and we only had one night together but
we called around our brothers and sisters and got them to drop off
their kids so we could babysit them. They thought we were mad! But
we love to give them little parties, and we're the two biggest kids
in the middle of it all.
What about the tales of children from rich rock 'n' roll families
who have been overindulged and ended up unhappy?
Ronan: Obviously it's hard for kids if they're at school and living
in the shadow of their parents all the time. But all you can do is
bring them up in the best way possible, like my mam and dad did for
me. Hopefully, then they'll turn out to be good kids. But you can't
do more than that.
Yvonne: I think it's down to the parents, whether they are rich or
poor, to make sure their kids have the right values. If they're
brought up properly, no matter how much money you do or don't have,
things should be all right.
Ronan: And our families will make sure our children keep their feet
on the ground.
Who's going to be the bossy parent out of the pair of you?
Yvonne: We're both very strict! With our nephews and nieces, we don't
let them get away with anything. We worship the ground they walk and
love them very much, but if they are rude or don't do what they're
told, then they are really scared of us.
Ronan: There's just nothing worse than bad mannered kids!
Have you talked about names yet?
Ronan: Yes. If it's a little girl, she'll be called Marie after my
mam, who passed away earlier this year, or Jack after Yvonne's
grandfather - and not because I love Jack Daniels!
Will the baby be christened?
Ronan: Oh yeah, of course. We wouldn't miss any of that - it's a good
excuse for a party!
Would you recommend a career in the music industry to your child?
Ronan: I always said I wouldn't, but if they wanted to, you can't stop
them.
Yvonne: I think it would depend on the personality of the child. If
they were like Ro, were out going and made for the business, and you
knew it wouldn't go to their head, then you can give them all the
encouragement they need.
Yvonne, you're the older woman. Does that mean you look after Ronan?
Yvonne: No way! He looks after me. I travelled on my own to the
Seychelles and everything went wrong because he wasn't there looking
after me. I lost my tickets and everything. I'll never go anywhere
without him again!
Ronan: She's the baby. I wish she'd look after me sometimes! Mind
you, Yvonne does know what I'm doing before I do!
And are you very involved in Ronan's career with Boyzone?
Yvonne: It's difficult for Ronan. Because there's so many things
going on, someone needs to keep track - so he can concentrate on his
work.
Would you be the one who told him to slow down if work was wearing
him out?
Yvonne: Yeah. To a certain extent.
Ronan: I need someone to do that, because I'd work, work ,work. I'd
work myself to death if I wasn't careful. Yvonne would ring up my
manager Louis [Walsh] if need be and tell him to stop booking me for
stuff. But Louis knows himself when I'm getting tired and I will get
a break. However, this is my life - I don't know how to do anything
else. I love it.
Yvonne: I know where I stand. I'm Ro's wife and Louis is his manager,
and - so far - I've never had to phone him up.
How do you keep in touch when apart?
Ronan: Mobile phones - even though I hate the things. I love working
and getting into what I'm doing, and I can't stand it when it rings
constantly anywhere I am in the world. It's great in the Seychelles,
because it doesn't work - I love it! But when we're apart, we're
constantly on the phone to each other. I think it's very important
to keep in touch. We tell each other everything - where we are, who
we're with, what we're up to - everything. There's nothing worse than
coming home and having to tell Yvonne everything that's being going
on, and then forgetting the little stories. Someone else will come up
to her and tell her something that has happened, and she'll say: "Why
didn't you tell me that!" I've got a friend who told that, whatever
you do when you're apart, keep communicating - it's the most important
thing.
Yvonne: We're best pals. It's not because I have to ring my husband.
I want to call him up and tell him things that are happening or just
to say: "Hi, I'm bored, let's have a chat."
Ronan: And if you have an argument, you have to sort it out there
and then. If you love each other that much, then you have to overcome
any misunderstanding.
Ronan, you've been here in the Seychelles to present the Miss World contest. Are you carving out a career as a presenter?
Ronan: No, not at all. I'm a singer-songwriter first and foremost and
a presenter second. I've done a lot of hosting, but that's not me
full-time; it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life - that's
music.
There's a rumour that you're running for President of the Republic of
Ireland?
Ronan: Well - you never know. If Dana can do it, so can I. I'd love to
give it a go. I think I could be a good ambassador for the country. At
the end of the day, the government are not the people who push the
button - they're representatives of their country.
Yvonne: I think he has the love of the country and the people that
you need to enter politics.
What about your own personal ambitions, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Well, at the moment I'm just concentrating on becoming a mum.
But maybe, after I've had the baby, I'll go back to modelling.
Yvonne, how did you get into modelling?
Yvonne: I left a college course and went to work as a receptionist in
a Dublin beauty salon for a couple of months. Then an agent for a
models' agency came in and suggested I try out as a model. I did,
and we just took it from there. I used to do a bit of everything,
catwalk, catalogues and editorial.
Did you travel a lot in that line of work?
Yvonne: No - I wasn't one of these girls who would spend months in
London. I used to just go on short trips out of Dublin for shoots -
I wouldn't have wanted a job that took me away from home too much.
And you and Ronan still love Dublin?
Yvonne: Oh yeah - we'd never leave Ireland. Only if we had to leave
for a short while would we consider living anywhere else.
Ronan: I travel around the world and there's still nothing like coming
back to Ireland. It's coming back to the food and the way of life
there - I wouldn't give it up for anything. I'd rather go to Kerry
on holiday than come down here to the Seychelles - I just love
Ireland.
You moved into a new place near Dublin when you got married...
Ronan: We did, yes. We were in between houses and were renting a
beautiful place while out new home was being renovated. We moved
in during the summer.
It's 15 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from the city - a
perfect, prime location. That's where we'll be bringing up the baby.
And how are the two of you planning to spend your first Christmas
together?
Ronan: All our families are going to our house for the day! It'll
be a riot.
And will Yvonne do all the cooking?
Yvonne: Yes - as long as someone else does the washing up!
Ronan: We want to set the tradition that Yvonne will be in the kitchen cooking while the lads will be slobbed out in the living room enjoying a drink! Only joking!
Yvonne: All of Ro's family will be there, and a lot are coming over from America. Hopefully we can find somewhere for them all to sleep! Luckily there's a couple of brother who don't mind sleeping on the couch!
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
See my film on
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
See my film on
OK! - Interview 1998
"MY REAL MISS WORLD AND OUR BABY"
Ronan Keating and pregnant wife Yvonne in the beautiful Seychelles talking exclusively
***
An in depth interview in the Seychelles - RONAN KEATING.
Surrounded by beautiful women, the Boyzone star only has
eyes for his wife Yvonne... Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating, the host of the recent, revamped Miss World competition, was the envy of men around the globe. Surrounded by 87 of the world's most beautiful women in the stunning tropical surroundings of the Seychelles, Ronan was a very, very lucky man. The competition was won by Miss Israel, Linor Abargil, but for 21-year-old Ronan, there's only one women in the world - his stunning model wife Yvonne who's expecting their first child in March. Between his duties as the host of Miss World, the handsome blond singer made time to enjoy the white beaches and amazing scenery of Mahe Island in the Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles with his wife. The couple, who married in a secret ceremony on the Caribbean island of Nevis last April, looked like they were still enjoying their honeymoon as they whispered private jokes and walked hand-in-hand through the clear waters off the beaches of Mahe. And Ronan and Yvonne, 24, invited OK! along to share their paradise holiday, revealing their plans for parenthood and the future.
***
At 21, do you feel old enough to be married and a father, Ronan?
Ronan: I joined Boyzone when I was 16, and I've travelled around
the world three or four times, meeting lots of different people.
I feel like I've done what a lot of other people don't do until
they're 30 or 40 years of age. The next step for me was to marry
the woman I love and who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
And from the smiles on your faces, you're obviously enjoying
married life...
Ronan: Oh you know, cheap car insurance, reduced mortgage - I
recommend it! [laughs]. No, I love the secure feeling of being
at home together, lying on the couch, holding each other and
knowing that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together.
And you planned children from day one?
Ronan: We want to have kids young so we can relate to them. We
don't want to be 50 when the kids are 20. And we'd like to have
a big family - please God. I come from a large family, and although
Yvonne just has one brother, she wants a big family too. Anyway,
why not? Look at the opportunities we can give our children -
what could be better? Yvonne: We want to be around when we have
grandchildren, too.
Ronan, how will you fit fatherhood into your hectic schedule?
Yvonne: From not until Christmas, Ronan's only working off and on
for a few days in America, but we can cope with that. Then he's
taking a lot of time off in January and February. He's also having
time off from the band during March when the baby's due.
Ronan: I think everybody knows I'm going to be around when our
baby's born and to be with Yvonne when she's pregnant. It's our
baby we're having - someone who will be with us for the rest of
our lives. I want to be there from the first day.
Where does your future with Boyzone fit in?
Ronan: It's going to be very, very hard - tough in fact. But
hopefully, as the baby grows up, he or she and Yvonne will be
able to travel with me and the band. If they can't come away with
me then I'll go home - but we'll work around it somehow by me
working at home so it shouldn't come to a choice between my family
and my career.
So Keating Junior will have quite an unusual childhood, then?
Ronan: As much as I want my son or daughter to have a stable
background and schooling and things like that, I also want him
or her to travel around the world and learn to be streetwise.
While there was nothing wrong with my childhood, I never left
Ireland until I joined the band at 16. I'd just like my child
to try the food of the world and to meet different people from
different cultures. Because it's a wonderful world out there.
Yvonne: My upbringing was pretty much the same as Ronan's, but
even more sheltered because I'm from the country, not from Dublin.
I was brought up riding horses and going to horse shows and things
like that - a simple country life!
Is financial security important to you?
Ronan: No. That's not the main thing we can offer them. We love kids
and want to give them the world.
Yvonne: We love having our nieces and nephews around to the house.
A few weeks ago, we came home and we only had one night together but
we called around our brothers and sisters and got them to drop off
their kids so we could babysit them. They thought we were mad! But
we love to give them little parties, and we're the two biggest kids
in the middle of it all.
What about the tales of children from rich rock 'n' roll families
who have been overindulged and ended up unhappy?
Ronan: Obviously it's hard for kids if they're at school and living
in the shadow of their parents all the time. But all you can do is
bring them up in the best way possible, like my mam and dad did for
me. Hopefully, then they'll turn out to be good kids. But you can't
do more than that.
Yvonne: I think it's down to the parents, whether they are rich or
poor, to make sure their kids have the right values. If they're
brought up properly, no matter how much money you do or don't have,
things should be all right.
Ronan: And our families will make sure our children keep their feet
on the ground.
Who's going to be the bossy parent out of the pair of you?
Yvonne: We're both very strict! With our nephews and nieces, we don't
let them get away with anything. We worship the ground they walk and
love them very much, but if they are rude or don't do what they're
told, then they are really scared of us.
Ronan: There's just nothing worse than bad mannered kids!
Have you talked about names yet?
Ronan: Yes. If it's a little girl, she'll be called Marie after my
mam, who passed away earlier this year, or Jack after Yvonne's
grandfather - and not because I love Jack Daniels!
Will the baby be christened?
Ronan: Oh yeah, of course. We wouldn't miss any of that - it's a good
excuse for a party!
Would you recommend a career in the music industry to your child?
Ronan: I always said I wouldn't, but if they wanted to, you can't stop
them.
Yvonne: I think it would depend on the personality of the child. If
they were like Ro, were out going and made for the business, and you
knew it wouldn't go to their head, then you can give them all the
encouragement they need.
Yvonne, you're the older woman. Does that mean you look after Ronan?
Yvonne: No way! He looks after me. I travelled on my own to the
Seychelles and everything went wrong because he wasn't there looking
after me. I lost my tickets and everything. I'll never go anywhere
without him again!
Ronan: She's the baby. I wish she'd look after me sometimes! Mind
you, Yvonne does know what I'm doing before I do!
And are you very involved in Ronan's career with Boyzone?
Yvonne: It's difficult for Ronan. Because there's so many things
going on, someone needs to keep track - so he can concentrate on his
work.
Would you be the one who told him to slow down if work was wearing
him out?
Yvonne: Yeah. To a certain extent.
Ronan: I need someone to do that, because I'd work, work ,work. I'd
work myself to death if I wasn't careful. Yvonne would ring up my
manager Louis [Walsh] if need be and tell him to stop booking me for
stuff. But Louis knows himself when I'm getting tired and I will get
a break. However, this is my life - I don't know how to do anything
else. I love it.
Yvonne: I know where I stand. I'm Ro's wife and Louis is his manager,
and - so far - I've never had to phone him up.
How do you keep in touch when apart?
Ronan: Mobile phones - even though I hate the things. I love working
and getting into what I'm doing, and I can't stand it when it rings
constantly anywhere I am in the world. It's great in the Seychelles,
because it doesn't work - I love it! But when we're apart, we're
constantly on the phone to each other. I think it's very important
to keep in touch. We tell each other everything - where we are, who
we're with, what we're up to - everything. There's nothing worse than
coming home and having to tell Yvonne everything that's being going
on, and then forgetting the little stories. Someone else will come up
to her and tell her something that has happened, and she'll say: "Why
didn't you tell me that!" I've got a friend who told that, whatever
you do when you're apart, keep communicating - it's the most important
thing.
Yvonne: We're best pals. It's not because I have to ring my husband.
I want to call him up and tell him things that are happening or just
to say: "Hi, I'm bored, let's have a chat."
Ronan: And if you have an argument, you have to sort it out there
and then. If you love each other that much, then you have to overcome
any misunderstanding.
Ronan, you've been here in the Seychelles to present the Miss World contest. Are you carving out a career as a presenter?
Ronan: No, not at all. I'm a singer-songwriter first and foremost and
a presenter second. I've done a lot of hosting, but that's not me
full-time; it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life - that's
music.
There's a rumour that you're running for President of the Republic of
Ireland?
Ronan: Well - you never know. If Dana can do it, so can I. I'd love to
give it a go. I think I could be a good ambassador for the country. At
the end of the day, the government are not the people who push the
button - they're representatives of their country.
Yvonne: I think he has the love of the country and the people that
you need to enter politics.
What about your own personal ambitions, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Well, at the moment I'm just concentrating on becoming a mum.
But maybe, after I've had the baby, I'll go back to modelling.
Yvonne, how did you get into modelling?
Yvonne: I left a college course and went to work as a receptionist in
a Dublin beauty salon for a couple of months. Then an agent for a
models' agency came in and suggested I try out as a model. I did,
and we just took it from there. I used to do a bit of everything,
catwalk, catalogues and editorial.
Did you travel a lot in that line of work?
Yvonne: No - I wasn't one of these girls who would spend months in
London. I used to just go on short trips out of Dublin for shoots -
I wouldn't have wanted a job that took me away from home too much.
And you and Ronan still love Dublin?
Yvonne: Oh yeah - we'd never leave Ireland. Only if we had to leave
for a short while would we consider living anywhere else.
Ronan: I travel around the world and there's still nothing like coming
back to Ireland. It's coming back to the food and the way of life
there - I wouldn't give it up for anything. I'd rather go to Kerry
on holiday than come down here to the Seychelles - I just love
Ireland.
You moved into a new place near Dublin when you got married...
Ronan: We did, yes. We were in between houses and were renting a
beautiful place while out new home was being renovated. We moved
in during the summer.
It's 15 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from the city - a
perfect, prime location. That's where we'll be bringing up the baby.
And how are the two of you planning to spend your first Christmas
together?
Ronan: All our families are going to our house for the day! It'll
be a riot.
And will Yvonne do all the cooking?
Yvonne: Yes - as long as someone else does the washing up!
Ronan: We want to set the tradition that Yvonne will be in the kitchen cooking while the lads will be slobbed out in the living room enjoying a drink! Only joking!
Yvonne: All of Ro's family will be there, and a lot are coming over from America. Hopefully we can find somewhere for them all to sleep! Luckily there's a couple of brother who don't mind sleeping on the couch!
Pulling out some old stuff to entertain myself until I can come up with new stuff.
taken in a small place in vermont called Grande Isle. This impromptu flea market closed the day after I took these photos....
Fanastic flowing shapes. Immense flock of starlings preparing to roost at dusk near Gretna.
Some of my starling images are available to buy here at my gallery. ://www.sleepycat-gallery.com/gallery_364598.html
See my film on
OK! - Interview 1998
"MY REAL MISS WORLD AND OUR BABY"
Ronan Keating and pregnant wife Yvonne in the beautiful Seychelles talking exclusively
***
An in depth interview in the Seychelles - RONAN KEATING.
Surrounded by beautiful women, the Boyzone star only has
eyes for his wife Yvonne... Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating, the host of the recent, revamped Miss World competition, was the envy of men around the globe. Surrounded by 87 of the world's most beautiful women in the stunning tropical surroundings of the Seychelles, Ronan was a very, very lucky man. The competition was won by Miss Israel, Linor Abargil, but for 21-year-old Ronan, there's only one women in the world - his stunning model wife Yvonne who's expecting their first child in March. Between his duties as the host of Miss World, the handsome blond singer made time to enjoy the white beaches and amazing scenery of Mahe Island in the Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles with his wife. The couple, who married in a secret ceremony on the Caribbean island of Nevis last April, looked like they were still enjoying their honeymoon as they whispered private jokes and walked hand-in-hand through the clear waters off the beaches of Mahe. And Ronan and Yvonne, 24, invited OK! along to share their paradise holiday, revealing their plans for parenthood and the future.
***
At 21, do you feel old enough to be married and a father, Ronan?
Ronan: I joined Boyzone when I was 16, and I've travelled around
the world three or four times, meeting lots of different people.
I feel like I've done what a lot of other people don't do until
they're 30 or 40 years of age. The next step for me was to marry
the woman I love and who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
And from the smiles on your faces, you're obviously enjoying
married life...
Ronan: Oh you know, cheap car insurance, reduced mortgage - I
recommend it! [laughs]. No, I love the secure feeling of being
at home together, lying on the couch, holding each other and
knowing that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together.
And you planned children from day one?
Ronan: We want to have kids young so we can relate to them. We
don't want to be 50 when the kids are 20. And we'd like to have
a big family - please God. I come from a large family, and although
Yvonne just has one brother, she wants a big family too. Anyway,
why not? Look at the opportunities we can give our children -
what could be better? Yvonne: We want to be around when we have
grandchildren, too.
Ronan, how will you fit fatherhood into your hectic schedule?
Yvonne: From not until Christmas, Ronan's only working off and on
for a few days in America, but we can cope with that. Then he's
taking a lot of time off in January and February. He's also having
time off from the band during March when the baby's due.
Ronan: I think everybody knows I'm going to be around when our
baby's born and to be with Yvonne when she's pregnant. It's our
baby we're having - someone who will be with us for the rest of
our lives. I want to be there from the first day.
Where does your future with Boyzone fit in?
Ronan: It's going to be very, very hard - tough in fact. But
hopefully, as the baby grows up, he or she and Yvonne will be
able to travel with me and the band. If they can't come away with
me then I'll go home - but we'll work around it somehow by me
working at home so it shouldn't come to a choice between my family
and my career.
So Keating Junior will have quite an unusual childhood, then?
Ronan: As much as I want my son or daughter to have a stable
background and schooling and things like that, I also want him
or her to travel around the world and learn to be streetwise.
While there was nothing wrong with my childhood, I never left
Ireland until I joined the band at 16. I'd just like my child
to try the food of the world and to meet different people from
different cultures. Because it's a wonderful world out there.
Yvonne: My upbringing was pretty much the same as Ronan's, but
even more sheltered because I'm from the country, not from Dublin.
I was brought up riding horses and going to horse shows and things
like that - a simple country life!
Is financial security important to you?
Ronan: No. That's not the main thing we can offer them. We love kids
and want to give them the world.
Yvonne: We love having our nieces and nephews around to the house.
A few weeks ago, we came home and we only had one night together but
we called around our brothers and sisters and got them to drop off
their kids so we could babysit them. They thought we were mad! But
we love to give them little parties, and we're the two biggest kids
in the middle of it all.
What about the tales of children from rich rock 'n' roll families
who have been overindulged and ended up unhappy?
Ronan: Obviously it's hard for kids if they're at school and living
in the shadow of their parents all the time. But all you can do is
bring them up in the best way possible, like my mam and dad did for
me. Hopefully, then they'll turn out to be good kids. But you can't
do more than that.
Yvonne: I think it's down to the parents, whether they are rich or
poor, to make sure their kids have the right values. If they're
brought up properly, no matter how much money you do or don't have,
things should be all right.
Ronan: And our families will make sure our children keep their feet
on the ground.
Who's going to be the bossy parent out of the pair of you?
Yvonne: We're both very strict! With our nephews and nieces, we don't
let them get away with anything. We worship the ground they walk and
love them very much, but if they are rude or don't do what they're
told, then they are really scared of us.
Ronan: There's just nothing worse than bad mannered kids!
Have you talked about names yet?
Ronan: Yes. If it's a little girl, she'll be called Marie after my
mam, who passed away earlier this year, or Jack after Yvonne's
grandfather - and not because I love Jack Daniels!
Will the baby be christened?
Ronan: Oh yeah, of course. We wouldn't miss any of that - it's a good
excuse for a party!
Would you recommend a career in the music industry to your child?
Ronan: I always said I wouldn't, but if they wanted to, you can't stop
them.
Yvonne: I think it would depend on the personality of the child. If
they were like Ro, were out going and made for the business, and you
knew it wouldn't go to their head, then you can give them all the
encouragement they need.
Yvonne, you're the older woman. Does that mean you look after Ronan?
Yvonne: No way! He looks after me. I travelled on my own to the
Seychelles and everything went wrong because he wasn't there looking
after me. I lost my tickets and everything. I'll never go anywhere
without him again!
Ronan: She's the baby. I wish she'd look after me sometimes! Mind
you, Yvonne does know what I'm doing before I do!
And are you very involved in Ronan's career with Boyzone?
Yvonne: It's difficult for Ronan. Because there's so many things
going on, someone needs to keep track - so he can concentrate on his
work.
Would you be the one who told him to slow down if work was wearing
him out?
Yvonne: Yeah. To a certain extent.
Ronan: I need someone to do that, because I'd work, work ,work. I'd
work myself to death if I wasn't careful. Yvonne would ring up my
manager Louis [Walsh] if need be and tell him to stop booking me for
stuff. But Louis knows himself when I'm getting tired and I will get
a break. However, this is my life - I don't know how to do anything
else. I love it.
Yvonne: I know where I stand. I'm Ro's wife and Louis is his manager,
and - so far - I've never had to phone him up.
How do you keep in touch when apart?
Ronan: Mobile phones - even though I hate the things. I love working
and getting into what I'm doing, and I can't stand it when it rings
constantly anywhere I am in the world. It's great in the Seychelles,
because it doesn't work - I love it! But when we're apart, we're
constantly on the phone to each other. I think it's very important
to keep in touch. We tell each other everything - where we are, who
we're with, what we're up to - everything. There's nothing worse than
coming home and having to tell Yvonne everything that's being going
on, and then forgetting the little stories. Someone else will come up
to her and tell her something that has happened, and she'll say: "Why
didn't you tell me that!" I've got a friend who told that, whatever
you do when you're apart, keep communicating - it's the most important
thing.
Yvonne: We're best pals. It's not because I have to ring my husband.
I want to call him up and tell him things that are happening or just
to say: "Hi, I'm bored, let's have a chat."
Ronan: And if you have an argument, you have to sort it out there
and then. If you love each other that much, then you have to overcome
any misunderstanding.
Ronan, you've been here in the Seychelles to present the Miss World contest. Are you carving out a career as a presenter?
Ronan: No, not at all. I'm a singer-songwriter first and foremost and
a presenter second. I've done a lot of hosting, but that's not me
full-time; it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life - that's
music.
There's a rumour that you're running for President of the Republic of
Ireland?
Ronan: Well - you never know. If Dana can do it, so can I. I'd love to
give it a go. I think I could be a good ambassador for the country. At
the end of the day, the government are not the people who push the
button - they're representatives of their country.
Yvonne: I think he has the love of the country and the people that
you need to enter politics.
What about your own personal ambitions, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Well, at the moment I'm just concentrating on becoming a mum.
But maybe, after I've had the baby, I'll go back to modelling.
Yvonne, how did you get into modelling?
Yvonne: I left a college course and went to work as a receptionist in
a Dublin beauty salon for a couple of months. Then an agent for a
models' agency came in and suggested I try out as a model. I did,
and we just took it from there. I used to do a bit of everything,
catwalk, catalogues and editorial.
Did you travel a lot in that line of work?
Yvonne: No - I wasn't one of these girls who would spend months in
London. I used to just go on short trips out of Dublin for shoots -
I wouldn't have wanted a job that took me away from home too much.
And you and Ronan still love Dublin?
Yvonne: Oh yeah - we'd never leave Ireland. Only if we had to leave
for a short while would we consider living anywhere else.
Ronan: I travel around the world and there's still nothing like coming
back to Ireland. It's coming back to the food and the way of life
there - I wouldn't give it up for anything. I'd rather go to Kerry
on holiday than come down here to the Seychelles - I just love
Ireland.
You moved into a new place near Dublin when you got married...
Ronan: We did, yes. We were in between houses and were renting a
beautiful place while out new home was being renovated. We moved
in during the summer.
It's 15 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from the city - a
perfect, prime location. That's where we'll be bringing up the baby.
And how are the two of you planning to spend your first Christmas
together?
Ronan: All our families are going to our house for the day! It'll
be a riot.
And will Yvonne do all the cooking?
Yvonne: Yes - as long as someone else does the washing up!
Ronan: We want to set the tradition that Yvonne will be in the kitchen cooking while the lads will be slobbed out in the living room enjoying a drink! Only joking!
Yvonne: All of Ro's family will be there, and a lot are coming over from America. Hopefully we can find somewhere for them all to sleep! Luckily there's a couple of brother who don't mind sleeping on the couch!