*         article from the Northern Ireland mirror about the Croke Park  gig.  
(thanx a lot to Louise Elliott Lou.elliott@btinternet.com for the information) 
STARS PLAN THEIR GREATEST GIG EVER  
Boyzone will stage the biggest concert in their career with a Croke Park spectacular in July for 65,000 fans. The all-conquering boy band will upstage the Corrs by booking Ireland's largest concert venue just days after the Dundalk family act announced their Lansdowne Road show for July 17. News of the extraordinary event will be officially unveilled at a high-profile press conference towards the end of next week. But last night Ronan Keating confirmed to the Mirror that the concert will happen. "It's going to be like nothing we have ever done before," he said. "We just have to pick the exact date and then it's all systems go." Insiders said that Boyzone had been planning an outdoor concert for some time. "The Corrs decided to play at Lansdowne Road, I guess Boyzone just wanted to go one better," said one source close to the band.  
PERFORM  
"Croke Park is the biggest place in Ireland to perform- only the top names can sell that place out and they'll easily do that." The venue has been used to host the biggest names in music over the past two years.  Garth Brooks,  Tina Turner and Elton John sold out the venue, now Boyzone will claim their place at the pinnacle of the business. "I can't wait, this is really big for us," said Ronan. "We've done big shows before, but nothing this size in Ireland." "It's always been The Point and the King's Hall, but this is going to be 10 times bigger." Ronan's protege pop group, Westlife, will also appear at the event, and speculation is growing that other big names could make an appearance. "We're looking at a number of suitable dates over the summer months," said Ronan. "July would probably be the prime target,but we're not totally sure yet." "There's something special about doing an open-air show- let's just hope the weather stays good and everyone can have a memorable night out." "The last year has just been a big high for us, we are all happy and strong as a unit." "The concerts in Dublin and Belfast at the end of last year were a big success so why not do it again" "I suppose some people might say we are trying to do a big outdoor gig like the Corrs but there is room for both of us."  
SCHEDULE Band manager Louis Walsh is also planning to give Westlife a prominent role in the event to add to their already packed schedule. "They are basically just everywhere at the minute," he said. "In the next two months alone they are doing about 25 TV shows including Live and Kicking, MTV, Blue Peter, Top of the Pops and the Pepsi Chart Show- and that's just for starters.  I've no doubt that they can handle any of the big venues in the world- they've already toured with Boyzone and done the likes of Wembley Arena, they love doing the big arenas best." Rumours that Boyzone could be staging such a big concert to go out on a high are inevitable, but Ronan insists they are completely without foundation. "People will say that this is a big concert to go out on, but as far as we're concered it's a big show to go on with." "It's quite funny, I think we've been split up 10 times in the past four years, and people have been saying we're going to call it a day- but they're never right."  

*     BBC News - Entertainment 
(thanx a lot to RPM <np17dk@mail.telepac.pt> for the information) 
Boyzone are still in negotiations to perform at the 16 February extravaganza in London's Docklands Arena - despite not being nominated for a single award. Although it did not make the shortlist in any category, the boy band clinched the national Record of the Year 1998 phone poll for their single No Matter What. Boyzone: No prizes for them The group is expected to perform its next single, When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going. Their recording of Billy Ocean's 1986 number one is scheduled to be this year's Comic Relief fundraiser.  

*     NOW magazine 
(thanx a lot to Karen Johnson <D3304287@infotrade.co.uk> for the information) 
They briefly met as kids, met again 2 years ago, started dating last year and married within four months. Now they're expecting a baby on the Boyzone singer's birthday.At just 21 he's one of Ireland's top celebrities. A handsome, millionaire tax exile, he owns a fleet of cars and travels the world first class.But all Boyzone singer Ronan Keating really wants to do is stay at home with his model wife Yvonne Connolly, 25, who's shortly due to give  to the couple's first child.Now, can reveal that the baby's due on March 3 - Ronan's birthday - and be called Marie if it's a girl or Jack if it's a boy. And according to a friend the couple are resisting the urge to discover the sex of their child. Cecily Marron, Yvonne's best friend since primary school says they decided on Marie after Ronan's mum who died last year from cancer, and Jack "because it's a nice short name." "Yvonne's the perfect catch for Ronan," says Cecily a beautician. "She's got brains to burn and is very intellectual. She can hold a conversation on any topic and has great social skills." Since confirming her pregnancy in September - just five months after their secret wedding in the Caribbean - Yvonne and Ronan have virtually given up their jetsetting lifestyle. Refusing to fly, the furthest Yvonne has been since Christmas was to have a few days break in Belfast and Ronan has instructed his record label bosses that, until the birth, work commitments are down to a  minimum.  Since the couple started dating a year ago, Yvonne has been a regular fixture on Boyzone's numerous foreign trips and often used to stay on with Ronan for a few days once the work was over. Recently however, when Ronan's travelled abroad for work, he come's home as soon as it's finished, ahead of the rest of the band, so he doesn't have to stay overnight. One source close to the band revealed that he's so loathe to spend any length of time away from his wife that he recently visited his brother in Australia for just two days. Cecily, 26 says: "Ronan will make a great dad and will dote on his child. Yvonne and Ronan are so lucky. They've got a beautiful home and are so happy together. "We go over to their new house in Celbridge quite a lot to have a cup of tea and catch up on the gossip," she says. "They haven't got maids or cooks. Apart from a cleaner who comes once a week, they do it all themselves. Ronan sometimes cooks and they always do the shopping together. He's even got Yvonne playing golf now." Cecily reveals:"Ronan's not working untill the child's born so they can get everything sorted out. They've been running around buying babyclothes and doing all the mummy and daddy  things you do. "There are no plans for a natural or home birth. They'd never consider anything like that. That's what the Americans do. They don't do that in Ireland, they're going to use the local hospital like everyone else." Cecily continues: "Even though Yvonne moves in totally different circles to me. she hasn't changed at all. I'm so happy for her. She and Ronan are so down to earth and he's such a nice guy, really sound. He's this big pop star but he never pulls rank or anything like that.Ronan's mature for his age."Growing up in the village of Clane, County Kildare, where Cecily runs her own beauty clinic, she and twin sister Adele were Yvonne's closest friends."Eenie as we've always called her, didn't have any other friends," she reveals. "The three of us did everything together. We used to have slumber parties at her house and loved going horse riding. Eenie used to have a horse and I think she and Ronan are building a stable at their house in Celbridge. They've got enough room."Despite being sent to a Dublin boarding school at the age of 11, Yvonne still lived for the weekends when she would rush back home to be with her friends.On Saturday nights the trio would troop off to Regine's nightclub in Naas town. "We'd all dance together - no fellow could break through, we didn't let them," recalls Cecily. "Well maybe the odd one did, but not many."After passing her exams, Yvonne started a physiotherapy course at Cardiff University. "But she was lonely in Wales," says Cecily. "I think she made a few friends, but it was the first time she's been away. She got homesick and eventually came home without finishing the course. We encouraged her to try modelling. She was so pretty with her long, curly, blond hair. An agency took her on and things were going well untill she cut her hair short, then suddenly she became massive."She soon became well known and dated a string of hunks, including racing driver Eddie Irvine but, untill she hit it off with Ronan,nothing was serious.The pair met briefly when Yvonne was 13 and Ronan was 10, as his dad used to make deliveries to the village of Clane. But they only met up again at a showbiz party two years ago. "They were friends for a long time and always ended up chatting at do's," says Cecily. "But gradually they fell in love and one day realised they were made for each other."On 30 April last year they married and soon Yvonne was pregnant. "They wanted the baby straight away and are thrilled about the pregnancy,""If you've got one good friend in life you're lucky. I've got Eenie and I know that, whatever happens she'll always get her nails done here,"says Cecily. "Anyway, she knows I'd kill her if she went anywhere else."How Ronan and Yvonne live their lives in Ireland Since moving into a huge £600,000 seven bedroomed mansion in Celbridge,County Kildare, three months ago, Ronan and Yvonne have become regulars in the historic village nearby.They often turn up in disguise to buy food or rent a video, but locals immediately recognise the handsome Boyzone singer. "I often see him at the supermarket or at the garage buying petrol," said schoolgirl Jessica Payne. "He tries to disguise himself by wearing a woolly hat and dark glasses, but we always know it's him."The couple's home, a newly built house called Villach with security gates and a fleet of cars in the drive, is only a short drive from the exclusive Kildare County Club, better known as the K-Club, where Ronan has recently become a member. An avid golfer, the star's a regular on Ireland's most prestigious course, where green fees start at £55 a round and the only form of membership is corporate and costs £50,000 for 10 years."I've seen him out with his wife a few times recently," says a groundsman, revealing that Richard Gere, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sean Connery have all played there recently as well."He's keen but, looking at the way he plays, he's still very much a beginner."The pair are also often seen in Naas town centre, where Yvonne gets her hair cut and her mum Anne Connolly owns an antiques shop called Granny's Attic. 

*    BZ in the Mirror - Boyzone movie in trouble 
(thanx a lot to Karen Johnson for the information) 
The Boyzone movie has suffered a serious setback after the lads decided to ditch the script halfway through filming.The band want to make a warts-and-all Commitments-style film about their meteoric rise. But after months of costly filming they were unhappy with the results. Frontman Ronan Keating admits: "We're rewriting the script at the moment. It just wasn't right."It won't be long before we've finished the script. Then we can get the movie done. At the moment we're trying to get five guys to play the younger Boyzone."The boys have already shot scenes in and around their home town of Dublin.To embarrassment the of Brits organisers, Boyzone - who haven't been nominated for a single gong -have agreed to perform live at the awards ceremony next month. 

 *    Ronan article in Smash  Hits 
(thanx a lot to Karen Johnson D3304287@infotrade.co.uk for the information) 
He's a pop star, a manager, a TV presenter and a father-to-be. One day, he might even be president of Ireland. We ask superman Ronan how he does it....all! 
He's A a TV presenter.... 
"The Big Breakfast was the first presenting job I ever did. It was a lot of fun and I had a good time presenting the outside broadcast. Then I just did odd jobs here and there - radio and stuff. Then there was the Eurovision Song Contest, The MTV Awards, Miss World and now I'm doing Get Your Act Together. But I don't want to be seen as a presenter - it's just a bonus. I'm a singer/songwriter and I find being a pop star a lot more fulfilling because I love me music. I find presenting easy to do though, so it's good that I can get away with that too."Plenty of things have gone wrong when I've presented shows - I've forgotten my lines, where I'm supposed to be, all sorts of things.....When I did Miss World, I forgot the last line and said "And here's the next eleven girls," and it went to an ad break. I went, (shouts) "Oh my God, what do I do?!" Things go haywire every time - it never runs as smoothly as it looks on TV. What did I think when Miss Ghana fell flat on her bum? Oh, God love her, everybody felt so sorry for her, but you know fair play for her, she got up and kept smiling. I'm sure I'd probably cry if I fell off my high heels!" 
He's Westside's manager....... 
"I moved into management because I like to see the other side of the coin. It helps me as an artist, it makes my job easier and it teaches me a lot. Being in management keeps my feet on the ground, because as much moaning as the pop star does, the manager works as hard and I think it's very interesting to see that."I try to be there for the Westside lads more than just giving them advice. They know they can always knock on my door or pick up the phone and ask, "What  should we do?" I don't want to talk down to them, I want to help them. I was there in the studio when they were recording their vocals, though - I think that's important. Which if them is my favourite? I don't have one! I'm not allowed to have a favourite. A lot of people say that Nicky looks like me and can sing like me too. He can put on the voice, so I'm a bit worried, hahaha!" It doesn't really worry me that Westside might end up being bigger than Boyzone - if that happens, so be it. I want the boys to be the biggest group they can be. At the same time I don't want them to change as people, and I think it's important for them to keep their feet on the ground. If pop stars lose their heads with success, it can go all pear-shaped. Westside are a good bunch of lads . They're hardworking, they're very talented and I like them a lot. I think they can go all the way." 
He's going to become a daddy....... 
"Becoming a father is scary and daunting, but I'm looking forward to it, I have to say. I'm reading all the books and I'm trying to learn as best I can, but I'll do what I can when I get there. I just wanna take it as it comes, not think about it too much." I'm a very strict person, I think, and I'll be strict with my child. Moral values are very important to me I hope I'll teach my child the difference between right and wrong. Whether they'll take any notice of what I say is a different story!"I'm a lot younger than my parents were when they had me, so I'm going to try to relate to my kids a lot better. Not that I didn't relate to my parents - it's just that I want to be young and be able to go down the pub and enjoy a pint with my child. I want to grow up with them - play football and stuff, you know? I'll change the nappies and everything, of course. Whatever it takes. Please, God." 
He's a good mate....... 
"Us Boyzone lads are still very much there for each other, but obviously we've got our things at home now, so we break away from each other as soon as we get home. "I don't know whether we'll always see each other - people often drift apart and end up living their own lives. I'm sure I'll see some of the boys, but others will do thier own thing. It's like a school - you have all the best intentions of being together with your school friends for the rest of your lives, but you just grow apart. Sad as it is, it happens. People end up living in different countries and all sorts. I don't think the five of us are growing apart now though - we're just growing up. We still love each other."We used to wind each other up, but we don't any more - we just shut our mouths. We've got enough work to do each day without upsetting each other, so we just do the gig and have a good time." 
He could become president of Ireland...... 
"( Laughing ) I tell you, this has all gone mad because I was joking about it one day and everybody took it seriously! I dunno, I'm just enjoying myself and I'm doing very well with Boyzone. I'm very happy. But you never know, I might just try it out. Dana (Irish winner of the Eurovision Song Contest severalcenturies ago) had a go, so why can't I? " I don't think a president has the power that everybody thinks - they're just an ambassador for the country. But I could do a lot with Ireland, using my experiences of travelling round the world and seeing so many other countries. Also, I like to be in touch with people - I think that's very important......ah, it sounds like I'm doing a campaign here! I don't want to be anything special - I just want to be a normal person trying to relate to people." If I do run for president, it'll be a long time away, but I'm honoured that people sometimes take me as an ambassador for the country. It's a very proud feeling for me. I don't see myself as a spokesman but if they ask me I'll be there."Would I talk about the Troubles in Ireland? Well, it's a sad and very difficult situation to talk about, but hopefully one day my children will live in a country that has peace. Please, God." 
H's a pop god....... 
" It's so flattering, being screamed at. As soon as that stops, that's when the whole thing ends, you know? Thank God we can still get people screaming at us. "In the past, we got a lot of grief for being a boy band, but we've outgrown that and now people respect us. It's fantastic. Our next tour will be wild. It's sold out already, but I've no idea what it'll be like. Yet. I've still got a lot left in me that I have to express. That'll come out in my later years when I find it easier to express myself, but I think I do a good enough job of it at the moment. The Frank Sinatra thing (where he and Steve performed a tribute to the now-deceased crooner at last years' Royal Variety Performance)? It was a bit of a wierd one, but it was an honour to work with Barry (singing smoothie Barry Manilow) and we had a good time. It could have been a lot better - we needed more rehearsal, but we'd only just come in from New York that morning."I do listen to my own records, but I don't gloat over them in any way.I learn from them, because I think it's important that you sing them better every time. Singing-wise, I think LTWYLM was my best performance yet - I'm just getting better and better. But, you know, there's always room for improvement." 
......and he's a married man! (Boo! - quite a few fans. Hurrah! - his wife Yvonne.) I speak to Yvonne maybe ten times a day. We just phone to let each other know how our day's going. I think it's very important to communicate. I think understanding is very important as well. Caring, loving.........that's what makes a good husband. It's not that hard  to be like that - every man should be."I'm not a traditional dominant man. but I'm always there for Eve ( that's short for Yvonne). I'll carry her into the house if she needs it, or open the door....whatever she needs, I try my best. But we both work hard and we'll continue to do so in the future - I don't believe in a man being the breadwinner or anything like that. I do hog the remote control, though. When it comes to technical things in the house, leave it to me. Yvonne will tell you that herself.Eve definitely does most of the cleaning as well, She doesn't have to - we have cleaners that come in -but I get home and the bedroom's clean. We do all the food shopping together though. We cook together too. We were in a supermarket two days ago - it was great!"