Boyzone's Ronan Keating in dash to save his marriage

By Niamh Horan – 24 May 2010

Boyzone singer Ronan Keating will jet back to Ireland in the coming days to stage last-minute crisis talks to save his marriage to Yvonne Connolly.

The star, who is currently meeting pre-arranged work commitments in Zurich, has convinced his wife to meet him in a secret showdown where he will do everything in his power to win her back.

The "make or break" summit will decide the future of their 12-year marriage -- once considered the strongest in Irish show business.

But if the popstar fails to convince the mother of three to give their relationship another shot, he must prepare for the biggest divorce payout in Irish showbiz history.

This weekend, as a heartbroken Yvonne is comforted by her mother, Ronan is faced with two monumental battles -- one to save his marriage and one to save his millions.

According to latest estimates, his personal fortune is worth almost €12m and he would loose two-thirds of that in a divorce settlement. This year the pop singer is expected to make a further €3m from album sales, tour dates, sales of merchandise and a lucrative deal on The X Factor.

Ronan is said to be distraught at the sudden implosion of their relationship and has told friends he will not give up without a fight.

According to friends, the 33-year-old feels everything happened too quickly -- without time for rational judgment -- and has reasoned with Yvonne that they need to talk as a couple, away from family, friends and the glare of the media spotlight.

As their Abbington home remains at the centre of the media spotlight, Yvonne has agreed to her errant husband's pleas for a meeting -- where she will listen as he begs her to work through their differences for the sake of their young family.

According to a close friend of the star: "Yvonne has agreed to meet Ronan when he gets back so they can sit down and talk through everything that has happened. Ronan feels that everything snowballed so quickly. There were a lot of emotions involved and the couple also had to deal with their personal life being splashed across the papers."

"Now that the storm has somewhat settled, it's hard to see how they can ever go back from this, but Ronan keeps saying their marriage is worth fighting for. He will do whatever it takes to get her back."

But friends of the Keatings say the couple made a pact at the start of their relationship to have a zero-tolerance policy on infidelity.

"It was common knowledge. Everyone in the band knew that was one thing that was non-negotiable between Ronan and Yvonne. If he ever strayed on tour, it would be over; there would be no going back. He was travelling all over the world, with girls throwing themselves at him; they both knew where they stood."

"Yvonne is a very strong woman who doesn't suffer fools gladly; it will take a lot for her to forgive and forget if Ronan has strayed." Keating's career is on the rise again after the singer landed a lucrative deal-rumoured to be worth up to €500,000, which will see him take part in a new Australian version of The X Factor.

He is also tipped to land another six-figure deal if he secures a role in the fantasy movie The Hobbit, while his upcoming Boyzone tour is set to net him over €650,000.

In addition, Boyzone are expected to release a DVD of their next tour in time for the following Christmas, which would see him pocket another six-figure sum.

As a source explained, "After a number one solo album in the charts, another tour on the way and the major deal he has struck with Simon Cowell, Ronan is headed for a big pay day again. If a divorce is on the cards, all his future earnings will have to be taken into account."

"Yvonne was instrumental in supporting Ronan in his career. She is very financially savvy and was one of the driving forces behind his bid for solo stardom. She gave him the confidence to go out on his own. She is a very strong woman and has played a significant role in everything he has done to date."

The Keatings announced the end of their marriage after Ronan's alleged affair with a dancer on tour was revealed when his wife found texts from her on his secret mobile phone.

His wife of 12 years discovered the second phone and decided to go through the messages. There she found intimate correspondence between her husband and 26-year-old Francine Cornell.

The 36-year-old has now reportedly thrown the singer out of the family home and was pictured this weekend without her wedding ring. Yesterday, she spent the morning at the family home in Abington, the luxury home on an estate known as millionaire's row in Malahide, Co Dublin.

She received several callers, including her mother, who left some time later with the three children. Yvonne emerged from the house after 2.30pm when a pet van was buzzed in by the electronic gates.

She stood by as the van doors were opened and two newly-groomed Bernese mountain dogs leapt out. Dressed in skinny jeans and a fitted navy jacket and with impeccable hair and make-up, Yvonne posed briefly for the waiting cameras.

She played with the dogs before returning inside. She emerged again 10 minutes later, got into her black 2010 Range Rover and drove away, accompanied by a minder.

_{Irish Independent}