Ronan Keating was born on March 3 1977 and grew up in Bayside, Dublin. His mother, Marie, died on February 2, 1998 from breast cancer; Ronan and his family have since set up a charity "The Marie Keating Foundation" to help find a cure for cancer. Ronan married Irish model Yvonne Connolly on April 30, 1998 on Nevis Island. They have three children - Jack, Marie, known as Missy, and Ali.

He joined the band Boyzoneafter being spotted by Louis Walsh when he turned 17; and later briefly co-managed fellow Irish boy band Westlife Although Boyzonenever officially disbanded, they had not released a single since 1999 but reformed in 2007. He has continued with his own solo career, clocking up a total of 14 UK top 10 singles as well as three UK Number One albums in addition to nearly two and a half million copies worldwide. Also in October Ronan was entered in the Guinness Book of Records for being the only artist ever to have 30 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK chart. On the 3rd May 1997 he presented the Eurovision Song Contest along with Carrie Crowley.

In October 2005, Ronan went to Rome where he was appointed as a UN Goodwill Ambassador via the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). This came out of his work started in 2004 with Christian Aid and the Trade Justice Campaign.

On June 6, 2006, Ronan sang at the World Cup opening party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Also in June 2006, Ronan posed naked for Cosmopolitan magazine's 10 Years Of Naked Centrefolds.

On May 9, 2007, Ronan Keating became the first international number-one selling foreign artist to perform a concert in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Ronan performed at the Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena.

Ronan presented the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997, presented the MTV Europe Music Awards in 1997 and 1999, and co-presented the MTV Asia Awards in 2002 with Mandy Moore He has hosted the Miss World contest, had a duet with Elton John at Madison Garden in New York and has sung for the Pope twice. He performed for Prince Charles at The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday which took place at the Tower of London. He performed on stage for the Swedish Royal family at the Crown Princess Victoria's Birthday Celebrations, and at the Opening Ceremony of 19th European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

Over the years he has won Smash Hits best solo male. He was also given a tree in London's Hyde Park for performing for The Prince's Trust. He also has a World Music Award for the best selling Irish artist.