Boyzone’s Ronan Keating talked of the "bittersweet" moment he experienced after Stephen Gately passed away.
The 'Life is a Rollercoaster' singer spoke to Disney podcast host Giovanna Fletcher on his memories of his late boyband pal Stephen, who died in 2009.
Ronan told the I’m a Celebrity winner that he always thinks about him when he watches a Disney movie because Stephen was the biggest Disney fan he’s ever known.
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Stephen had told Ronan he wanted to see 'The Princess And The Frog' but he died before the movie was released. So when Ronan got to watch the animated movie, it was a emotional moment.
Ronan Keating says: “I remember before he died, there was the Princess And The Frog, and he was talking about how excited he was to see it. I remember watching that film because I watched it after he died and I sat for an hour and a half crying watching it.
“Because it was so sad for me - it hurt so much knowing my friend was so excited about seeing it and here I am lucky enough to sit and watch it.
“And how much he would have loved it, and he would have sung the songs, I can just picture him backstage and in the hallways singing these songs - he was always singing Disney songs – always.
“It's kind of a bittersweet thing, I can't really watch that film anymore because of that. But yeah, it's a beautiful thing and I love how happy it made him.”
Back in 1995, Boyzone were invited to open Space Mountain in Disneyland and Ronan recalls the special time: "This was quite something - this was a big opening for Disney. But also, for us to be invited it was just mega. This was the first Disney Park experience. Five of us, young lads, I mean I was 18 – maybe 19.
“Stephen Gately lord rest his soul, was - is - still in my head the biggest Disney fan I've ever known.
“He was just a die-hard Disney fan. He would go at least once a year to a Disney Park in the world. He bought cells from all of the films, he had them on his walls in his house.
“He could sing every single lyric, of every single song, from every movie that had ever been released. Yeah, he just loved it, ate, slept everything Disney.
“He was in his element. We then were lucky enough to go through the gates and into the park. I remember walking into Discovery Land, and there it was - the behemoth - Space Mountain.
“This thing, just looking like a volcano had erupted through the ground, it was just magnificent. Then we went first on the ride, 18 rides later. And there was champagne going around because it was the launch and we kept going and kept going.”
Stephen taught Ronan all about the magic of Disney and to this day, Ronan says it’s a way to temporarily escape from the real life problems.
“I grew up with Mickey Mouse, he was one of my best mates,” Ronan added.
“But it wasn't until I met Stephen - and he educated me on Disney, that I really became so immersed in it and loved it.
“And today I am a total, massive Disney fan, as well as the mainstream Disney characters and shows that we know and love – there is Marvel there's Star Wars, I am a massive Marvel fan.
“The thing about Disney, what it does, is it allows you to get away from real life for a minute and the stresses of everyday life, and what we're feeling on the street. It immerses you in a whole other place.”
Ronan Keating speaks to Giovanna Fletcher on the Journey to the Magic, a star-studded official podcast from Walt Disney Travel Company.
Ronan’s episode is out tomorrow, June 15.
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