Ronan Keating has revealed that he’s embracing turning 50 next year – insisting he still feels like a teenager.
The Boyzone star, who hits the milestone in March 2027, says he is taking the landmark birthday in his stride as he continues one of the most enduring careers in pop. “I’m pretty relaxed about it really, it’s just a number,” he said. “There’s days where I still feel like that teenage kid who first started out at those Boyzone auditions. I’m certainly looking forward to celebrating it when next March comes around.”
With nearly 33 years in the industry behind him, Keating is in a reflective mood. “It’s crazy to think that I’ve been doing this for nearly 33 years but I feel very blessed to still be doing what I love,” he said.
This year also marks 17 years since the passing of Boyzone bandmate Stephen Gately, a loss Keating says he feels keenly whenever the group reunites on stage. “I still miss him every day, and especially when I’m on stage with the other Boyz,” he said. “He was taken far too soon as he had so much more to give.”
The singer was speaking ahead of a headline set at Deva Fest, the award-winning family festival taking place at the spectacular Cholmondeley Castle Gardens in Cheshire from 6–9 August 2026.
Keating tops the bill on Saturday night, joining fellow headliners Jessie J, who closes the festival on Sunday, and BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter James Morrison, who performs on the opening Friday night.
The event has twice been named Visit Cheshire Event or Festival of the Year and was featured by National Geographic as one of the best UK summer festivals for families. “It’s always a pleasure to perform outdoors through the summer in the UK,” Keating said. “Let’s hope for some great weather and we’ll have a blast.”
Keating was speaking fresh from a significant chapter in Boyzone’s history – two sold-out farewell shows at Emirates Stadium in London on 5 and 6 June 2026, billed as One For The
Road. The concerts marked the group’s first performances together since a run at the London Palladium in 2019 and represented their biggest ever headline shows, with the 44,000-capacity north London venue packed across both nights. The run followed the huge critical and public response to the Sky documentary series Boyzone: No Matter What. “We’ve just done the two Emirates shows and they were everything we hoped they would be,” said Keating. “It was just a pure celebration for us and everyone who’s been on this journey with us.”
When asked which Boyzone song carries the most personal weight, Keating pointed to the classic that launched his career. “I guess Father & Son, that I sang at the auditions, is the song that sticks with me and has meant so much over the years, especially as I became a father and now a grandfather,” he said.
On what has kept the bond between the Boyzone members so strong over three decades, Keating was characteristically straightforward: “I think it is those shared experiences that we’ve had, that no-one else can truly understand.”
The candid No Matter What documentary series, which explored the tensions, fallouts and friendships within Boyzone, also gave Keating fresh perspective. “I think it made us all appreciate that whilst we were all experiencing the same things, those experiences were taken in very different ways by us all,” he reflected.
Looking ahead, Keating revealed he is currently back in the studio working on new material. “I’m back in the studio, writing and recording a new solo album, so that’s very much the focus just now,” he said, adding that, beyond music, he hopes to continue building on the television and radio work that has broadened his career in recent years: “Music will always be my main ambition.”
And with new generations still discovering his catalogue, Keating shows no signs of slowing down. “It’s great to see new younger faces when you look out at the crowd,” he said. “To share the experience of music, especially live music, is something for every generation, so I’m just glad that’s something I can share with people.”
Steven Hesketh, founder of SAVVY Collective, whose events arm, SAVVY Events, designs, produces and delivers distinctive hospitality-led experiences bring places to life and create measurable commercial return, said the Keating booking reflected the festival’s growing ambition.
“Deva Fest has grown into one of the UK’s leading family festivals,” said Hesketh. “With tickets nearly sold out, now is the time to book. It is the perfect summer staycation with something for everyone.”
Festival founder Phil Marston added: “This is without doubt our strongest line-up to date. We have worked hard to create an experience where families and friends can enjoy world-class music alongside unique entertainment across the site.”