Why did you decide to get involved in the Reach For The Sky project
(Sky TV's scheme to help teenagers decide what they want to do in life)?
I was approached and jumped at the oppoetunity. Boyzone can influence
the younger audience in a positive way and I'm in the perfect position
to help. I think it's a great idea.
What did you want to be when you are little?
I wanted to be a fire engine!
Um,OH,Whatever...(TOTP looks at Boyzone's press lady with concern
- has Ronan lost the plot?)
(Laughs.) Not really. I wanted to be everything. I remember
one time I wanted to be a lawyers, then I wanted to be a movie star and
then I wanted to be a Superman. The thing I really wanted to be just before
I joined the band was a policeman. I had all the pamphlets, filled out
the application forms and sent them in. Then I went to the Boyzone auditions
and before I knew it I was in the band and six years later here I am.
You represented Ireland at 200m and 400m - any regrets you didn't
go into athletics?
No, I do pay a lot of attention to athletics on TV and I'd like to
go to a meet every now and again cos I love the buzz of the whole thing.
Sitting on the line, your adrenaline pumping, there's nothing like
it. I had my fingers in a lot of pies, I never knew where I was going
to go and look at me now - I landed on my feet with Boyzone.
Nicky Westlife nerrly had a career in football. The two of you have
a lot of similarities...
Yeah, and he also wanted to be the police! We were very similar people
when we were younger and now he's doing exactly what I did and I can help
him along with that.
Were you ever advised by a careers officer to do something completely
different?
No. I was kind of a waste of space for them. They were always like,
'You'll never be anything.' Not that they ever actually said it but I got
that impression. I'd love to drive up now - no, that's not fair, it's not
nice to say that. I was always on another planet cos I was more into sports
and music than academic work so I was pushed aside. Luckily I was strong
enrong enough to deal with that.
Did you do odd jobs around the house for extra pocket money?
No, I wasn't too good around the house. I'd just drop my bag inside
the door and I'd be out with the boys playing football. When I was older
I joined the band and we'd be in the grape jamming.
What was the worst thing about selling shoes?
People's smelly feet!
How were you with the money as a kid - were you a saver or
a spender?
A spender - it used to burn holes in my pockets. I spent my money on
anything and everything. When I was younger it was Star Wars fingers
and I'm still buying them now! I've got all the new ones, they're going
to be collectors' items one day. I used to get 20 pounds a day from the
shoe shop and I used to spend it all on clothes. Now I spend all my money
on cars.
Can you remember a phrase you learnt in a foreign language at school?
'Excusez-moi moniseur, je voudrais aller a la toilette s'il vous plait?
(Laughing.)
That
was the only thing I learnt cos I always wanted to get out of the class!
So in every language possible I learnt, 'Can I go to the toilet please?'
(Laughs more.)
If you had to put a CU together what interests would you list?
House, cars, music, sports, I could go on forever! Reading, boats,
McDonald's, Sky TV, there's just so much stuff.