It’s been more than a decade since Yvonne Connolly’s marriage to singer Ronan Keating came to an end — but the pain of that heartbreak still lingers. In a rare, candid interview, the Irish model and TV personality has finally opened up about one of the darkest moments of her life: the day she found out her husband was having an affair.
“I’ll never forget that feeling…”
Speaking on The Meaning of Life podcast, Yvonne admitted that even after so many years, the memory remains vivid.
“I remember every detail — it’s like it happened yesterday,” she said softly. “Your whole world just collapses in an instant. You can’t prepare for something like that — for the person you trust most to betray you.”
For Yvonne, it wasn’t just about losing her marriage; it was about losing a part of herself.
“I used to define my happiness by my family, by the person beside me,” she reflected. “When that was taken away, I had to rebuild — from the ground up, on my own.”
From a fairy-tale love story to heartbreak
Yvonne and Ronan Keating married in 1998, at the height of his fame with Boyzone. Together, they built what many saw as a picture-perfect family, raising three children — Jack, Missy, and Ali — and often appearing as one of Ireland’s golden couples.
But in 2010, that image shattered when news broke of Ronan’s affair with Australian dancer Francine Cornell. Although the couple initially tried to reconcile, they eventually separated and finalized their divorce in 2015.
“For a while, I kept telling myself it was just a mistake,” Yvonne confessed. “But sometimes the bravest thing you can do is accept that it’s over — and let go.”
“I don’t hate him — but I’ll never forget”
When asked about her relationship with her ex-husband today, Yvonne said forgiveness was something she did for herself, not for him.
“Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting,” she explained. “I don’t hate him. Holding on to anger only keeps you trapped in the past. Letting go was my way of moving forward.”
The two remain on civil terms for the sake of their children, and Yvonne acknowledges that co-parenting has become a new kind of partnership.
“We share three wonderful kids. That will always be the thing that connects us, no matter what happened.”
Rebuilding her life — and her strength
Since the divorce, Yvonne has reinvented herself — focusing on her career, raising her children, and rediscovering her own happiness. Her strength and grace have inspired many women who’ve endured similar heartbreaks.
“If I hadn’t gone through that pain,” she said, “I wouldn’t have known how strong I could be. Sometimes, loss is life’s way of pushing you to find yourself.”
A new chapter — and a new Yvonne
While Ronan Keating has since remarried Australian designer Storm Uechtritz, Yvonne has found peace and love again with celebrity chef John Conroy. The couple often share glimpses of their warm, grounded relationship — a reflection of how time, and healing, can turn even the deepest wounds into quiet strength.
As the interview closed, Yvonne offered a simple but powerful message:
“Sometimes losing the person you love is what it takes to finally find yourself. I’m not the woman I was back then — I’m stronger, wiser, and finally at peace.”
