21 January 2024 , 10:38
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Boyzone singer Keith Duffy is reportedly "hopeful" he can save his marriage to Lisa Smith following claims the pair split over the Christmas period.
Keith, who turns 50 later this year, found fame in the Irish pop group in the early 1990s. After marrying Lisa in Las Vegas in 1998 with bandmate Ronan Keating acting as best man, the couple went on to have two children who are now adults.
It's understood Keith moved out of their Dublin £1.15 million home in Dublin last month, with the husband and wife unfollowing each other on social media. Coming just months after they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in the French Riviera, the ordeal is said to have left Keith "in bits".
Keith and Lisa married in Las Vegas in 1998 (officialkeithduffy/Instagram)
The pair celebrated 25 years of marriage last year (Getty Images)Now, according to the Irish Sun, Keith hopes to give things another go. A source told the publication: "It is serious, but Keith is hopeful that they can sort this thing out. They care deeply for one another and their children. There is no one else involved."
The Mirror was told of their split earlier this week when another source told us: "It has come as a shock to everyone. Back in July, they appeared happier than ever while celebrating 25 years together on a trip of a lifetime to the French Riviera. They added that they were "trying to keep the divorce civil" for the sake of their son Jay, 27, and daughter Mia, 23.
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Keith, who played barman Ciaran McCarthy in Coronation Street, proposed to Lisa just two days before that Vegas wedding. All seemed well six months ago when they gushed about each other in separate 25th anniversary posts. Keith said: "Celebrating 25 years in Style. The French Riviera doesn’t disappoint." He also thanked personal shopper Sinead Keary "for decking out 'Smithy' in such Sexy attire".
And Lisa wrote: "Celebrating 25 years married to my bestie, longest time ever I’ve had him home all to myself! Love him even more, thanks for the laughs and the joy of being loved, feeling very blessed #still going strong."
In a Weekend magazine interview in 2020, meanwhile, Keith spoke about what it takes to keep a marriage together. He said: "Number one, you have to want it to work. Number two, it takes a lot of compromise. Number three, it takes forgiveness. Some people can’t make it work, though. I’d never judge, but I do think sometimes people give up too easily. It’s easy to walk away. It’s harder to stay."
Mirror has invited a representative for Keith to comment.