Claudine and Robbie Keane have made the move home to Ireland after spending five years in Beverly Hills.
The high-flying couple have lived in Los Angeles and England but the Covid-19 pandemic and their sons’ education has meant they will be based in their mansion in Malahide, North Co Dublin, for the near future.
Robbie is also commentating and coaching on Zoom so he doesn’t have to travel across Europe.
Claudine told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I have based myself with the kids in Ireland over the past couple of years.
“While Rob is coaching overseas in normal times, it works out he can come home for two days and we would travel to him then for another two days.
“It is usually half and half between both places. We try to make life between England and Ireland work as best we can.
“We had planned to be here for a few years, the kids are in school here but you never know where the industry will take us.”
The former model said she believes Ireland has handled the pandemic quite well and she and her family have always felt very safe at home and is glad she doesn’t live in America.
She added: “I know I couldn’t see my dad when he was sick but even being in the same country as him was a massive bonus.
“I couldn’t imagine not being in Malahide and dealing with all of this. I grew up in Malahide so I am familiar with the area and we are by the beach and close to the castle.
“Robert and Hudson go to the same primary school I went to, my brother’s wife teaches there and my fourth class teacher is now the principal. I am definitely glad I made the decision to stay.”
Claudine’s father was admitted to hospital in April after he tested positive for Covid-19 but no other family needed to be tested.
She said: “The kids were already off school and the warnings were in place for people to socially distant from any grandparents or those over the age of 70.
“We followed all of the regulations and luckily we weren’t at risk ourselves. Nobody else in the family was affected.”
Robbie also turned 40 during the summer and Claudine was able to throw a small party at the time to mark the occasion.
She said: “I thought it was really important to do something with the kids and our parents. At the end of the day, that is all that matters right now.
“We felt like the luckiest people in the world having a handful of people in the room but they were all that mattered.
“We will celebrate properly again whenever it is safe to do so and the timing is right.”
