Boyzone's Keith Duffy detailed marital problems with wife Lisa Smith seven months before 'split' – amid claims he 'hopes to save his 25-year marriage'

Boyzone star Keith Duffy detailed his marital problems with Lisa Smith seven months before claims emerged that they had split.

It is reported that the 49-year-old singer is 'hopeful' he can save his marriage of 25 years, but has been living apart from Lisa since moving out of their £1.15million marital home in Dublin just before Christmas.

While the couple's split came as a shock to many, in June last year Keith described the “obstacles” and “struggles” they faced as he paid tribute to his wife on their silver anniversary.

Alongside a series of photos taken over the years, he wrote: 'Ah look at the two babies, 25 years ago today we were in the little white chapel in Los Vegas and said 'I do'.

'We've had our ups and downs and our fair share of obstacles along the way, but our love and friendship and desire, our fight for each other and we're still going strong, happy birthday Smithy, our silver wedding anniversary! [sic]'

Keith continued, “All in the blink of an eye. Watching our children grow up with you has been the highlight of my life.

'Thank you for your unconditional love, support and understanding. I love you with all my heart.'

The singer has not yet spoken publicly about the state of his marriage sources said The Irish sun that he's not ready to publicize their union yet, revealing, “There's no one else involved.”

'It's serious, but Keith is hopeful they can solve this case. They care deeply about each other and their children.'

Keith and Lisa share two children: son Jay, 27, and daughter Mia, 23.

Reports of their split emerged on Saturday as it was claimed Keith was 'in pieces'.

A source told the Mirror: 'It's a shock for everyone. In July, they seemed happier than ever as they celebrated their 25th anniversary together on the trip of a lifetime to the French Riviera.'

The source added that they were “trying to keep the divorce civil” for the sake of their children. The couple has now unfollowed each other on social media.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Keith for comment.

Pop star Keith and Lisa met in a nightclub in 1995 and nine months later she became pregnant with their son Jay.

Former Coronation Street actor Keith proposed to Lisa in 1998 and they said 'I do' just two days later in Las Vegas.

In July last year, Keith took to Instagram to share a photo of himself and Lisa celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in the south of France.

He wrote at the time: 'Celebrating 25 years in style The French Riviera does not disappoint.'

Lisa wrote: 'Celebrating 25 years of marriage to my best friend, the longest time I've ever had him at home all to myself!

“Love him more, thank you for the smiles and the joy of being loved, and I feel very blessed #still going strong.”

After 22 years of marriage in 2020, Keith joked about how unusual it was for a couple to still be married at the time.

He told Weekend Magazine: 'She won't let me go! But no, it's quite something.

'Number one: you have to want it to work. Second, it requires a lot of compromises.

“Number three: It takes forgiveness.”

On people who don't make it in the long run, he added: 'I would never judge, but I do think that sometimes people give up too easily. It's easy to walk away. It's harder to stay.'

Keith previously told how his daughter Mia's autism almost tore him and his wife Lisa apart.

It was a heartbreakingly long wait for the couple before they heard their daughter Mia speak for the first time.

In March 2005, just after her fifth birthday, Mia could finally talk – or rather, sing.

“She came rushing into the lounge where we were sitting and proudly shouted Tomorrow from the musical Annie,” Keith recalled in 2009.

“Although she loved musicals, this was the very first time we heard her voice; before she could just babble incoherently.

'We were so proud, tears were streaming down our cheeks. “I will never forget that day as long as I live,” he said.

Mia has autism, a developmental disorder that affects her ability to relate to people and situations.

Treatment for the condition was previously woefully underfunded and put pressure on Keith and Lisa.

He explained: 'Lisa and I also went through some very difficult years in our relationship when Mia was diagnosed.

'There were times when I felt like running away, but I didn't because there was no way my children could be raised in a broken home.

'When she was born on March 11, 2000, a small, bald six-pounder, I was overcome with emotion. We've had a fantastic first 12 months with her, marred only by sleepless nights, but that's not unusual.'

In 2022, Keith revealed his pride when talking about Mia's career success.

At that time, she was completing her senior year of college, studying enterprise computing.

Keith revealed that after completing her studies, she landed a prestigious job at an American company.

He told the Irish mirror: 'She's doing great – we're very proud of her. Mia is very determined.

'She puts a lot of pressure on herself, but she achieves a lot, and it was all thanks to appropriate intervention at the right stage of her life, which we had to fight for with both hands, but we succeeded.'