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Dublin Live
National
Siobhan O'Connor

Claudine Keane says she is relieved to be back in Ireland after US school shooting fears

Claudine Keane has told how she feels safe back home in Ireland amid the spate of school shootings in the US.

The wife of Ireland footballer Robbie Keane told how gun drills at school were a normalised part of her sons’ routine.

Model Claudine and Robbie lived in Beverly Hills for five years, before returning home last year to live in the seaside town of Malahide.

Read more: Robbie Keane and wide Claudine stun at Royal Ascot

Claudine, 39, told the Irish Mirror about teenager Robert and six-year-old Hudson’s school life in the States, saying: “I thought it was crazy.

“They had to do the gun drills and everything in school when they were four years of age.

“It’s quite overwhelming at that age, instead of having a fire drill, they were having a gun drill.

Read more: Tearful Irish teacher in Texas tells RTE Liveline 'it's sad we don't remain shocked' after school shooting

“It’s not something you should have to do that young.

“I love Ireland and I love being home. I get to travel all the time, I have a really good balance at the moment.”

She spoke out in the wake of one of the worst school shootings in American history last month, when student Salvador Ramos shot 19 pupils and one teacher in Robb Elementary School in Texas.

Read more: 'I need to take a breath now' - Emotional Ryan Tubridy on Texas school shooting

She said: “I think Matthew McConaughey said it best: people have been talking about reforming gun law for years and nothing has been done about it.

“He was staying in our hotel in London when we were there for Soccer Aid last week.

“He’s very real, he’s very genuine.

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“They obviously clearly have an issue there, and they have to do something about it. I always thought it when I lived there with my kids.”

Since returning home to Ireland the former Miss Ireland star - who has a finance degree - says outdoor living has been wonderful.

She added: “We’ve got really into our walks and runs, as a family we are really lucky we live beside Malahide Castle.”

The blonde beauty recently celebrated her 14-year wedding anniversary to former Republic of Ireland captain Robbie.

She was thrilled to attend the glitzy VIP Platinum Style Awards last weekend at the Marker Hotel Dublin, which returned post-pandemic after three years.

She said: “I’ve really missed social events, the bit of excitement and something to look forward to.

“When I came out of Covid I thought, thank God I can travel again and that I’m alive.

“I’m just happy to do fun things at the moment, go travelling with my family and my kids.

“They grew up so quickly, I’ve a teenager now.”

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