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| NIKCY DE-BRACED AT KRYSTLE |
22 December 2008 – Westlife’s Nicky Byrne festively partied at Krystle nightclub this weekend. Mr Byrne was flashing his free from orthodontics pearly-whites after recently losing his braces. Oh and we now know what he wants off Santa this Christmas – a new iphone.
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| Westlife’s token Dubliner (every boyband should have one) and all-round handsome father of two Nicky Byrne celebrated a festive Saturday night in the city centre with a troupe of pals at Krystle nightclub. |
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| Source: ShowBiz Ireland.
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| THE 02 DAWNS WITH CHILDLINE |
19 December 2008 – Say seeya to The Point and howya to The 02. Yup folks. Harry Crosbie has breathed new life into Ireland’s number one concert venue and relaunched it in record time. And with acts such as JLS, Boyzone, Enrique Iglesias, The Script, Shayne Ward and Anastacia on the opening Childline bill – it sure was a birth by fire.
| And just as the new arena was being born, another Irish success story by the name of Eoghan Quigg, was also embarking on his public debut and potentially bright future. Eoghan had a special introduction to his frantic Irish audience at The 02. His idols Boyzone and Ronan Keating became his backing singers for a replay of his X Factor finale number Picture Of You to the delight of his Quigger’s Liggers. |
| The childline concert was hosted on the night by Westlife’s Nicky Byrne who is on a year long much needed break from showbiz. |
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| Source: Highlights from ShowBiz Ireland.
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| CHEERIOS CHILDLINE CONCERT |
18 December 2008 – Don’t forgot the Cheerios Childline Concert will be televised tomorrow on RTE 2 at 7pm. Head to the RTE website to watch an interview with Nicky who chatted about his nerves and recent appearance on X Factor.
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| Source: www.rte.ie
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| NICKY WANTS FIVE CHILDREN |
17 December 2008 – Georgina Ahern is in for a busy time in 2009 – her Westlife hubbie Nicky Byrne wants to have five children. The celebrity couple are now immersed in domestic bliss after becoming first-time parents 20 months ago to twins Rocco and Jay. Yet doting dad Nicky, who has taken a year off from the chart-topping band to spend time with his family, has revealed how he still wants to have three more tots.
| ”Hopefully we’re not done yet – we would love to have more kids. I have always said I would have five. I don’t know if I can convince Georgina on that, but we’ll see!” he laughed. Nicky is now gearing up to spend the Yuletide season at home with his glamorous wife, their two boys and the rest of the Ahern family. And he also revealed the secret of his success when it comes to this rock-solid relationship with the daughter of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. “Without sounding cheesy and corny, if you love someone, you do make it work”. He added. |
| Nicky had a brief reunion with his Westlife bandmates to perform at the thrilling final of the X Factor. And he was gutted that manager Louis Walsh was pipped at the post when it came to nabbing victory with his JLS boyband “I don’t think Louis has won it yet so it would have been good for him”, he said. “We are obviously disappointed for JLS after helping them to do a great performance to help them win it. When the decision was made, we thought we could have really helped them win. But with hindsight, I think that Alexandra really deserved it. |
| Nicky took centre stage at the new 02 Arena last night as he presided over the star-packed Cheerios Childline Concert. All the biggest stars of the moment were out strutting their stuff on stage at the northside venue last night, as some 8,500 screaming fans cheered them on. Among them was popstar Shayne Ward. |
| Source: Herald. Credits: Melanie Finn
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| SHANE AND GILLIAN PICTURES |
17 December 2008 – Pictures from the X Factor final after show party on Saturday.
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| Source: www.zimbo.com Credit: Photo Agency
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| CHRISTMAS MESSAGE |
15 December 2008 – Well what an amazing year it’s been! The tour, Corke Park, the DVD… it’s been another incredible 12 months for Westlife so thanks to you all for making it possible.
Our New Year’s Resolution is to make our best and most exciting album to date! 2009 will be all about recording new music and getting back to see all our fans again. We hope you’ve been missing us… it’s going to be a very exciting year!!
Hope you all have a great Christmas and an even better New Year. See you in 2009.
Take care guys, Love Shane, Nicky, Kian and Mark.
| Source: www.westlife.com
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| PICTURES FROM X FACTOR FINAL |
15 December 2008 – Pictures from the X Factor final.
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| Source: www.xfactor.itv.com
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| NICKY ON QUESTION OF SPORT |
14 December 2008 - Tune in to Nicky on A Question Of Sport on Monday 22 December at 11.05-11:35pm. Sue Barker hosts the quiz with regular team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell joined by celebrity sports fans Frank Skinner, Nicky Byrne, Ben Shephard and Gareth Gates.
| Source: Radio Times (repeat, subtitles)
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| X FACTOR |
13 December 2008 – Alexandra won the X Factor but well done to JLS who came second. JLS sung Flying Without Wings with Westlife who are currently on a break but will be back next year with a new album. Head to the Gallery to check out more pictures.
To watch the stunning performance then click here.
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| Video Source: YouTube – KingZee786.
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| X FACTOR FINAL – DUETS REVEALED |
11 December 2008 – Details have been emerging of who will be duetting with who on Saturday night’s X Factor final and it’s surprises all round. Initally it was thought that Beyonce, Seal and Duffy would be performing with the finalists but now it’s been revealed that Rihanna, Westlife and Boyzone will do the honours instead.
So who’s performing with who? Well, sadly we’re to be denied the spectacle of Rihanna picking up little Eoghan in her arms and serenading him – instead the r’n’b diva will duet with JLS. The boys performed a mighty cover of her hit Umbrella on last week’s show and we think teaming could be sensational. We’re not the only ones as the odds on JLS winning have been slashed.
That leaves Westlife to perform with Alexandra and Eoghan to perform with Boyzone.
| Source: www.yahoo.co.uk - edited FF
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| RELIGHT MY FEUD |
10 December 2008 – Take That have sensationally pulled out of The X Factor final – after hearing that old rivals Boyzone are on the bill. Their move plunged the ITV1 show into chaos last night. Desperate efforts were being made to book another act for Saturday’s finale.
A source said: “Take That are huge fans of X Factor especially Gary Barlow. He feels a real affinity with the show and loves encouraging new talent. When they heard Boyzone were on the bill they decided not to do it. It’s really upset the schedule”.
After Take That discovered Boyzone’s fellow Irish crooners Westlife were also lined-up, they dug their heels in even further.
Beyonce, Seal and Duffy will sing with the finalists. Show supremo Simon Cowell yesterday publicly backed Alexandra Burke, 20, to win. She heads JLS and Eoghan Quigg in our online poll. More than 12,000 votes have been cast – with 49 per cent for Alex.
| Source: www.thesun.co.uk - Gordon Smart
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| Shay Given helps raise thousands at bash |
09 December 2008 – POP stars and footballers hoped the luck of the Irish would be on their side at a glamourous charity gambling night.
Westlife band members Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan joined Newcastle United Goalie Shay Given for Las Vegas in the Toon, held at St Jame’s Park.
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Hundreds of guests dressed up to the nines and tried their hand at poker and roulette in aid of the Newcastle United Foundation, the Shay Given Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support.
A dazzling fashion show kicked off the spectacular night, followed by performances from X Factor finalists Bad Lashes and soul singer Beverley Knight. Among other celebrity faces in the audience were United Manager Joe Kinnear and player Stephen Taylor, who had front-row seats for the show.
Given had his own personal reasons for wanting to raise funds for Macmillan after his mum Agnes died from cancer when he was five. Shay, who organised the night with his wife Jane, said: “Macmillan is a cause that is very close to my heart. One in three people are affected by cancer in some way, shape or form, so the work Macmillan does is fantastic. “The idea for the event was mostly my wife Jane’s. Newcastle United have also been a great help, what with helping support the cause and giving us use of the function rooms”.
A five-course dinner and a question and answer session with the Magpies players followed the fashion show. A mercedes car was up for grabs at auction, while a raffle also gave guests the chance to walk away with some fantastic prizes. Previous events backed by Given have included the Fashion Kicks catwalk show and Chefs United, a charity cook-off also staged at the ground.
In March, the Fashion Kicks show, in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Tyneside Appeal saw former manager Kevin Keegan among those raising thousands of pounds for research and specialist nurses.
| Source: Evening Chronicle – Sara Nichol
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| WESTLIFE RIDING HIGH IN THE CHARTS |
08 December 2008 – Thanks to you, Westlife are currently riding high in the DVD charts across the globe. 10 years of Westlife: Live At Croke Park Stadium is at number one in the UK and their home country of Ireland for a second week running, and has also hit the top spot on the other side of the world in New Zealand and Hong Kong.
| Source: www.westlife.com
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| JODI’S PERFORMANCE ON THE LATE LATE SHOW |
09 December 2008 – The first performance of When The Stars Go Blue by the new girlband who are managed by Louis Walsh and Kian Egan is now available on the RTE website. click here.
Head to the messageboard to discuss your views on the performance.
| Source: www.rte.ie
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| DVD screening for Indonesian fans |
08 December 2008 – Loads of Westlife fans in Indonesia, including the Indonesian Westlife Fan Club, enjoyed an exclusive screening of the DVD recently. Lucky fans in New Zealand also got the opportunity to attend a preview screening thanks to a competition with Breeze FM.
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| Source: www.westlife.com
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| Louis and Kian’s glam girlband wows Pat on the Late Late Show |
07 December 2008 – It was one of the most hotly anticipated performances of the year and Louis Walsh and Kian Egan’s new girl band didn’t dissapoint. Dubbed Ireland’s answer to Girls Aloud, the stunning fivesome, who have yet to be named, made their debut with Pat Kenny on the Late Late Show on Friday after months of preparation. Viewers tuning into the show saw the bevy of beauties make their grand entrance into the world of showbiz with their debut single, When The Stars Go Blue.
And to ensure their grand unveiling made an impact, band members Kasey Smith (18), Corinna Dunne (22), Sharon Condon (22), Leigh Learmont (19) and Jodi Albert (25) were dressed to impress in a variety of sexy black outfits and styled to within an inch of their lives.
And despite having worked meticulously to prepare his new protegees for the world of pop, co-manager of the group Louis Walsh was nowhere to be seen. The pop mogul was happy to place his trust in colleague Kian Egan as Louis was tied up with preparations for tonight’s X-Factor show in London. The Herard can reveal a proud Kian watched from the side of the stage and afterwards said he was “thrilled” with the girl’s performance. “The song was chosen by Louis. It’s one of many that they have recorded in the studio” Kian explained.
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Meanwhile a visibly impressed Pat Kenny welcomed the group on stage afterwards and told them they had given “a fantastic debut”. However, the long-time chat-show host was quick to give Kian’s girlfriend, Jodi Albert, a grilling about how she got in to the band.
But a diplomatic Jodi was quick to laugh off claims that she had been given preferential treatment because of her relationship with Kian and said she had worked just as hard as the other girls. “That’s fair enough, I would probably think that myself if I wasn’t in the band and I wasn’t doing what I do”, Jodi told Pat and the audience. “But the four girls stood beside me saw me going through the exact same paces as them, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done to sing in front of Kian and Louis in an audition situation, but to be honest I love it so much and I’m just so grateful to be in the band” she added.
And despite her one-time successful acting career with a role in Hollyoaks, Jodi claims her loyalty now lies with the band. “I think when the acting thing took off for me it was great, but I’ve always wanted to sing, it’s always been close to my chest”. She said. And the clearly smitten songstress had plenty of praise for her hubby-to-be, Kian Egan. “It’s great because he has experience and what’s he’s achieved with Westlife is amazing and what Louis has done for Westlife is amazing. I have every faith in him, he’s a natural manager and I love taking his guidance. I’m so happy that he has a reason to care more about this band as well” she laughed. The happy couple left Montrose together afterwards while the rest of the band members exited separately.
| Source: www.herald.ie - 6 December 2008
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| KIAN AND JODI |
07 December 2008 – Kian and Jodi leaving RTE Studios where his new girl group made their first TV performance on The Late Late Show Dublin, Ireland on the 5 December.
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| Source: www.contactmusic.com
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| NICKY PICTURES |
04 December 2008 - Pictures taken from when Nicky appeared on the Late Late Toy Show last week.
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| Source: ShowBiz Ireland.com
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| Westlife Star to fund school in planning deal |
04 December 2008 – Westlife singer Shane Filan is to bankroll a substantial extension to a neighbouring primary school as “a good will gesture” to help secure planning permission for a multimillion-euro project. In return, the school’s board of management will not object to the project by Shane Filan and his brother Finbarr, close to the school, which is currently before the planning authority.
If the development next door to Filan’s plush home goes ahead, Scoil Naomh Eanna in Carrowroe, Co Sligo, stands to gain a much needed €400,000 extension. This will include three classrooms, a resource room, toilet facilities and a new play area. The original plans by Shafin Ltd for a €30m ‘neighbourhood centre’ development – which had included two six-storey high tower blocks – were withdrawn by the brothers after they met with strong local opposition, including the board of management of the 286-pupil school.
Yesterday, school principal Deasun Lyons confirmed the extensive negotiation had taken place between the development company and the school’s board since the first application was withdrawn. “We had concerns about the original size which was a seven-storey apartment block in an L-shape around the school, looking down on the schoolyard. These plans have now been revised and the size has been brought down to three storeys. Most of the windows have now been redirected and there will be an eight-feet boundary wall which will screen the school from the development” he explained. He added that their fears about an underground car park undermining the foundations of the school had also been allayed. “This time around, we have been widely consulted. The have been in constant contact with the management”. He said. The principal said that the developers had offered to fund the extension as a “good will gesture” to compensate for the disruption and the noise pollution which would be caused during the three-year construction work.
“We are blessed with good neighbours. As a next door neighbour and probably because his own children will be coming to the school in the future, Shane has offered to do this and we are delighted. This extension is much needed and it will secure the future of the school for 10 to 15 years. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that planning permission will be passed and the project will go ahead. If it does, we stand to gain so much” he said.
The proposed new €20m development on a seven-acre site will compromise of 11 shops, 68 apartments, substantial office space and a crèche close to the Carrowroe roundabout on the southern outskirts of the town. It will also include a medi-centre and 270 car parking spaces.
| Source: www.independent.ie - Anita Guidera.
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| Westlife hits the number one spot |
02 December 2008 – Westlife knocked Daniel O’Donnell off the top spot with their 10 year celebration tour at Croke Park.
1. Westlife – 10 years of – Live at Croke Park Stadium (S)
2. Daniel O'Donnell - At Home In Ireland (Demon Vision)
3. Bussell/Jenkins - Viva La Diva - Live - O2 Arena London
(Warner Music Ent)
4. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus - Best Of Both Worlds Concert (Buena Vista)
5. Rush - Snakes & Arrows Live
(Eagle Vision)
| Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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| GAISCE AWARDS SLIGO |
02 December 2008 – Westlife’s Shane Filan urged young people from the North West to follow their dreams at a Gaisce awards ceremony. The Sligo pop star was guest of honour when over 120 teenagers from Donegal, Derry and Sligo received the President’s award in recognition of their spirit of adventure, personal skills and service to the community. “They spent their days on the river and their evenings orienteering in the forest or undergoing very physical obstacle courses”, explained teacher and President’s Award Leader, Fidelma Lipsett
She took 17 fifth year students from the school on the outing which also involved a day trip to Luxembourg, last Easter. Students from Grange Post primary school in north Sligo also rose to the challenge when they took up kayaking in a more local setting at the Lough Allen Adventure Centre.
Gaisce medals were also presented to students from the Ursuline and Mercy Colleges Sligo and to young people from several schools in Co Donegal.
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| Source: Sligo Champion – 26 November 2008
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| WESTLIFE TO DUET WITH BRITNEY? |
01 December 2008 – Pop Queen Britney Spears is hoping to cash in on Westlife’s clean-cut image by performing a duet with the wholesome crooners. The Toxic singer is desperate to reform her image and has approached Louis Walsh about a possible collaboration. Her tour manager Richard Channer held secret talks with Walsh at the exclusive Dorchester Hotel in London on Friday night. And Britney confirmed the details when she met the music mogul at the X Factor studios yesterday afternoon. A source close to the group said “Britney is one of the biggest stars in the world but she is going through an image crisis. Westlife have spent 10 years at the top and has managed to keep their noses clean throughout. Right now Britney could do with a bit of that rubbing off on her. She sent Richard first to meet Louis to test the water”. The source added “When she came to the studio she sent a message to Louis about a possible collaboration. Louis said yes straightaway but only when the band come back from their one year break”.
Walsh confirmed to Star Sunday that the meeting took place. He said “I have known her manager for a number of years and I met with him in the Dorchester. All I can say is a fan of the guys,and who knows what will happen in the future”. Mark Feehily is a huge fan of Britney Spears. The source said it is very early stages yet, but it would be a great comeback track for them.
The proposed collaboration would not be the first high profile duet Westlife have performed. The group scored hits with Against All Odds which the performed with Diva Mariah Carey and When You Tell Me That You Love Me with Diana Ross. In the MTV documentary Britney For The Record, due to air in USA tomorrow, Britney likens herself to a prisoner and regards herself as an old fart. In the documentary she declares “I want my life back, I want to be able to drive my car, I want to be able to live in my house by myself. I want to be say who’s going to be my security guard”.
| Source: Irish Star – 30 November 2008
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