For all the latest news on the 2010 tour. |
| 3am's Clocked - we've got spies everywhere... |
30 April 2009: Westlife fellas enjoying a pint at the Mosquito nightclub, Liverpool...
| Source: mirror.co.uk
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| Slim Georgina’s Looking Hot |
30 April 2009: Most mums who give birth to twin babies take that bit longer to snap back into shape. But, not if you're glamorous Georgina Ahern, whose twin sons Rocco and Jay became instant celebrities when they were born two years ago.
Her favourite designer Synan O'Mahony has explained how she is even more petite in the wake of becoming a first-time mum to the tiny twosome.
"She looks fabulous and has the same measurements as she did before, if not smaller. It's from all that running around," he said.
Synan is having a dress consultation with Georgina, who's married to Westlife's Nicky Byrne, in the run-up to the showbiz wedding of the year.
The couple are heading off to the Caribbean to see band member Kian Egan tie the knot with fiancee Jodi Albert on May 8.
"We've narrowed it down to two dresses. As it's Barbados and it's going to be hot, she's going to go for something that's silk chiffon," he explained.
| Source: Herald.ie
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| Kian and Jodi’s Honeyzoom |
30 April 2009: KIAN Egan and Jodi Albert are cutting short their honeymoon so they can zoom back home and hit the charts again.
The couple will tie the knot in a dream ceremony in Barbados on May 8. They will fly off this week to prepare for the big day that has been snapped up by a celebrity magazine for EUR600,000.
But the hard working stars have ditched plans for a lengthy break so they can get straight back to work. Jodi, 25, told the Irish Daily Mirror last night: "We're not hanging around for a long honeymoon - we're coming back to start work on our albums."
The couple have invited friends, family and celebrity pals to Barbados for the big day. They will exchange vows at a romantic beach front hideaway and party the night away at a top secret location.
But any plans for a romantic getaway after the ceremony have been iced because of both Jodi and 28-year-old Kian's hectic band schedules.
Jodi is due to go in the studios the week after the wedding with her new girl band while Kian will return to the studio with Westlife as they launch a massive comeback following a year off.
Jodi added: "What we've decided is to go over to Barbados early and really enjoy the whole build up to the day. After the wedding things are going to be really hectic so in a way we are going to do the celebrating before hand.
"I have to go into the studio with the girls and we are going to start recording our first songs. So it's really exciting. And Kian is also going to be working on new Westlife material so we need to get back as soon as possible.
"The honeymoon will be about three days and then we're hoping on the plane and getting down to some hard work."
Jodi will be joined by her Irish girl band mates at the wedding as well as pals from her Hollyoaks stint.
Kian's Westlife pals will also jet in for the big day and are planning a week of partying with their wives in the tropical hideaway.
Jodi said: "Kian and I are both really chilled out about the day. We've done all the organising and we just want to enjoy it now.
"It's not going to be a massive wedding. We want it to be intimate and fun for everyone. I can't give away the exact location but it's somewhere very special to Kian and I and we're thrilled with it."
| Source: The Irish Daily Mirror – credits to Villy for article.
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| Happy Birthday Kian |
29 April 2009: A very special happy birthday message to Kian. Hope you have a wonderful day.
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| Two New Pictures |
29 April 2009: Thanks to Alfee for finding these two recent pictures taken at a private football party.
| Source: Hoohaaa. Credits: Thank you to Alfee.
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| New ShNicky pictures |
26 April 2009: Westlife singers Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne get a little too close for comfort with a homeless guy, after buying a copy of the Big Issue while leaving the Nobu Berkeley restaurant in London, UK.
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To view the album click here
| Source: zimbio.com. Credits: Thank you to Born2bemrsNB for finding.
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| ‘Cloughy’ to star at Goodison fund-raiser |
24 April 2009: HE’S played Brian Clough, Tony Blair and David Frost – now Hollywood actor Michael Sheen is getting the opportunity to play football. The award winning actor is one of the host of celebrities committed to former Liverpool star Jason McAteer’s latest fund-raiser at Goodison Park on May 23.
He will be joined by boxing legend Joe Calzaghe, former French World Cup winner Christian Karambeu, England international Les Ferdinand, pop star Nicky Byrne from Westlife and Coronation Street actor Craig Charles.
Ticket prices will be £10 for adults and £5 juniors, with selling details announced in the Post and on Everton, Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers’ websites shortly.
| Source: Liverpool Daily Post
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| Ahern first to comfort grieving family of senator |
22 April 2009: FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was joined last night by his two daughters, ex-wife and former partner as he mourned his late friend Senator Tony Kett.
Mr Ahern was in tears as he was the first to comfort the Kett family on their loss at the Church of the Nativity in Beaumont, Dublin.
The Tricolour flew at half-mast at Leinster House in a mark of respect to the Fianna Fail senator who died at the age of 57 after a long illness.
Mr Ahern was accompanied by his daughters Cecelia and Georgina and their respective partners David Keoghan and Nicky Byrne of Westlife. His former wife Miriam Ahern was also in attendance, along with his ex-partner Celia Larkin.
The funeral of Mr Kett takes place today in Beaumont at 11.30am, after which he will be buried in Fingal Cemetery.
In recent days, the Taoiseach has hailed Mr Kett as an " experienced, valued and extremely popular member of Fianna Fail".
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| Source: Independent.ie
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| West Jest Backfires
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21 April 2009: A BID by celebrity joker Justin Lee Collins to take the mick out of Westlife has backfired.
The wacky comic asked Wurzels-style group Cutlers of Cornwall to sing the band's hits in an English west-country accent.
Justin, 34, thought it would be a joke for Westlife manager Louis Walsh, a guest on his ITV2 show.
But the band, whose songs include, Champion Dung Spreader, accused Justin of ridiculing people from his own area.
Cutlers lead singer Greg Woods said: "It's as racist as telling a joke about an Irishman or a Muslim."
| Source: Sunday Mirror - thanks to Villy for article.
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| Charity Football Match
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20 April 2009: Information regarding tickets sale etc for this event will be released early next week and will be posted in due course.
| Source: Filan’s Kitten – Official Westlife forum
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| Rocco and Jay |
20 April 2009: A very happy 2nd birthday to the adorable Rocco and Jay. xx
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| Credits: Hello magazine for picture
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| Wed A Load Of Cash For Kian and Jodi's Wedding
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20 April 2009: Jodi Albert and Kian Egan will be in a world of their own when they net a staggering 800,000 euros, for their exclusive wedding pictures. The westlife hunk and his girlband bride, have signed the exclusive deal with OK Magazine, for the ceremony in Barbados on 8th May. The pair fell in love with the caribbean destination during a holiday there in April of last year.
As well as forging head with Jodi's new girlband, which Kian co-manages with Louis Walsh, the couple are putting their final touches to the big day.
And the cash will come in handy for the pop pin up, who has splashed out almost 1 million euros on the wedding. A source close to Kian said "They wanted everything to be just perfect for their day so they are leaving nothing to chance."
Because both of them are so busy with their careers, Kian and Jodi have hired a celebrity wedding planner, to help them with all the details.
Kian also loves surfing so somewhere like Barbados, is perfect for him.
"They did a deal for their engagement pictures with OK Magazine, so the wedding shots were the next logical step."
And what is great for the couple is they don't have to worry about photographers for the big day, as the magazine will take care of that. They always take care of security on the big day which is a big concern for the couple.
No expense will be spared at Dermot Desmonds multi million euros Sandy Lane luxury resort. One hundred lucky guests will fly to the paradise island for the wedding.
The pop millionaire is footing the bill for 30 of his close friends and family, and has booked them on a business class flight for 3,000 euros a pop. He has also booked a nuber of villas, and set aside 320,000 euros for a deposit on the luxury accomadation.
| Source: Irish Star. Credits: Mary at WFVIP for the article.
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| Rocco and Jay To Celebrate Second Birthday In Portugal
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18 April 2009: Cute brothers Jay and Rocco may be Ireland's most famous twins but their second birthday on Monday will be a quiet affair. The grandsons of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will celebrate at a family gathering in Portugal.
As the sons of Westlife's Nicky Byrne and Bertie's daughter Georgina, and the nephews of successful author Cecilia Ahern, the boys are no strangers to the spotlight, but there are no plans for a big birthday bash.
The pair, who have their own bebo page, were born by c-section at Dublin's Holles Street Hospital six weeks early and had to spend the first month of their lives in the hospital.
The boys weighed just slightly more than a bag of sugar between them when they were born, with Jay weighing just 2lb 13oz and Rocco a minuscule 2lb 11oz.
Since then, they have been thriving, growing sturdy and strong at their lavish Malahide home.
According to their grandfather they are "full of energy. They love fun and games". They even poked fun at their famous grandfather before Christmas when he broke his leg and had it in a plaster cast. "They were imitating me everywhere and falling on the ground pretending they had hurt their legs," Bertie said.
The twins have also appeared on the Late Late Show with their Dad as a surprise for one of Nicky's biggest fans, Shauna Byrne (10), just two months before she sadly lost her battle with cystic fibrosis in February.
Last year for their milestone first birthday, champagne flowed at a family party in the Grand Hotel in Malahide but this year is more of a family event. Doting dad Nicky, took a year off from his chart-topping band to spend time with Georgina and the twins and has said he still wants to have more children.
"Hopefully we're not done yet - we would love to have more kids. "I have always said I would have five," Nicky said. "I don't know if I can convince Georgina on that, but we'll see," he later revealed.
| Source: herald.ie. - Clodagh Sheehy
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| Jodi's Diet Secret For Wedding
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17 April 2009: Bride-to-be Jodi Albert has revealed to the Herald how she has got into shape for her wedding to Westlife's Kian Egan next month. "I did it the sensible way - I ate healthy foods, cut out all the junk and I started exercising a lot - jogging and working out at least three times a week," she said.
"I wanted to slim down a bit but I would never want to be rail thin. I want to look healthy. The trick is not to deprive yourself - if I wanted a bit of chocolate or some ice-cream, I would have it. I was very disciplined but I allowed myself a couple of treats... if you don't you'll end up craving the wrong things."
While looking forward to marital bliss with Kian, there are no plans for any babies just yet. "I still think I'm a bit young to start a family. I want to have a really successful career before I start a family, so it'll be another few years at least. I definitely want children but when the time comes I want to be a full-time mum and be there for them all the time."
| Source: herald.ie.
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| Kian’s Stag Do |
16 April 2009: Fintan Monaghan, MD Galway Greyhound Stadium pictured with Kian as he attends a stag function at the stadium on Saturday night.
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| Source: www.igb.ie
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| Eoghan To Tour With Westlife? |
14 April 2009: The following is taken from a webcast chat. Hiya Eoghαn. You have done so well and represented us here in N.Ireland brilliantly. Just wanted to ask if you will be doing any gigs for us "older" fans as us 23 year olds can't get into under 18 gigs. Also wanted to ask you how did it feel to play in your home country and in the Odyssey Arena?? By Claire
Eoghan writes: Hey Claire, thanks so much! I absolutely loved playing in my home country, i felt so proud and it was incredible! I'm going on tour with Westlife so you should come along there - it'll be so much fun!
| Source: www.newsoftheworld.co.uk
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| The Masters |
13 April 2009: Past Great Britain and Ireland boys golf squad captain Stuart Paul from Tandragee Golf Club has had a dream come true this week.
The former North of Ireland Champion and West of Ireland champion is in Augusta for the Masters as a guest of Rory McIlroy.
Scratch player Stuart always looked after young Rory as a junior when supplying him with high brand golf equipment as area manager for top US golf manufacturers Titliest and Footjoy. When Stuart arrived from a long flight to Atlanta on Tuesday little did he realise what young Rory had laid on for himself and coach Michael Bannon from Bangor Golf Club.
Not only is he staying in a house overlooking the course, he and Michael have been enjoying meeting the players and management teams. Their opening night surprise was a barbecue next door with McIlroy’s manager Chubby Chandler, Lee Westwood and Shane Filan from Westlife to name but a few. Filan was caddying for Westwood in yesterday’s par three competition.
| Source: Belfast Telegraph – published 09 April 2009. Thanks to Joanne WFVIP for the article. Shorted for FF – full article on forum.
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| Jodi’s Hot Hens Descend On The Capital |
13 April 2009: OPPOSITION politicians used Tuesday's Budget to say that it was the chickens coming home to roost for Fianna Fail - but last night it was more a case of hot hens nesting all over Dublin's most chic nightspots.
Jodi Albert, sexy actress fiancee of Westlife's Kian Egan, had her hen party in Balzac on Dawson Street. The starlet, who plays a central part in Louis Walsh's new girlband, is getting married in Barbados on May 8.
The former star of Channel's 4's Hollyoaks booked several tables in the restaurant. She had also booked the upstairs VIP area of Samsara, the bar that adjoins Balzac in Louis Murray's La Stampa Hotel (Louis was in Marbella with long-term partner Cristina Petrar for the weekend).
Jodi's bandmates - Kasey Smith, Corinna Dunne, Sharon Condon and Leigh Learmont—were expected to join her, as were various stars from stage and screen. They obviously had plans to make a big night of it. Jodi booked a table for 20 in the VIP area in Krystal nightclub on Harcourt Street.
Meanwhile her husband-to-be, Kian Egan, was having his stag night last night - believed to be somewhere in Dublin.
His manager Louis wasn't answering his phone yesterday morning when I rang to ask him was he going. In any event, Walsh will definitely fly out the week after next for 10 days' holiday at his glamorous bolthole in Miami.
From there, he will flying out to stay at Dermot Desmond's Sandy Lane Hotel in St James Barbados before attending the pop stars' wedding extraordinaire on the chi-chi Caribbean island.
| Source: Independent.ie – published 12 April 2009
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| Happy Easter |
09 April 2009: Hope everyone has a happy Easter, love Filan Forever x
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| Shane Will Be Singing When He’s Swinging |
08 April 2009: Westlife singer Shane Filan will be singing when he's swinging after his wife Gillian splashed out on a surprise dream trip to the US Masters gold tournament.
The golf fanatic superstar will jet off this week to Augusta to follow Tiger Woods and Irish sensation Padraig Harrington as they both battle for the most converted prize in golf.
Shane was stunned when Gillian handed him the VIP Tickets to all four rounds, of the spectacular tournament that begins on Thursday. He will be mixing with the biggest names from the sport and celebrities who make the trek to the hallowed Georgia Venue every year.
And Shane, 29 told the Irish Daily Mirror, how he will be hoping to see plenty of bop bop birdies as the action unfolds. "It was such an incredible surprise, I am so excited, and I'll be there cheering on Harrington, to three majors in a row."
"He presented us with our Meteor Award last month, and we had a great chat, so I will be getting right behind in Augusta. I'm a big fan of his as well as Rory McLlroy from the North."
"And of course it will be incredible to see Tiger up close and personal."
Sligo man Shane, has been on a mission to improve his golf handicap since Westlife's year off. He plays three times a week at the stunning Strandhill golf club. Shane currently boasts a 14 handicap but hopes to get it down to 10 by the end of summer.
He added: "I played in the winter league this year with Gillian's dad, Michael and it was lots of fun. It improved my game big time. It's the first time I’ve had long enough off from the band to be able to do something like that."
"I am going to Augusta with a couple of friends, and can't wait for it to all start on Thursday."
Shane and Gillian were thrilled when his baby son Patrick was born last September - the couple's second child. They have been spending most of the time at home in Sligo with Patrick and three year old daughter Nicole, as they enjoy the simple things in life.
Shane said: "It's been nice to spend so much time with the family and adjust to life with a second child. But we will be going back to work with Westlife by the end of the year, and we cannot wait to get a new album out there."
| Source: Irish Daily Mirror. Credits: Mary/WFVIP for the article.
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| Kian’s Wedding To See Louis Take A Break |
06 April 2009: Kian Egan will marry his significant other, starlet Jodi Albert, in Barbados on May 8.
How do I know? Westlife's manager told me, of course.
Louis Walsh, Kiltimagh's answer to Colonel Tom Parker, will take a holiday from his hols in Miami to attend the pop-star wedding in the Caribbean. He will stay at Dermot Desmond's Sandy Lane Hotel for two days before returning for another two weeks' rest and recuperation in Florida.
Before you start referring to those great lines by poet Anthony Cronin "One way or another I've been on my holliers most of my life", Louis needs the break topping up the tan before he returns to these climes to work on new albums by no fewer than five of his acts -- Westlife, Boyzone, Shayne Ward, Michael English and his new girlband -- to say nothing of being a judge on the new series of the X Factor.
"I am so busy that I am not doing any more local TV," he told me breathlessly over tea and buns in Ann-Marie Nohl's Expresso Bar Cafe (a second home to Johnny Ronan, Lisa Murphy and Ulick O'Connor) in St Mary's Road on Tuesday night. When Lorraine Keane rang for an interview, lippy Louis explained to the Polish waitress that TV3 was, in fact, "the third choice channel on local television".
Later, as he drove me in his black Maserati sports car to the office, Louis had obviously revised his opinion of local TV. He made arrangements to do an interview with the princess of the third channel -- Lorraine Keane, obviously -- at Expresso Bar the following night.
| Source: independent.ie
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| New Layout |
06 April 2009: There is a new layout for Filan Forever. Hope you like the new layout. The banner for the site will be updated every so often. If anyone would like to design a banner for the site for the next update then please contact me.
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| Gillian To Be A Judge for the Sligo Champion Search For A Model |
04 April 2009: As wife of one of the country's best known personalities, Gillian Filan very often finds herself in front of batteries of flashing camera bulbs, so she knows the importance of style and poise.
A self-confessed "Tom Boy" in her early years, Gillian was catapulted into the limelight once she married her childhood sweetheart, Westlife's Shane Filan, and she very quickly rediscovered her penchant for fashion and style. "As a youngster I was a bit of a Tom Boy, but like all girls, I always had an interest in fashion. In my twenties, I started to really get into it and because I'm sometimes in the public eye, I'm probably more fashion conscious than ever," she reveals.
That eye for style was always in the family. In fact, Gillian's older sister, Joanna, is a successful jewellery designer, whose marvellous creations very often enhance Gillian's public appearances.
Being exposed to a lot of stylish occasions has given Gillian a keen appreciation of the importance of clothes, make-up and deportment, making her an ideal judge for the SLIGO CHAMPION SEARCH FOR A MODEL competition. And she's relishing the challenge.
"I think it's a great idea. There are so many stunning looking girls in Sligo who could definitely make careers in the modelling profession, and this is a genuine opportunity for somebody to make a significant breakthrough," she says.
From her own experiences, she's acutely aware of how difficult it can be for somebody in rural Ireland to achieve that illusive breakthrough, but it's getting easier and this competition, she feels, might be another step up the ladder for a budding model. "Dublin has always had lots of modelling competitions, so I suppose it's only natural that most models are based in or close to the capital. But competitions like this provide an opportunity for girls to have a chance in their own area, and that's very important.
"It will be very interesting to find a model in Sligo and to see how far that person can take it. While I would hate to think it would all be very serious, it is nonetheless an important opportunity for anyone who feels they might have a talent in this regard," Gillian adds.
She emphasises the fun element, urging people to get involved primarily for the enjoyment of the experience. "My advice to anybody considering entering the competition would be, firstly, to go out and enjoy it. It has to be fun, or there's no point doing it. My other tip would be not to be shy or lacking in confidence. Leave all those inhibitions behind and really go for it.
"I know it's going to be a great night when the final is staged in the Castle Dargan Hotel on April 30th. I'm really looking forward to it," she concludes.
| Source: Sligo Weekender.
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| Filan Must Wait Until July For Project Go-Ahead |
04 April 2009: Westlife’s Shane Filan will have to wait untill July to see if his plans for a mixed use development at Carrowroe can go ahead.
The singer and property developer was granted permission by Sligo Borough Council to proceed with the development but the decision was appealed to An Bord Planala.
The plans include 68 apartments, a supermarket, gym and Creche.
| Source: Ocean FM news. Thanks to TC
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| Meteor Awards |
01 April 2009 – There are online videos of interviews with the stars at the Meteors.
To watch the online clips click here.
| Source: entertainment.ie
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| The Countdown Is On |
01 April 2009: Yes we are in April which means we only have another 90 days to go until Westlife are back. It will be nice to have the guys back and news of their album and tour next year.
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