| | Message from Shane | 29 January 2009: Hi everyone, I just wanted to say hello and fill you in on everything that’s been going on over the last few weeks as it’s been a while since you heard from us.Christmas was really lovely. It was actually a bit of a weird one in a way because Gillian’s granny died the day before Christmas Eve. She was 95 and had lived a great life and seen four generations of the family. It actually brought us all closer together and Christmas Day was really special as we had all the family around us – we had 17 of us here for Christmas dinner. Gillian did the cooking, as she also did on New Year’s Day, when there were 34 of us, including 17 grandchildren!It was probably the nicest Christmas so far, because I hadn’t been rushing around doing promotion and then hurrying to try and buy presents and stuff, so we could enjoy the build-up properly. I’d been looking forward to it for a long time and it was so nice to be at home with the family. Gillian surprised me with a camera that I’d really wanted for ages on Christmas day, which I was so happy with. I got her some handbags and boots and shoes and stuff. It was also the first year that Nicole really understood Christmas and that was amazing to watch. When you’re growing up Santy Claus and all that stuff really makes Christmas for you, and then you get older and Santy doesn’t come anymore, and then when you have kids the magic starts all over again. She was so excited about seeing Santy – we left out a glass of milk and cookies for him. It was Patrick’s first Christmas, but obviously he didn’t really know what was going on.I’ve been at home all the time for more or less the last six months, apart from a couple of small trips. It’s been really nice to relax and get to do things like play golf every Sunday with Gillian’s dad. It’s quite weird being at home too though because I’ve been thinking about work loads and I need to keep myself busy. It’s the singing I really miss, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the road. I’ve been chatting to the boys and we all agree that the thing we’re most excited about is performing on stage again.| We miss you all and we’re really excited about starting work on the new album. It’s going to be back-to-basics, with all new songs and no covers, like the first few albums. We’ve heard a few of the songs so far and will be hearing the rest over the next few months. I think it’s shaping up to be really good – as it’s the first album of our second decade we want it to be the best so far! Take care, love Shane x
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| Meteor Awards |
| 28 January 2009: Westlife are nominated in the Best Irish Pop Act category. The lads will up against Boyzone, The Blizzards, The Coronas, The Script, Westlife. Good luck Westlife. |
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| Croker Comeback |
| 27 January 2009: The superstars have been in secret talks, about staging a mammoth concert to mark their return. And we can exclusively reveal, they are planning, a 80.000 capacity, concert at the Dublin venue in summer 2010. |
| The band have been enjoying a year off after a decade of touring, promoting and performing. But now they are returning, to return bigger and better than ever by selling out Irelands biggest outdoor venue. A source close to the band, revealed: "They will begin recording an album this summer, then release it about christmas time. "And then they will perform, the Croker gig. The lads want to prove a point, when they return to action. "And what better way than selling out the biggest venue in Ireland. They have done it once before, so they are confident they can do it again". |
| Westlife sold out Croker in record time last summer for for their 10th anniversary. Shortly after Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan went their seperate ways, for a 12-month break. |
| Shane has been busy enjoying the arrivial of his son Patrick last September, whilst Nicky has been enjoying time raising his 21-months old twins boys, Rocco and Jay, with wife Georgina, and making regular TV appearances. |
| Kian has been concentrating on the new girl band he has set up with his gorgeous fiance Jodi Albert, whilst Mark and his partner Kevin Mcdaid have been enjoying a trip around the world. |
| The source added: "Take That are performing at Croker this summer, so there is an element of Westlife putting their stamp back on the pop world and reclaiming their place as the top band?. |
| Westlife have also booked provisional dates in Manchester, London, Glasgow, Belfast and Manchester as part of the tour. |
| Source: The Irish Mirror - Credits: WestlifeFantaticVIP |
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| Win flowers from Westlife |
23 January 2008 - We've got a very special Valentine's competition for you - the chance to win a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from the Westlife boys delivered to your home or work! You'll be the envy of your colleagues or family when the flowers arrive with a personalised message from the lads printed on the card. Imagine the excitement!
To enter, we want you to get creative. Come up with your best Valentine's poem for the boys and post it in the special thread on the forum. It has to start with the phrase ‘Roses are red' and must be no longer than 8 lines long. We'll pick 5 of our favourites to be published right here on the site, with the very best winning this great prize. The competition closes at 5pm on Friday 6th February.
To enter click here.
| Source: westlife.com.
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| DVD released in Hong Kong |
22 January 2009 – An official karaoke DVD has been released in Hong Kong, which includes Home, Us Against The World, Flying Without Wings, Fly Me To The Moon, Unbreakable and The Rose. It also has 22 karaoke songs.
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| Source: The Committed – credits: kissnicky
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| Nicky’s New Year Resolution |
15 January 2009 - WESTLIFE star Nicky Byrne, 30, plans to clean up his act and stop swearing. Family man Nicky said: "I'm going to give up cursing. It's going to be hard because I find swearing adds emphasis to what you're saying. Other than that, I don't usually take up any New Year's resolutions. I think you should do something because you want to, not because it's the beginning of the New Year".
Next year will be a busy one for Nicky and Westlife bandmates Shane Filan, 29, Kian Egan, 28, and Mark Feehily, 28. The boys took a break this year but will be back on tour in the summer.
| Source: News Of The World – credit to Sweet Westlife Boys for the article.
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| Nicky 09 vow to wow |
15 January 2009 - The chart-topping singer and his bandmates have been on a year-long break from the limelight but he said they will be back and better than ever next year. Nicky, 30, revealed: "We've got big plans for 2009. We're on a break until June and then we're back in the studio to do a huge new album”.
"We're going to the US to work with some great producers. We're all really excited. There were some really big names thrown about so we can't wait to start on that".
And he told how Westlife were in a world of their own at last June's sell-out gig in Croke Park. He said: "We were lucky enough to play our 10-year anniversary concert there last summer. "I think I could say that it was the highlight of all our careers."
| Source: The Sun – credit to Sweet Westlife Boys for the article.
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| Westlife make top ten coolest band ever |
15 January 2009 – Take That may be number one band of all time with teenagers but Westlife are still…
Westlife are the only Irish group to make the top 10 list of the coolest bands ever.
The pop stars – Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan – even finished above the Artic Monkeys. Westlife came in at No.10 in the poll of 3,000 teenagers. Artic Monkeys whose hits include When The Sun Goes Down, just made it at No.20. Take That - who reformed in 2006 - grabbed the top spot followed by Girls Aloud, Aerosmith and Busted.
The top twenty coolest bands of all time: 1. Take That, 2. Girls Aloud, 3. Aerosmith, 4. Busted, 5. Guns ‘N’ Roses, 6. Fall Out Boy, 8. Abba, 9. McFly 10. Westlife, 11. The Killers, 12. Coldplay, 13. Green Day, 14. Linkin Park, 15. Pussycat Dolls, 16. Sugababes, 17. The Tings Tings, 18. Kaiser Chiefs, 19. Red Hot Chili Peppers, 20. Artic Monkeys.
| Source: The Mirror.
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| Music and Sports heroes rally around brave Ryan |
12 January 2009 – Young Ryan Egan realised the dream of a lifetime when he met rally driver Shaun Gallagher and hometown idol Shane Filan at the same time. For much of his short life, Ryan (5) has been battling cancer. He has also, in between hospital visits and treatment for his leukimia, developed a huge interest in rally driving.
The youngster was an avid spectactor as Gallagher, 2007 World Rally Championship Rookie of the Year put is Citroen car through its paces in Sligo in preparation for this year’s contest. So, too, was fellow local Shane Filan, who popped along to help promote this year’s opening event in the world championship in Ireland’s north west. “Come here, buddy”, said the singer, as he invited Ryan and mum Suzanne to join him for a photograph.
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Ryan, from Maugheraboy, Sligo, was just a week from his third birthday when he was diagnosed with leukimia. He completed a three-year treatment course at the end of the year. His proud dad Declan said: He is doing really well, we’re very hopeful that he will make a full recovery. He’s been through a lot but he has done it with amazing courage”. He said that Ryan started showing an interest in cars almost as soon as he could talk. “He has collected small cars from the age of two and always had a keen interest in knowing how they worked. When other children his age were into Power Rangers and what have you, Ryan was taking the wheels of his dinky cars and looking under the bonnet".
Ryan will get a chance to see some real action during Rally Ireland 2009, between 29 January and 1 February, when there will be 18 stages through countries Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon, Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone. Other youngsters have been getting involved in preparations for the rally. Local schoolchildren have been preparing St Brigid’s Crosses to hand to the drivers. Children from Boyle Parochial National School, Roscommon, weaved the traditional crosses by hand.
The event will mark the start of the 2009 World Rally Championship, with 12 rounds across the world. It is the first time in almost 30 years that the beginning of the series has been held outside of Monte Carlo.
Failte Ireland, one of the sponsors, said that in 2007 the event attracted 250,000 spectators, generated €48m in economic benefit to the region and was viewed in over 180 countries by in excess of 62 million people. It was acclaimed by the WRC as the second-best round of the World Rally Championship this year.
| Source: Independent.ie by Paddy Clancy. Thanks to Lucy for the scanned picture.
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| KIAN AND JODI IN OK! MAGAZINE |
10 January 2009 – When Kian Egan proposed to Jodi Albert on Christmas Day 2007 with a Tiffany ring that the actress had pointed out that she loved three years before. Jodi couldn't contain her emotion. "I just dropped to my knees and hugged him. We were there on the floor in a bit of an emotional mess!” says the ex-Hollyoaks star.
The couple met when Jodi, 25, was just 15 and became friends, but drifted apart for a few years until six years ago when they saw each other in Manchester. "I just looked at her and was like, right, I'm done. That was it. We've been together ever since". says Kian, 28. And Jodi is equally as gushing. "I do think that on some level I loved him the moment I met him", she says.
The couple are planning a beach wedding in a far-flung location this summer and are relishing planning their dream day. "Because of the way he treats me and the way he looks at me, I've never been able to imagine marrying anyone else" says Jodi.
| Source: OK! Magazine
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| A Westlife new year poll |
08 January 2009 - In our last poll, we asked how you’d like to spend your ideal Christmas with the Westlife boys. Over 40% of you opted for a traditional Christmas – log fire, mince pies, presents by the tree. In second place was a big family get-together, with a magical trip to Lapland coming third. After that came a big party with your friends, then Christmas in an exotic location, with an action-packed skiing holiday in last place.
In our brand new poll, we want to know what would cheer up your January the most. Check in to the Poll section now on the Official site to vote.
| Source: Westlife.com
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| Nicky’s birthday surprise for his dad |
5 January 2009 – Westlife star Nicky Byrne managed to reduce his dad to tears at the weekend when he surprised him with a €20,000 Harley Davidson motorbike. The popstar and his family threw a huge bash to celebrate dad Nicky senior’s 60th birthday in the Regency Hotel in Dublin’s Whitehall on Saturday night. More than 200 friends and family were there to see Nicky blindfold his dad before revealing the extravagant gift. Bike lover Nicky Snr a well known musician and singer on the cabaret scene dissolved in to tears of joy at the sight of his dream bike. “This is the ultimate motorbike for anyone that knows their bikes” said a source. It was the last thing he expected”.
Nicky’s dad was also thrilled by live performances by stars such as Sonny Knowels and Aslan at the belated bash. He actually turned 60 at the beginning of December but Nicky and Georgina were away at the time so they held it at the weekend instead. The bowled over dad was surrounded by other family including wife Yvonne, daughter Gillian and younger son Adam.
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| Source: Irish Star – credits: official forum-deborahw.
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| Westlife will be able to “shop shop baby” all over Christmas after landing a EUR10 million deal to tour again |
5 January 2009 – The You Raise Me Up singers have been approached to stage 70 concerts towards the end of next year as part of their comeback. The band have been enjoying a year off after a decade of almost continual touring and promotion. But this offer is certain to entice them back to the big time and put them at the top of the pop world.
And Irish fans will be thrilled with their big plans for a triumphant homecoming.
The group want to stage eight nights at the new 02 which was launched amid a blaze of glitz and glamour.
A source close to the band revealed last night: “This is Westlife’s biggest-ever pay day for a tour. They will be performing in all the biggest arenas around the Ireland and the UK. The money on the table is huge – each of them will make €2 million for their work And we’re expecting the tickets to sell out in record time. The fact that the lads will have been away for a year will make people really hungry to see them again”.
Singer Shane Filan confirmed there were big plans for 2009. He told the Irish Mirror: “We want to come back with a bang. We’re really excited about the next album and know we have to make it one of our best. We’re meeting up in the new year to discuss songs for the album and put a plan together. It will be great to get back on stage together and we’re really excited about touring”.
Each member of the band is estimated to have earned around €16 million from their dazzling success over the past decade. The band pull in a fortune from touring record sales and sponsor ship deals. Last summer they were paid €200,000 to perform at Manchester United star Wayne Rooney’s wedding in Italy.
| Source: Daily Mirror.
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| Happy New Year |
01 January 2009 – Thank you to everyone who has supported this site. Happy 2009 love Filan Forever.
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| Big Saturday Interview with Nicky |
“We’d have to call it a day if one of us quit now. We are a band of four and without all four Westlife would be no more”. PAUL MARTIN’S BIG Saturday interview with Nicky Byrne on taking on Take That and the joys of fatherhood.
01 January 2009 – WHEN Westlife made the decision to take a year-long holiday in the summer someone must have forgotten to tell Nicky Byrne. The hunky pop star never was one for resting on his laurels – even when they include more than EUR15 million in career earnings and over a dozen number one hits. Surely Nicky should have been happy sitting on his sofa scoffing junk food, watching football and piling on the pounds. He’s earned it, after all, having been through a gruelling 10 years of promotion, touring and recording as part of Ireland’s biggest pop sensations.
But if you happened to be watching the telly over the past three weeks you might have noticed the Dubliner popping up on the Late Late Toy Show, hosting the Childline gig at the Point and, quite randomly, on BBC1’s Question Of Sport.
To read the full interview click here.
| Source: Irish Daily Mirror – published 27 December 2008.
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| Congratulations to Shane and Gillian |
28 December 2008 – Congratulations to Shane and Gillian on their fifth wedding anniversary.
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