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The loved up couple first met at a Childline concert in Dublin in 2005. "They decided to celebrate back in Dublin which is where they met five years ago," said a friend

"They stayed in the Morrison Hotel and had a great night and have told all their friends and family.

"They're really happy and everyone who knows them is delighted for them."

He added: "They haven’t decided when and where they'll get married yet but they hope to do it soon."

Mark's partner Kevin is a photographer and has just shot a major billboard campaign for a radio campaign that can be seen all over London. He shot the sleeve for the new Jedward single Ice Ice Baby last week.

Sligo-born pop star Mark has already revealed that he is still blissfully happy with his "first boyfriend". "I don’t want the growing old part but I do want to do it with Kevin," he said.

"We will be sitting there bickering all day long. I think you know when you love someone, it feels right inside.

"We always tell each other that we love each other. I don't analyse it. I just live it."

Mark insisted that the couple have been totally been accepted as part of their community in Sligo.

"Where I grew up is a far cry from New York or London but I haven't had one comment made to me in Sligo. I have to give the place full credit."

Source: Irish Star Credits: Joanne and Mary at WFVIP for article.

No panic says Shane as new baby arrives two weeks early

30 January 2010: [Published 27 January] Twelve days early and catching his parents by surprise, Shane Filan junior made the sort of entrance his famous dad would have been proud of.

"He certainly didn't keep us waiting. He wasn't due until early February, and up until 8 p.m. last Friday there was no sign he was on his way. But an hour and a half later, he was here," Westlife's Shane told THE SLIGO CHAMPION, describing the early arrival of his third child, a brother for Nicole (4) and Patrick (18 months).

"There was no panic or anything like that, but we certainly weren't expecting it. Gillian started having pains at about eight o'clock, we went straight to Sligo General, and the baby was born exactly one hour and thirty-four minutes later," he explained.

Weighing in at 6 lbs 9 ounces, the new arrival will be named Shane Peter, after both his father and grandfather. The couple's first son was named Patrick Michael, after Gillian's dad.

"It's a family tradition to name children after fathers and grandfathers, so we're just following that really. I suppose I've always wanted a son named Shane, so I'm thrilled about that," the singer added.

He was singing the praises of the staff in the maternity department at Sligo General, who made sure everything went very smoothly.

"They were all fantastic. Our gynaecologist, Dr. Heather Langan, made sure all ran smoothly, and midwife, Carol, who helped deliver Shane, was a real angel. Everything happened so quickly, and we were all really well looked after," Shane added.

With three children under five years of age, it will be a busy household, particularly as Shane has a hectic summer schedule of concerts lined up with Westlife.

"We'll certainly have our hands full for a while, but we love it," he said. And is that the full set?

"You'd better ask Gillian that question --it certainly is for now!"

Source: Sligo Champion. Credits: Jim Gray. Photo: Carl Brennan

Blog From Shane

28 January 2010: Hi guys, Gillian, Nicole, Patrick and I are delighted to welcome our new son Shane Peter Filan into the world. He was born 9.34pm last Friday night 22nd of Jan and he weighed 6'9.

Both mum and baby came home on Sunday evening and doing really well. We want say a massive thank you for all your support and well wishes on the website. I've been logging on every day and the messages have been great!

Me and the guys are back to work in a couple of weeks so I'll see all of you soon. Can't wait for the new single and of course the tour!

Thanks again guys and Shane Jnr says hi!!

Love always

Shane Snr

Source: westlife.com

Shane Picture

28 January 2010: Thanks to Alfee for finding the picture of Shane singing for the Haiti single, which is released on the 8th February.

Source: Alfee

Kylie Adds Voice To Haiti Song

26 January 2010: Kylie Minogue has answered Simon Cowell’s plea and signed up for his single in aid of Haiti earthquake victims.

The Aussie will team up with other top music figures in the fund-raising effort being organised by tycoon Cowell.

Kylie, 41, who is currently in France, will go into a studio tonight to add record vocals for R.E.M. hit Everybody Hurts.

Like all the acts taking part she will be filmed for a video and interviewed about her involvement. A source said: “It took her all of two seconds to say: ‘Yes, I’ll do this.’ She’s delighted to be able to help such a marvellous cause.”

Westlife star Mark Feehily, 29, pledged to do more to help.

He said: “Everyone talks about it, but whether they actually go and do something is a different matter. Singing a few lines doesn’t seem enough so I’ll be looking at how me and the boys can help further."

His band-mates, including Shane Filan, 30, will phone in their efforts. Mark added: “Shane is at home with his wife and new baby but is scheduled to add vocals.”

For full article click on link below.

Source: dailystar.co.uk

New Dad Shane In Dash To Help Haiti

25 January 2010: Proud Dad Shane Filan welcomed the newest addition to his clan, baby Shane Peter into the world this weekend - but it seems the Westlife star won't have much time to bond with the young tot.

The Diary can reveal the singer will have to leave his new arrival and namesake in the capable hands of wife Gillian, while he and bandmates, Nicky Byrne, Cian Egan and Mark Feehily take to the studio to lend their vocals to Simon Cowell's new charity single, a remake of REM's Everybody Hurts.

The foursome are expected to jet out in the coming days to begin recording the single in London, which the media mogul is hoping to have on the shelves as early as next week, in a bid to raise funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Among those signed up to join the Flying Without Wings singers is Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, Robbie Williams and Cheryl Cole.

And while Shane is reluctant to leave his new bundle of joy so soon, a family insider explained how the generous star was determined to do whatever he could for those in need.

"He's hoping to go ahead with the single as long as he and the boys don't have to go any further than London to record it," he explained.

"Then, naturally, he'll be taking some time off to spend with his family."

Shane and Gillian's third child was born shortly after 9.30pm on Friday, weighing in at 6lb 9oz.

Source: herald.ie

Congratulations Shane

25 January 2010: We're very pleased to announce that Shane and Gillian are the proud parents of a new baby boy!

Shane Peter Filan was born at 9.34pm on Friday 22nd January weighing 6 pounds 9oz. Mother and baby are doing very well and Shane is extremely happy and proud!

Source: westlife.com

Baby Joy For Westlife’s Shane

24 January 2010: WESTLIFE star Shane Filan has become a father for the third time.

The pop star made a last-minute dash to Sligo General Hospital with his wife, Gillian, where she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

The newborn, which the couple are naming Shane Peter Filan after his boyband father, was born shortly after 9.30pm on Friday, weighing in at 6lbs 9oz.

A close family friend explained: "Shane and Gillian are over the moon with their new arrival. They're thrilled it's a boy and have decided to call him after his dad, which Shane is chuffed about.

”Both mom and baby are both doing great, although it was a last-minute dash to get to the hospital.

"The labour only took an hour-and-a-half so it was a close call but their doctor, Dr Heather Langan was great. She made sure everything ran smoothly and mom and baby were well looked after."

The couple already have a daughter Nicole and son Patrick, but Shane had always said he had planned to add to the clan.

It marks a bright start to 2010 after the group suffered several blows last year, including the tragic deaths of Nicky Byrne's father Nicky Senior and Stephen Gately.

Source: independent.ie

Shane and Gillian

24 January 2010: Congratulations to Shane and Gillian on the news of their new arrival. Shane Peter Filan was born on 22 January.

To leave your message for Shane and Gillian then click here.

Source: official forum

Westlife To Sing On Charity Single

23 January 2010: SUSAN Boyle and Take That have both signed up to sing on The Sun's Helping Haiti single.

They joined the growing roster of talent recording REM's Everybody Hurts next week.

SuBo, who had the top-selling album in the UK and the US last year, said: "The Haiti earthquake has caused devastation and suffering that most of us will never experience nor could imagine.

"I feel privileged to be a part of such a wonderful project that will raise money to help the country."

She and Take That will be joined by former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, who will fly in to London from Germany on Monday to record her contribution.

She said: "I hope the single raises lots of money. It's great that we can come together and do this. It's a very special song."

The song, which we hope will raise millions for our Helping Haiti appeal and the Disasters Emergency Committee, was suggested by X Factor tycoon Simon Cowell last week.

He has used his world-class contacts to put together a line-up which is growing by the day. Confirmed acts include Rod Stewart, Mika, Michael Buble, Cheryl Cole, Leona Lewis, JLS and Westlife.

The moving 1992 song by REM, Everybody Hurts, was chosen because of its emotional impact.

The band have agreed to give all proceeds to Haiti. Singer Michael Stipe said yesterday: "How could we not say yes to this appeal? We're honoured to play even a small role in trying to help."

Talking about the choice of song, Michael said: "The message is very simple, and very human, and that simplicity resonates with people.

"It points towards our fragility and our strength, be it physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual."

He added: "Any time anyone does something good, or tries to do something positive, the world shifts ever so slightly towards love and towards goodness."

The song will be recorded in studios around the world next week.

Football stars led by England captain John Terry have pledged thousands to our Helping Haiti appeal. Terry, 29, said: "These people desperately need our help. I urge every Sun reader to give their support if they possibly can."

His Chelsea team-mates Ashley and Joe Cole and Man United's Michael Carrick also donated to bring the total to almost £900,000.

They were thanked by Haitian player Lescinel Jean-Francois, who plays for League One Swindon - and who revealed his sister Erica, 11, is still missing after the quake.

Lescinel, 23, said: "To see them give so generously is very important. To all Sun readers, please make a prayer and send anything you can to help make a difference.

"My sister is missing and our home has been wrecked."

TITANIC star Leonardo DiCaprio has given $1million (£620,000) to a Haiti relief fund in America.

Source: The Sun

Vote Westlife

16 January 2010: Westlife are nominated in the Best Irish Pop Act category at this years Meteor awards. To vote for Westlife then click here.

For the mobile you need to add 083 and then the 7 digit number.

Source: Meteor.ie

Art lovers give Westlife the brush off as band's charity painting fails to win one bid

15 January 2010: Westlife have failed to set the world of art alight with a new charity painting.

The colourful collaboration, which can be seen here in our exclusive images, is currently up for auction on eBay, with an advised starting bid of $2,000 (f1,380).

However, to date, the artwork has not attracted any interest from art-lovers, with zero bids recorded on the site since it was first launched on Monday of this week.

The group, which is comprised of Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Kian Egan, joined forces with a number of high profile celebrities to put their personal stamp on the one-of-a-kind artwork.

Among the well-known names involved were Wyclef Jean, Natasha Bedingfield, Donna Summer, Toby Keith and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith

The popular artists were performing at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway when the idea for the painting came about.

The event, which was presented by star couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, was held to celebrate President Barack Obama being honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Westlife were keen to embrace their national pride by using the colours green, white and gold in their personalised segment.

The boys filled the match-stick man in their slot with various meaningful words in their lives such as Love, Embrace, Peace and Joy, while an autograph from each of the members accompanied the slot.

If and when the painting, which has been given a deadline of January 21 is sold, all funds raised will go towards The World Programme and the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation.

The aim of the charity venture is to support a school meals programme in Haiti, where the World Food Programme provides food to more than 500,000 school children.

Band-member Mark has been appealing to fans to check out the artwork on his online networking site Twitter.

The group said it had been a dream come true for them, when they had the opportunity to meet President Obama at the glitzy event last month.

During his meeting with the pop group, Obama commended former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, urging son-in-law Nicky Byrne to pass on his best regards.

The president also showed his Irish roots when he invited the band for a pint.

Nicky said: "Meeting President Obama was an amazing experience to say the least. So the next time we are in Washington we are going to go for that pint. He seemed very approachable and very cool."

Source: herald.ie

Westlife Support The WFP

12 January 2010: Last month Westlife headed across to Oslo, Norway, to take place in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert honouring President Barack Obama.

While the boys were there, they put their signatures to a special piece of artwork created by Will Smith, which will be auctioned off on eBay to help raise money for hungry children in Haiti.

The World Food Programme and the Will & Jada Family Foundation created the artwork - based on a map of world hunger - and encouraged the stars of the Nobel Peace Prize Concert to add their signatures to the piece.

The item can be viewed here.

Source: westlife.com

Ireland’s Most Important Celebrity Twitterers Revealed

11 January 2010: Father Ted writer Graham Linehan Tops the List Ahead Of Rick O’Shea and Dave Moore according to Edelman’s TweetLevel.

Ireland’s most important celebrity twitterers have been unveiled today as part of the launch of TweetLevel in Ireland. TweetLevel is a new measurement tool that calculates someone’s importance on Twitter. It has been developed by Edelman, one of the world’s leading PR agencies, using a unique algorithm which takes into account the quality and quantity of someone’s tweets, how engaged and trusted a tweeter is, as well as how popular they are.

The ten most influential Irish celebrity twitterers are:

1. Graham Linehan TweetLevel score = 73

2. Rick O’Shea TweetLevel score = 65

3. Dave Moore TweetLevel score = 63

4. Mark Little TweetLevel score = 59

5. Nicky Byrne TweetLevel score = 59

6. Mark Feehily TweetLevel score = 53

7. Sean Moncrieff TweetLevel score = 51

8. Dermot Whelan TweetLevel score = 49

9. Ray Foley TweetLevel score = 45

10. Des Bishop TweetLevel score = 45

By entering their Twitter details into Edelman’s free online tool at www.tweetlevel.com, individuals can measure their own importance and rank themselves against a range of factors including influence, engagement, trust and popularity. TweetLevel allows individuals the opportunity to compare their own importance in the Twittersphere to that of their friends, colleagues and others they choose to ‘follow’.

Tweetlevel is free to use online at www.tweetlevel.com.

Source: edelman.ie

Westlife To Take Centre Stage At Meteors

07 January 2010: Snow Patrol and Westlife will be taking to the stage at next month's annual Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2010, the Herald can exclusively reveal.

The two acts will be peforming live at the event, which is being hosted once again by Amanda Byram.

Following her debut as MC of the glitzy event last year, the Dublin beauty has been invited back to front an even bigger and better tenth anniversary show at the RDS on Friday, February 19.

As with previous years Irish music fans will be able to decide the winners of nine major categories.

These include Best National DJ, Best Regional DJ, Best Irish Band, Best Irish Male, Best Irish Female, Best Irish Pop Act, Best Irish Album, Best Irish Live Performance and Most Promising New Artist for 2010.

Last year's award winners included Imelda May in the category of Best Irish Female, The Script in the category of Best Irish Album and Westlife in the category of Best Irish Pop Act

A further nine awards will be decided by votes cast by representatives of the Irish music industry with a total of 18 awards presented on the night.

A limited number of tickets for this strictly over 16s event will go on sale tomorrow at 9am.

Tickets for the event are priced at €40 (including booking fee) and will be available from Ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide.

This year's annual award ceremony is sure to hold special significance for many of Ireland's best known musicians, given that last year's ceremony coincided with tragic Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's 33rd birthday celebrations. Stephen and his bandmates, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy and Mikey Graham performed at the event, which was held a month later than this year's show on March 17, St Patrick's Day.

Following the show, generous Stephen splashed out €20,000 to host an invite only bash at members only club, Residence on St Stephen's Green.

Just six months later the Dublin singer died tragically while on holiday in Mallorca with his partner, Andrew Cowles.

Source: Herald.ie

Third Glasgow Date Added

06 January 2010: Good news for Scottish Westlife fans – a third date has been added at the Glasgow SECC!

This additional show is taking place on Wednesday 26th May, with tickets on sale from Friday 8th January at 9am through Ticketmaster.

Source: Westlife.com

Westlife: Who says we're not cool?

05 January 2010: Oh dear, was it something I said? Why else would Westlife heart-throb Kian Egan be rolling up his trouser leg and flashing a tattooed calf in my direction?

"Look, this is Buddha! Is that cool enough for you? I've got a palm tree and waves and a Hawaiian flower on the other one. What have you got to say about that?"

Across the room, baby-faced Nicky Byrne is keen to fight his corner: "I've got a Hummer golf buggy -- and I don't even play golf! How much more rock-and-roll can you get?"

Even Shane Filan is joining the fray, announcing with perfect deadpan timing that he has "a big, fat house, way, way bigger than anything Bob Geldof's got. Two fat houses, in fact."

Then Mark Feehily reminds him he's also got a helicopter. Filan laughs aloud: "There you go, I'm so crazy and cool that I'd forgotten I have my own helicopter. Who says we're boring now?"

I have come to talk about Westlife's glittering 11-year career, their new album, Where We Are, and their much-vaunted musical edginess, acquired after a year off. Having jettisoned safe cover versions, their latest CD is sumptuously arranged by producers in the United States, and oozing with class.

Their anthemic single 'What About Now' is riding high in the charts, they've had a sexy makeover, and they performed for Barack Obama at the Nobel Peace Awards. There's a lot to talk about, but they are howling in baffled frustration about why Westlife Just Aren't Considered Cool.

And it's my fault, by starting our chat with a mischievous remark about their bland reputation and how one critic said Westlife "were so anodyne as to make Boyzone look like Led Zeppelin at their most orgiastic".

I had expected a smart-arse quip in response, maybe a tongue-in-cheek defence of those infamous Val Doonican stools they perch on to croon. Instead, I have unleashed a torrent of mock abuse.

"Honestly, we're not dull," protests Byrne (31). "Barack Obama said he'd love to go for a pint of Guinness with us some time. Just because we're fit and healthy and don't look like drug addicts, doesn't make us uncool. It makes us normal."

In truth, Westlife are extraordinary. They are the biggest-selling act of the decade. They've notched up 14 UK number-one singles, 10 number-one albums, sold more than 40 million records worldwide and, having survived the loss of band member Brian McFadden in 2004, made the transition from boy band to male vocalist group, taking their legions of fans with them.

The lads have got married, had babies, acquired trophy golf buggies and tucked away millions in shrewd investments, but at some level that's not enough. It clearly stings when commentators take side swipes at their squeaky-clean image and the sainted Bob Geldof will never be forgiven for dismissing them as "not relevant".

"I think that was pretty rich given he only started his international campaigning when he realised the Boomtown Rats weren't relevant any more," remarks Egan (29) acidly.

Feehily, also 29, interjects that, while they all acknowledge Geldof's "amazing achievements", it doesn't give the former singer carte blanche to slag them off for the sake of a headline.

Bob Geldof didn't include us on the Band Aid II single, even though we were the biggest band at the time," says Byrne. "He could have made even more money for charity by having us sing, but he chose Busted and Sugababes because he was on some sort of elitist power trip."

This all sounds so raw you'd think it happened yesterday, not in 2004, which does seem a long time to nurse a slight. "Excuse us if we get defensive, but this 'cool' thing is a sideshow that distracts from our music," says Feehily.

"We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us because we might not be to some rock critic's taste is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do."

The band concede that the quality of their output was suffering as their record label -- take a bow, Simon Cowell -- sought to exploit their Midas touch by serving up skiploads of base metal to be transmuted into chart gold.

"We felt that we were becoming cover-heavy, and no matter what we released it was a success, which was fine for the record company, but we wanted to record amazing pop songs," says Filan (30).

"Having made nine albums in as many years, we decided we should take a break." Egan lost his father to cancer in the summer, and Byrne is also mourning for his father who died last month.

All have been shaken by the death of Boyzone's Stephen Gately, the first such tragedy to be experienced by the boy-band generation. Feehily, who is gay and in a five-year relationship, credits Gately as a major inspiration.

'Stephen was extremely brave," says Feehily. "Every time a celebrity who is admired by millions of people comes out, it's one more blow to any negative stereotype out there."

Beneath the occasionally prickly banter about their image, Westlife make for a likeable bunch and seem genuinely comfortable in their own skins. All have homes (big fat ones) in Ireland, and their loyalty to each other runs deep.

"Being here 11 years into our career is a massive achievement and sustaining our success is now the challenge," says Byrne. "We had a goal to make Where We Are the best pop album we could, not just turn up, sing what the label put in front of us and pick up the cheque."

When I tell them I've been singing along to their album on the school run, they look dismayed as I am evidently the epitome of uncool. But then Byrne remembers that Bono once got out of his car on the school run and stood on the bonnet, belting out 'Flying Without Wings' to embarrass his children. This cheers them up tremendously, as Bono is just about as hip as it gets.

"We've had an amazing time, travelling the world, singing songs we love, meeting the fans and becoming financially secure," says Filan. "If our only problem is that we're not deemed cool enough, well I think we can live with that."

Source: Irish Independent

Nicky Interview

04 January 2010: For Nicky Byrne, a member of popular Irish pop band Westlife, 2009 has been an annus horribilus.

His good friend, Boyzone member Stephen Gately, 33, died in Majorca in October from an undiagnosed heart condition.

Over the telephone from Ireland, the 31-year-old says quietly: “It was a huge shock when Stephen died. It was such sad news because he was so young.

Barely had he dealt with the shock of his friend’s death when his own father died in November from a heart attack at the age of 60. He says: “My dad’s death was very sudden and it made me feel that we can never prepare enough for what is going to happen in life. I was very heartbroken and I didn’t know what to do but I am trying to move on. My dad was a great father and a great man, and I am sure he would be proud of us now.”

Besides personal traumas, Byrne had also been assessing his life on the professional front. His band was on a year long hiatus from mid-2008. The four-member band, which includes Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, both 29, Shane Filan, 30, felt burnt out from work in the past decade and wanted a break.

Byrne says: “There was a risk in taking a break because at the back of our minds, we feared that people would forget us in this fickle-minded music scene. Our fans might end up supporting others but we went ahead and did it because we were so tired and we wanted a good rest.”

During their time off, the quartet mostly spent precious time with their families, something they did not have the chance to do in the past. Byrne said the break was good for the band as they came out of it refreshed and ready to work hard on their 12th album, Where We Are, which was released last November.

And the band think the album of catchy pop tunes and love ballads is their best in a decade-long career that has seen them selling more than 40 million albums. Byrne, a father of fraternal three-year-old twin boys, says: “We felt pressured to do well and meet high expectations for our new album because of our previous albums’ good results. We wanted the album to be an indication of where we were after 10 years and we wanted it to feel special again. “We also wanted the album to reflect how much we have matured over the years and we used inspirations from our daily lives to put together this album.

Glad to be leaving 2009 behind and starting 2010 afresh, the chatty singer reveals that the band will be embarking on their world tour this year, starting in Europe before coming to Asia. He says: “I am excited and looking forward to that and I think 2010 will be brighter and better year.”

He also reveals the secret to staying popular after so many years on the scene. “It is mainly commitment to hard work and getting along well as a group. We definitely worked hard for our success today. But he doesn’t know how long the band can go on, adding: “We don’t know, but we are taking an album at a time. We have come a long way and I hope we can continue to go on for a long time.”

He promises Singapore fans that they will come here this year. The last time the quartet performed here was in 2006. He adds: Singapore has been very nice to us and it is definitely on the map for our world tour 2010. Meanwhile, check out our latest album and we’ll see you guys soon.”

Source: official forum for article. Credits: snmk_4ever

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