WESTLIFE CRACK CROKER
Westlife rocked Croke Park last night with their biggest and best show ever. The pop extravaganza saw 80,000 supporters of all ages on the streets of the capital.
And the family of Westlife's Kian Egan were out in full force to support their famous sibling as their big brother took to the stage to play to a packed Croke Park stadium. The star caught up with the singer's two sisters Vivienne and Marielle, his younger brother Colm and niece Riadh before the monster gig last night. The Egan crew said they enjoy a Westlife concert as much as the next fan - even if the novelty of seeing Kian on stage has worn off slightly over the years! "We always try to come to his gigs when he's home" said Vivienne ahead of the show. The Sligo man's stunning siblings were dolled up to the last and the Egan girls had no intention of letting all their efforts go to waste. "We're all going to the party after the show and we're all really looking forward to that too" laughed Vivienne. The girls were at the gig in plenty of time as they didn't want to miss the opportunity to see Shayne Ward who supported Westlife on the night. But the glamour girls had to compete with over 80,000 Westlife fanatics for their brothers attention in Dublin as fans travelled the length and breadth of the country to see the famous foursome do their thing.
To mark their tenth year in music, the group decided to stage the special 10 Years Of Westlife sold-out concert at Croker. Last night the band's biggest show to date and the lads didn't dissapoint their army of fans. There were a few blushing boys to be seen in the crowd as they were massively outnumbered by the fairer sex, who were out in fabulous force. One girl who saw her dreams come true last night was Cystic Fibrosis patient Shauna Byrne (10). Shauna was surprised by the Westlife trip by the Tallaght Hospital who got her tickets for the gig. "She was a bit down in herself lately so the hospital surprised her with two tickets for the show" said mum Jackie. When she was asked which member of Westlife was her favourite she didn't hesitate before answering "It's Nicky!".
HAVANA TASTE OF THE REAL HIGH 'LIFE
Pop sensations Westlife celebrated their sell-out show in Croke Park last night by Havana big Cuban party. The chart-toppers who sold an incredible 82,500 tickets for the biggest concert of their career, took over Cuban-themed bar Floridita on Dublin's Lower Abbey Street. Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily (all 28) and Nicky Byrne (29) toasted their success with Mojitos and Cuban cigars. Guests invited to the glitzy after show party included Nicky's father-in-law and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (56) and X Factor hunk Shayne Ward (24), who was their support act. Westlife manager Louis Walsh (55) also partied at Floridita after the concert, which marked the band's 10th birthday celebrations. Louis said "The night has been an incredible achievement and it's a dream come true for the band. It has always been their big ambition to do a concert in Croke Park". And Kian insisted it wasn't a grand finale. "Why shouldn't we go on for another 10 to 15 years?" he asked. "We could go on for as long as we want and as long as the fans want us".
Copyright/Source: Irish daily Star - 2nd June 2008
POP KINGS COME HOME
SUPERSTARS Westlife showed that filling Croke Park isn't just for the likes of U2, as they dazzled a staggering 80,000 screaming fans last night. The pin-ups were in a world of their own as their blistering show proved why they have been at the top for the last TEN years. And speaking exclusively backstage to the Irish Sun, Westlife revealed that last night's gig was the pinnacle of their career that has bagged them over €15million each. Speaking before the sell-out show a nervous Shane Filan told me " I have been so excited about this that I have been trying not to think about it. This has been our biggest ambition to perform a stadium gig in Dublin. And to be able to play to 80,000 of our fans at this sell-out gig is just incredible".
In a blaze of glory the boys took to the stage while their nearest and dearest watched from the wings as they claimed north Dublin as their own. Ex-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern joined his former wife Miriam to bop along to the tunes. His daughter Georgina, wife of band member Nicky Byrne was proud as punch to see her husband's triumphant return with his three pals. Kian Egan said that half of his, Shane's and Mark Feehily's home county were present in the stadium. Kian said "Everyone of my close family and friends are here tonight - I think half of Sligo must be in the Hogan stand. "We have been building for this from the start of the tour and now that it has come around we are just bursting with excitement. We have always had a lot of confidence in our live shows. They are always well produced and we put a lot of money, time and effort in to them. And we have sold out 16 nights in the Point theatre so we know there is good will out there for Westlife. To be honest we were really nervous that we wouldn't sell out croke Park and that stopped us doing it in the past. And to walk out on the stage in front of a sellout crowd at GAA headquarters - that is the stuff that dreams are made of.
Well known actor Liam Cunningham jetted in from Cannes to watch the hit show. Also in the audience was Clinic actress and rugby star Brian O'Driscoll's girlfriend Amy Huberman, and Bubble hits and Xpose star Glenda Gilsonn, Drico's ex. But for proud dad Nicky last night's performance was one of his happiest moments. The sports-mad Dubliner said "I have dreamed of playing at Croke Park since I was a boy. I used to come here all the time as kid and watch Dublin and Ireland play. Now to be able to come here doing what we do and play to a sell-out audience, that is just the stuff of dreams. We are also filming for a DVD about our home coming which is just a big thing for Westlife. And for me, as a dad it is something that I will cherish forever. I will be able to put it on TV one day when Jay and Rocco are a bit older and show them that there dad was cool once. And managed to sell out Croke Park". And probably the proudest man on the night was the band's manager Louis Walsh. Louis would have been very happy to turn the boys from ambitious kids into the world's biggest boyband. The Mayo man watched proudly from the side of the stage as his four charges and his new protege Shayne Ward whipped the crowd in to a frenzy. Ward received a standing ovation after playing a set that included songs from Timbaland, The Fields of Athenry and some of his own number one hits. And given the crowds response Louis revealed that he plans to bring Shayne to Croke Park in two years. He said "Shayne is going to be really big and we are actually planning to bring him here in a few years. Westlife are officially as big as any of the world's big bands. They have followed in the footsteps of U2, Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Williams by selling out Croker". Louis continued that the band's track record speaks for itself. He pointed out that they have sold more than 40 million albums and have had 14 number ones. The exclusive after-show bash took place in hip Latin club Floridita on Abbey Street, Dublin. The owners erected a five-foot ice sculpture in honour of the band and their 10-year achievement. The exclusive VIPs quaffed Westlife-themed cocktails made from exclusive Russian Standard Vodka worth more than €250 a pop.
Copyright/Source: Irish Sun e.murphy@the-sun.i.e - 2nd June 2008
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