The Power of ShNicky (Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne)

Real Reason Why Westlife Split Up

2011-12-16T01:12:00.000-08:00

Real reason we're splitting: After 14 No.1 Singles, Westlife Are Calling it a Day - Now, For The First Time, They Reveal Why

The year was 1999 and I was in a seedy nightclub watching five fresh-faced Irish boys, in ludicrous long coats, launched on the world as Westlife.

They were united only in their awkwardness as they sang and moved together, and I wondered at the time whether there really was room for another Irish boy-band, managed by their then little-known manager Louis Walsh, alongside the already established Boyzone.

The answer, as it turns out, was: yes. I’ve watched them perform many times since, everywhere from Dublin to Singapore.

I saw them rehearse on a grimy industrial estate before going on to become the biggest stage act in the UK, selling out Wembley Arena 25 times.

They have enjoyed phenomenal success, with 14 No 1 singles, seven No 1 albums, selling 44 million records in total. And I’ve seen them grow from hesitant boys into confident young men.

Then, they were all in their teens — apart from Nicky Byrne who was 20. Now, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan are 31, Shane Filan 32, and Nicky 33.

And they have decided it’s all over — they’ll split up after next summer’s tour.

It’s an emotional time for them and their army of fans, but, as they told me this week, they’ve been considering breaking up for some time. And it’s real — and for ever.

‘We know some sceptics see it as a marketing ploy and think that we’ll make millions by staging a comeback in three years’ time,’ says Mark.

‘After all, Boyzone and Take That re-formed after saying it was all over. But we have zero plans to get back together.

‘No one can predict the future, but as far as we’re all concerned, it is the end of Westlife.’

They first considered splitting in the summer of 2009 after a one-year break to recharge their batteries.

They found the original spark wasn’t there and initially blamed it on Simon Cowell, though they never explicitly said so, and his record company Syco. In the beginning Cowell micro-managed their record choices, choosing their 14 No 1s.

‘Simon became massive in the States and had less time for us,’ says Nicky.

‘He still came back and picked our singles, but we just didn’t have him seven days a week as we did at the beginning.’

They had high standards to maintain with all their singles going Top Five until Us Against The World went to No 8 in 2008.

For other artists that would still be good, but it signalled something more significant in Westlife as their audience grew up with them and they shifted into more of an album act.

But leaving Syco for another label, RCA, did not work the magic they’d hoped for.

‘As a band, though not individually, I think we have lost ambition,’ says Nicky. ‘As soon as your hunger goes, you have to face facts, man-up and make the decision.’

Shane explains: ‘We realised that we were not enjoying it as much as we used to.

‘It wasn’t the record company’s fault — they offered us a really big multi-million-pound deal and we turned it down. We said we didn’t want to listen to any more offers. We could have taken the money and not delivered, but we wanted to be honest and end on a high.’

Adds Mark: ‘I really don’t think any one person can be either blamed or take responsibility for the end of Westlife. There was no one incident that resulted in an argument and somebody stomping their foot and saying: “Right that’s it. It’s over!”

‘Everyone slowly started coming round to the same way of thinking, and we waited until we were all of the same mind before we took it seriously.

‘Everyone makes up the band, everyone is responsible for the success and everyone is equally responsible for the end. Westlife has always been quite balanced like that. No one person has ever taken over and caused the beginning, the middle or the end of Westlife.’

Mark, Kian and Shane were originally friends from Sligo in the west of Ireland and had their own band. It was Shane’s mother who knew Louis Walsh and got them introduced to him.

Walsh put together the five-piece hit-making machine in 1998, bringing in Nicky and the long departed Brian McFadden.

Louis believed, initially, that they were making a big mistake in splitting.
Kian says: ‘At first, Louis said: “No, don’t be silly. It won’t happen. It will sort itself out.” Then I told him we were thinking of putting out a Greatest Hits album and that the next tour will be the last. When I told him that the thought of breaking up was in everybody’s mind, he said: “No, no, no!”

‘Then, when we were out in Asia just recently, I emailed him the press statement announcing the split. He repeated that he thought it was a mistake, but once it was made public, Louis seems to have come around.’

Says Shane: ‘He told us we were being very brave. He said we could probably keep doing it for as long as we wanted, but we were right to end it on a high.’

Mark thinks Louis will cope without them. ‘Part of his mechanism is about being strong, so I don’t think he is actually going to break down and start crying over the demise of Westlife.

‘But I think, deep inside, it’s a sad day for him. We have been a big part of his success, and he has been a massive part of our success.’

The four boys are naturally wondering whether they will remain close to each other.

‘I probably know them better than my own brothers, which is freaky but true,’ says Shane who is from a tightknit family of seven children.

Kian and his wife Jodi are close to Mark and his partner Kevin McDaid.

Dublin-based Nicky seems the most detached. He says: ‘I like to think we will meet up and have a pint and a laugh — why not? It would be silly not to. But at the beginning, we’ll probably all want to find our own individual space.’

When Brian McFadden left the group in 2004, unhappy with their musical direction, they thought they would have to disband. But, urged on by Walsh, Cowell and their fans, within weeks they completed a triumphant tour and knew they were secure. McFadden’s departure still rankles with Kian.

‘Me and Brian have had words about everything that happened. I told him I was unhappy he left our band high and dry four weeks before a big tour. He said he was thinking about it in his terms and I said: “Well, think about it in my terms.”

‘I am not going to lie. I love Brian as a person. He is a fantastic character, he’d give you the shirt off his back. But he is also a loony tune.

‘I thought once one member of the band leaves at that early stage, that’s it. I was probably the one to have that reaction more than anybody else. I thought we were done and dusted, and I found it strange at the time why he would want to do that.

‘He couldn’t cope with having four other guys telling him he had to do things. He wanted to be his own person and be the free spirit that he actually is.’

Nicky, too, admits that there was resentment at the time. ‘But we have been out with him since and discussed our careers,’ he says. ‘If he was to ever do anything again with Westlife, that would be very special.

‘For different reasons it may never happen — ever. Or it might happen on the last tour. I think it would be nice, and I hope we do sing with him again one day.’

McFadden may have been the first to crack, but he wasn’t the only one finding it tough to conform to the restrictions of being in a boy-band.

Shane is a bit sheepish when he admits it now, but in the early days, they were all encouraged to say they didn’t have girlfriends so their fans could imagine they were footloose, fancy-free and available for them.

Even then, Shane was in love with his childhood sweetheart Gillian Walsh, now his wife and mother of his three children, —Nicole, six, Patrick, three, and young Shane who will be one in January.

‘I lied, purely to protect her. She was just starting university and was a normal girl in class.

Nobody knew she was my girlfriend, bar one or two of her very close friends. But there were 5,000 people in the college who didn’t know, and so they didn’t treat her any differently.’

No one had a tougher time in the band than Mark Feehily who, desperate to cover up the fact he was gay, was in denial to himself, friends, family — and the group.

‘Pop magazines would ask me questions about my ideal girl and I tried to think to myself what she would be.

‘I tried to be honest. I don’t like to look at that period of my life as if I was lying to the fans. I tried my best to be as honest as I could, but I also had some figuring out to do.

‘I come from rural Catholic Ireland. It was a big deal in my head and I made an even bigger deal out of it. Looking back on my life, my family still love me, everyone loves me even more now, but at the time it was not easy to view things that way.’

The lowest point, which was also a turning point for Mark, came at the height of the band’s fame in 2001 with the release of their third album World Of Our Own, which spawned three No 1 singles. He was left alone in a hotel in London while the rest of the band went off to see family.

‘I stayed in bed practically the whole weekend watching TV and was quite depressed. It was horrible. I had never felt so lonely. I was stopping myself walking out the front door of the hotel and meeting somebody and falling in love with them.

‘That was rock bottom. I felt empty and alone. This was at the height of Westlife’s early fame, so it just goes to show that things aren’t always as they seem.

‘Something cracked then — and grew. It took two or three years, but I finally began the process of coming out, which involved telling all my friends back home and my family. Later, I plucked up the courage to speak to the other guys, and then I met my boyfriend Kevin. We went on holidays and weren’t trying to hide.’

A huge moment for Mark personally was the overwhelming approval of the fans at a concert at Croke Park stadium, Dublin, in June 2008 when he told the crowd: ‘I’d like to say a massive thank you to my boyfriend and I love you very much.’

He says now: ‘I barely got to the end of it. I was so choked with the scream of support the crowd let out.’

Mark and Shane — Westlife’s lead vocalists — both plan solo recording careers, with Shane most likely continuing to be managed by Louis Walsh.

Nicky, by contrast, says: ‘For the first couple of years I won’t miss singing, although I will miss the fans and the banter.’

He has been married for eight years to Georgina, daughter of the former Irish PM Bertie Ahern, and sister of novelist Cecilia Ahern. They have four-year-old twin sons, Jay and Rocco. Nicky now plans a career as a TV presenter.

Kian, who is a coach on the Irish version of The Voice, and co-managed recently disbanded girl band Wonderland with Walsh, is thinking about forming a new boy-band to manage. He and wife Jodi are expecting their first child in January.

The success of Westlife made them among the richest young men in Ireland, with an estimated fortune of around £10 million each.

Some of them have lost more than others in the Irish property crash, but none have lost their determination. Now, all four are flying without wings.

Scource : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2074859/Real-reason-splitting-After-14-No-1-singles-Westlife-calling-day--time-reveal-why.html#ixzz1ggh1QqFH

ShNicky sweet moment picture

2011-12-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

Westlife fun video in concert

2011-12-12T22:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry for been hiatus

2011-12-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Westlifer,

We really sorry for not been updated this blog, due to many reason why.
But we have many story that will be sharing at this blog, about Westlife Gravity Asia Tour Live in Jakarta ( 5 Oct 2011 ) and Live in Malaysia ( 7 Oct 2011 ).

And about Westlife split up, it's really broke up Westlife fans all over the world.
But we no matter what, we should always keep support them (Shane, Nicky, Kian, Mark) anytime.
Thanks for the joy during 14 years that u done to us.
We really proud being Westlife fans.

Le Gra,
ArKy

Shane Photos on Gillian's Twitter

2011-09-08T01:19:00.001-07:00

Gillfilanoffic: Hhhmmmmmm… Just got a pic of Shane working hard. What will I do with it!!??? Lol http://yfrog.com/nuqluj

Gillfilanoffic: Looks like im driving home..!!!!!
http://yfrog.com/mm7dwej

Gillfilanoffic: Hello everybody Shane here.. This is first time to Tweet:-)!!Can’t believe my wife is on twitter !! She’s so excited , it’s so cute!

Tweet from Shane by Gillian’s Twitter

2011-09-08T00:42:00.000-07:00

Video: Nicky Byrne is looking forward to Sky Ride Dublin

2011-09-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

Nicky Byrne looks forward to Sky Ride Dublin from Sky Ride on Vimeo.

Gillian Filan is on Twitter (Aug 2011)

2011-09-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

Hi Westlifer,

How happy, finally Gillian Filan join twitter.
And sometimes Shane, her husband read and reply his fans twitter.
Lets to follow her twitter :

Video : Shane Documentary (awesome!)

2011-08-23T22:07:00.000-07:00

Video : Nicky Byrne at Heart Campaign

2011-08-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

Video : Snooker with Nicky Byrne - Children In Need 2001

2011-08-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Video : Nicky Byrne on Xpose 19th Aug 2011

2011-08-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

Video : Nicky Byrne Launching O2 SmartSounds

2011-08-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Update : Nicky Byrne Profile

2011-05-22T06:17:00.000-07:00
Football career

Byrne was a footballer who played for Home Farm F.C. and St. Kevins Boys F.C. in North Dublin. He became a professional football player, and joined Leeds United as a goalkeeper in 1995, and was a squad member of the FA Youth Cup winning team of 1997.

He played for Leeds for two years, leaving when his contract expired in June 1997. He played in a reserve game for Scarborough F.C. and in a trial game with Cambridge United before returning to join Dublin club Shelbourne. He then signed for Cobh Ramblers playing 11 games, then St. Francis F.C., all in Ireland's League of Ireland.

On 14 May 2009 Nicky was a substitute for a Liverpool F.C. Legends XI that played against an All Star XI in a Hillsborough Memorial match to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. All the proceeds from the match went to the Marina Dalglish appeal.

He represented the Republic of Ireland at U15, U16 and U18 levels.

Music career

In June 1998, Byrne attended an audition for new Irish boyband, where he was spotted by Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, who approached him to join his new venture, Westlife. Byrne joined Westlife along with Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden. The band's name had to be changed to Westlife after it was discovered a number of bands already had the name Westside.

Byrne revealed in Westlife: Our Story that he had wanted to change the name of the band to West High; but the others preferred Westlife. His first album with Westlife was released in November, 1999, titled Westlife. With Westlife, Byrne has had fourteen UK number ones and seven number one albums in the UK, and sold forty million records worldwide.

Byrne also had a number one single in Ireland in 2002, alongside the Republic of Ireland national football team and Dustin the Turkey with the Irish 2002 FIFA World Cup anthem, "Here Come The Good Times (Ireland)".

Byrne has also co-written a few songs, along with the other band members, including :

* "Nothing Is Impossible"
* "Don't Let Me Go"
* "When You Come Around"
* "Imaginary Diva"
* "Reason For Living"
* "Crying Girl"
* "You Don't Know"
* "Never Knew I Was Losing You"
* "Where We Belong"
* "Singing Forever"
* "I Won't Let You Down"
* "You See Friends (I See Lovers)"
* "I'm Missing Loving You"
* "When It Comes to Love"
* "Too Hard to Say Goodbye"

Byrne is also currently one of the board of directors of Clikthrough, a video interactive site.

Shane Filan in Recording Studio 2010

2011-05-22T05:51:00.000-07:00

Photo from Nicky's Twitter

2011-05-19T00:50:00.000-07:00

@nickybyrneoffic: Lifelong dream ..!! Thank you @Fashion_Kicks http://lockerz.com/s/101974506

@nickybyrneoffic: Me n G won the cup !! http://lockerz.com/s/101974714

@nickybyrneoffic: Well done to Shay Given and MCFC and @Fashion_Kicks.. Great night ! http://lockerz.com/s/101975722

Sorry I aint been tweeting.. Bit caught up at the min !!
04/30/2011

Shane & Nicky Photoshoot (Published in April 2011)

2011-05-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

Shane & Nicky at Fashion Kicks 2011

2011-05-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

Mark Feehily Replying ShNicky.ArKy Twitter

2011-05-17T01:03:00.000-07:00
How happy finally Mark give happy news for Westlifer in Indonesia.
After we waiting them during 5 years, finally Mark announce that we might not wait long time to wish Westlife Back to Indonesia :)

Mark respond my tweet on 14 May 2011.

And our tweet report in one of Westlife fans site :
( Click the picture to see in zoom mode )

the good wife - Georgina interview

2010-07-01T00:08:00.000-07:00
There is also a photoshoot in the printed edition so hopefully someone from Ireland will be able scan the pictures!

Apart from this one, Georgina Ahern doesn't give interviews and largely keeps her distance from the celebrity world inhabited by her husband, Westlife's Nicky Byrne. This is just one of the things, says Liadan Hynes, that may explain why Nicky and Georgina are regarded as one of the happiest couples in showbiz. Of course, having Bertie Ahern around to play with worms and spiders with the kids probably helps, too.

By Liadan Hynes

'I remember seeing him when we started school and going 'Oh! There is this really good-looking, hot, blond guy, but he'll never look at me.' You know, quiet little girl."

Georgina Ahern is recalling the first time she spotted her husband, Nicky Byrne, or Nicko as she refers to him, the blond heart-throb of the Westlife line-up. They were 12 and starting secondary school in Baldoyle.

As it happens, the feeling was mutual. "From the beginning," she says, "he remembers seeing me as well. Like, staring across the classrooms." Business class, Nicky adds later, when he turns up at our shoot.

"It's funny; when he first asked me, he asked through someone who lived in the area. I was walking home on my own, on the way to the bus or something, and this guy said, 'Oh, you know, Nicko Byrne wants to, you know, will you...'" She trails off, smiling softly at the memory of 15-year-old inarticulacy.

"I was like, 'Oh, no,''' she shakes her head in refusal, "thinking I was just being taken the piss out of, because I thought he was like, wow!" she gasps in awed tones, laughing.

Luckily, despite the initial rebuff, Nicky tried again a few months later.

"He asked again through a mutual friend, who I used to sit beside in school. I knew she wasn't joking. So I was, like, 'Yeah, OK, definitely,' and they organised that we meet in one of his friends' houses. It's all just very sweet and innocent really," Georgina says, but even now looks a little starry-eyed at the memory.

Sixteen years later, with two adorable three-year-old twin boys, a Hello-sponsored wedding at the age of 24, and a career that requires that Nicky travels constantly, the marriage is clearly stronger than ever, deserving of its reputation as one of the most unswervingly solid in showbiz.

Just two days after our shoot comes the shock announcement that the Keating marriage has foundered amid accusations of infidelity. On paper, the two couples are carbon copies. Both married and had children young and both women gave up a career to create a home and rear their family. Ronan actually sang at Georgina and Nicky's wedding. And the couples live in the same gated community, Abingdon, in Malahide.

I speak to Georgina again the day after the revelations; she's in Cardiff with Westlife. I ask her what is the key to the success and strength of her own marriage. She seems a bit embarrassed. As a self-confessed non-celebrity, and rare giver of interviews, Georgina hasn't acquired the habit of easy self-reflection, of blithely talking of oneself in the third person, that comes with fame. Nor has she worked up her life story into a neat little history, complete with amusing anecdotes, to be trotted out regularly in various profile-building endeavours.

But it's more than that.

Gushing professions of love and warbling descriptions of one's other half as a rock, saviour and reason to get out of bed in the morning, are not Georgina and Nicky's style. And they're utterly more convincing as a couple for it.

"Hmm...'' She bursts out laughing, a little self-consciously stumped at the request to analyse her own marriage

"I think that, like anything in life, you just have to work at it," Georgina answers. "But when something's important to you, and you're happy in it, it makes it very easy to work at. You just have to make time for each other. Special time. And I suppose just kind of appreciate each other."

Does she find it hard to deal with the female attention that Nicky attracts?

"It's funny, like, we never really questioned that, we were that close and kinda strong. Like obviously, normal girlie jealous, that can come into anybody's life. But not to the point that it overrules life.

"Because I've known him all my life," she continues, "and we're that close, it doesn't really bother me. And I've grown up with him. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure there's times when I'm thinking, 'OK, that might be a little bit more difficult.' You know, when we were younger and getting used to the whole thing."

Georgina hasn't done many interviews and she is understandably nervous. The day we meet, she's wearing skinny denims, hardly any make-up and has perfect skin. With her perfectly proportioned figure and lean, toned limbs, she could easily be a model. In pictures, it's the huge blue eyes you notice first; in person, it's her voice. It's soft, never raised, and has a sort of melodic quality. It's kind of like meeting Bambi.

She is friendly and polite to everyone, and endlessly accommodating with whatever hair, make-up and styling demands we make of her.

As the elder daughter of former Fianna Fail leader, minister and taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Georgina had an easy route to notoriety, if not fame, had she wanted it, before Nicky Byrne ever came on the scene. But to her, like her husband's ambitions for a football and then a musical career, her father's very public career was "kind of just normal; it was just what he did."

"I didn't really know any different, in a sense," she says of growing up with Bertie as a dad.

Despite their separation in the mid- Eighties, Georgina's parents made sure she and her sister Cecelia had an upbringing that was couched in love and support.

"My parents were always very encouraging. So, no matter how good or bad at something you are, they're always very positive," she says. "They always gave us that positive feeling that we can do something, no matter what. My mom was always a stay-at-home mom, and she was always there for us. And I really appreciate that, having her around all the time. And really, I mean, I know my dad worked very hard and he may not have been, like, always there by my side, but he was always there for me, 100 per cent."

Unlike many in her situation, Georgina - or G, as her husband and friends refer to her -- has never capitalised on her marriage to become a professional "wife of". Apart from events for her mother's charity, Cari, she rarely indulges in the various launches, style awards and fashion shows that make up the usual social circuit of the pop star's wife. She has never released a memoir, written a celebrity diary, designed clothes or fronted a make-up line, and you're unlikely to see her bringing out a fitness video or popping up in a reality-TV show.

She has a few friends within the industry - "A few, but not so many. I'd have, like, one or two." Shane Filan's wife Gillian, of course, and she and Nicky are good friends with Shay and Jane Given.

Is it important to her to have a world separate from the celebrity world of her husband's work life? "Yeah, I think so; I like that. Because I'm not in it myself either, you know. And we do have acquaintances, don't get me wrong, that we have met through that and it's fantastic. But yeah, it's nice just to have your own friends away from that," she smiles, and adds, "just doing normal stuff."

From the beginning, it was obvious that theirs wasn't your average teenage relationship.

"It's funny, even back then his mom always treated us nearly like we were a married couple," Georgina tells me, referring to their school days of their early romance. "She'd have lunch ready for me."

A year into the relationship, Nicky went to England to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

"We just decided, well, we don't wanna break up, so we'll just make it work. So my mom would bring me over," she smiles at the memory.

"And he made surprise visits home all the time. So I suppose it was always exciting and kinda special. There's just a special bond. And I suppose when we had to have a bit of time apart it made it even more special."

Can Georgina remember any of their early dates?

"D'you know what? Compared to most people his age he's always been very mature, very romantic. If he got, like, a day or two off

there would always be a surprise. I'd walk in from school and he'd be sitting on my bed with flowers and chocolates."

Nicky drops in on the photo shoot mid-morning; he's enjoying a few days off from Westlife's current British tour, and is clearly keen to hang out in his wife's company. He's obviously happy to see her at the centre of attention, and proudly takes pictures on his phone.

"I am naturally shy and reserved. Obviously, I've got better through the years," she laughs. "We're opposites in that way, which I like. He is quite charismatic and that's why I do like him and his dancing, and he's quite, like, sexy on stage. For me, the way he is so funny and outgoing and at ease with so many things, I love that relaxed nature."

After two years of playing football in England, Nicky's contract was not renewed and he decided to come home.

"He didn't sit around for long. Him and his dad set up the karaoke band," says Georgina. "He went back and did his Leaving, and I was in college, so it kind of worked."

Within a year or so of his return, Nicky had successfully auditioned for Westlife.

Did she know from the start that the band would change everything?

"Not really, because he was always going to be a footballer," she smiles fondly; fame was clearly always an accepted part of the Nicky package.

"I went in to do a business degree, nothing very interesting; it was just a business management course basically, out in Tallaght. I suppose we still managed, even though we were young, to do our respective things of the moment," she muses.

"It really took off very quickly," she continues, recalling Westlife's instant success. "I remember my first set of exams; he was filming on a beach in Tenerife for videos."

Being together was always the priority. "Every time I was finished something, I was like, 'Right, I just wanna go with him now, I'm free," she laughs. "So I kind of dedicated a lot of my time to doing that."

Was it difficult to maintain a relationship, with one person travelling the world and the other at home in college?

"It was hard because obviously those three years he was kind of everywhere. But I didn't work at the same time I was in college, I was lucky in a way that I had college, worked really hard at it, and then I could go see him as well.

"I knew that it was worth..." she trails off. The 16 years together and the rock-solid relationship speak for themselves.

After college, Georgina split her time between working in Dublin and travelling to wherever Nicky was.

"I worked at home for about two years. I actually got a job that was like three days," she laughs, a little sheepishly, "so that I could go to him. That was ideal, that I was able to finish college, have a little something, and then, you know, go. Because I was determined, you know, to have something. And then travel Thursday, Friday, to the bitter end; like, literally sometimes coming home on Tuesday morning at five o clock."

What did she work at?

"Because I did business management it was just getting experience in recruitment. Nothing major, but it was fun, and it was great to kind of just be doing something".

Was the constant upheaval difficult?

"If that's how I have to see him, you're just gonna go with it, aren't you? You're just going to make it work, you know? If I didn't want to see him, I wouldn't have made that much effort. And likewise with him."

They bought their first house when they were around 22. "But we were never really in it, either, cause we were always away travelling together. And then we got our house in Malahide. And that Christmas he proposed to me. So I was only 23."

Did he ask her father's permission beforehand?

"Christmas Eve, I always meet my dad. So he'd asked my mom first I think, on the phone or something. And then he came out to where my dad was, and asked him."

They got married the following August, and Georgina hit the road, travelling with the band full-time.

"I think I did pretty much travel with him a lot then," she muses.

"It was fun because I was young and it was exciting," she laughs. "It was always really busy and you were moving on. I really enjoyed it, I never got bored.

"Before the babies, I went back to do a fitness course. So I tried to kind of settle again. I just wanted to go back, and kind of have something for myself. I did that and that was only three days, and when I got a little job on that, that was three days. See, I made an effort, I did try," she laughs bashfully, possibly a little nervous of potential lady-of-leisure jibes.

"And then I basically had the boys, so that kind of came to a halt very quick." She breaks off, laughing.

Would she go back to working as a personal trainer?

"I never say never. I like being busy, even though, probably, from the outside, I look like I'm just kind of lazy, bobbing along, but I need to have a project of some sort, to keep me motivated."

Did they sit down and decide to become parents, or did it just happen?

"Yeah, we really wanted to, and I wanted to be young. I was about 27. It was a lovely age," she recalls.

"It ended up being an emergency Caesarean," she says of the twins' birth. Nicky stayed through the entire thing. "It was fine; the only hard part I suppose was just not taking them home. And also, I didn't see them straight away, I had to wait till later that night, and that was all a bit traumatic at the time. But you know, those three weeks of my life seemed like for ever at the time, and I was devastated, but, like, the rest is history, they're fine."

Did you have help, a nanny?

"No, no, because I had all the time, and I wasn't working, and Nicky's mom was around, and my sister, and my mom. And obviously Nicky, that goes without saying. He had a few months off before he went back. Then he went on tour and then he took a year off from when they were one to two, so that was great.

"So we went over to Portugal," she continues, "because we'd just bought a villa, and we kinda had the twin-baby madness there. It was lovely just not having to pack all the bits and bobs, and having a base."

During the photo shoot, Nicky leaves and then returns, having picked up twins Rocco and Jay from creche. They have their father's blond hair but their huge, saucer-like eyes and gentle manners are all their mother's. The boys are keen to check out her outfit, having given her some advice the night before -- green being a favourite colour.

Is she relishing being a full-time mum?

"Yeah, I definitely am enjoying it, and embracing it. And I'd hate to have to rush off from them. Like, I think it is nice to have the best of both worlds," she qualifies, as if anxious not to offend anyone. "To do things for yourself and that as well, but definitely for the first two years, it just goes so fast and they change so much. We went to the gym one time when we were in Portugal, and we came back and Jay had run around the pool, and he hadn't walked yet."

With the prospect of the boys starting school on the horizon, her ability to tour with Nicky will inevitably be circumscribed.

"To be honest, in the last years he hasn't really gone that far, so it's all manageable. In the last while we haven't gone a week without seeing each other. It's not like I'm on the road now; I'm too old. You kind of have to be at home with them."

One nice side effect of her being at home more is that she's seeing more of her dad, who also has more time on his hands these days.

"Yeah, I mean he's always made the effort when he had free time, but now he's, obviously, he's just way more flexible," she says. "It doesn't have to be set times or whatever, and he can kind of just pop out, or we can pop out to him.

"And I've been home a lot more. So we have seen a lot more of each other and he's very calm, he is more chilled out. And he has more time 'cause he doesn't have to rush from A to B. Even if he has two hours off he can enjoy it 'cause he doesn't have to be flying here, there, and everywhere. You can definitely see that in him, he's definitely relaxed and at ease and happy.

"It's lovely seeing him walk around," she says of seeing her father with her boys. "Especially to have, like, even if Nick's away, to have the male influence, because he'll take them round a park and appreciate the worms and spiders a lot more than I can. Lifting up rocks. And it's lovely to see him really enjoying that, and getting stuck in. And they adore him, they do."

If he told her he planned to run for president, what would she say?

"Now? D'you know, I never thought... I never considered it that he would," she says in a tone that suggests it is a possibility that she has recently had to consider.

"I suppose the taoiseach was like the..." she stops, gesturing to indicate the highest one could get.

"But you know, nothing would surprise me now. You know, he's amazing and whatever he puts his mind to he..." she breaks off, laughing almost in bafflement at her father's infinite can do-ism.

And you wouldn't mind seeing him going back into the fray?

"If that's what he wanted, and he was really happy. If that's what he strived to do, I'd be happy for him to. Equally, if he was happy to sit back a little bit more in life and put his feet up, I'd be delighted for him as well."

And with that she is gone, back to her three boys and her idyllic life.

Source : Liadan Hynes

Westlife's Shane lives the high life in Surrey

2010-06-30T23:32:00.000-07:00
Westlife crooner Shane Filan, 30, and his wife Gillian are enjoying life in their new Surrey bolthole - a Georgian house in Cobham which is set in half an acre.

'It's private and we have great neighbours. We plan to spend half the year here and half in Ireland,' says Shane, who also owns a mock Tudor mansion in Carraroe, Co. Sligo.

Shane is already familiar with the area as he takes his children Nicole Rose, five, Patrick Michael, one, and six-month-old Shane Peter to nearby Chessington World of Adventures, and he enjoys playing golf at Wentworth.
Shane and brother Finbarr are spearheading a luxury housing development in Sligo where they hope to build 63 apartments.

Credit/Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Shane and Nicky Kids on Stage In CrokePark Concert (June 5.2010)

2010-06-07T09:03:00.000-07:00
SHANE KIDS ( NICOLE, PATRICK, SHANE Jr )

NICKY KIDS ( ROCCO & JAY BYRNE )

'Where We Are' tour 2010 setlist

2010-05-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

- Where We Are
- What About Now
- When You're Looking Like That
- My Love
- Uptown Girl
- Swear It Again (Acapella)
- Mandy
- If I Let You Go (mixed with 'All Out Of Love')

Costume change

- Shadows
- Home
- I'm Already There
- Reach Out

Costume change / Medley:

- I Gotta Feeling
- Halo
- How To Break A Heart
- The Boys Are Back In Town (Kian playing guitar)
- Sex On Fire

End of medley

- What Makes A Man
- Unbreakable
- Flying Without Wings
- World Of Our Own

Saying goodbye and then coming back

- I'll See You Again
- You Raise Me Up

The end

ShNicky Pics (update)

2010-05-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Shnicky playing fooTbaLL

2010-05-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

Westlife Live In Belfast (May 2-3 2010)

2010-05-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Le Gra,
ArKy

Jay & Rocco 3rd Birthday :)

2010-04-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

Shnicky & wifes at fashion kicks

2010-04-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

DOWNLOAD HERE : Westlife Accapella MP3

2010-04-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.4shared.com/dir/35494347/bd6c611b/Westlife_Accoustic.html

Le Gra,
aRKy

NICKY SUPPORTING LINDT 'MAKE EASTER SWEET FOR TEMPLE STREET' CAMPAIGN IN DUBLIN 2009

2010-04-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Shane & Nicky Leaving ITV Studios(25 March 2010)

2010-04-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Le Gra,
_aRi & Okky_

the Byrne family in St. Patrick day parade

2010-03-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

sorces : westlife.gr

NICKY WITH HIS MAM - SUNDAY WORLD MAGAZINE MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL 2010

2010-03-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

DOWNLOAD HERE : Westlife TrueTones (Where We Are Album)

2010-03-16T07:07:00.000-07:00
Hi Westlifer, u can download Westlife TrueTones for mobile phone in this blog.
Wish u enjoy it :)

http://www.4shared.com/dir/34442761/1abc9ea9/Where_We_Are__TrueTones_.html

Le Gra,
ArKy

Westlife Signing Autographs at Alexa Shopping

2010-03-11T09:08:00.001-08:00

ShNicky in Meteor Awards 2010

2010-02-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

Nicky Byrne on RTE 2fm !!

2010-02-16T01:49:00.001-08:00

Shane & Nicky Awesome

2009-12-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

Shane & Nicky On Alan Titchmarsh Show [15.12.2009]

2009-12-18T02:24:00.000-08:00

picture from where we are album's thankyous

2009-12-08T03:54:00.000-08:00

Pictures From The Jingle Bell Ball 2009

2009-12-08T03:26:00.000-08:00

Shane & Gillian in the EMERALDS AND IVY BALL 2009

2009-11-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

Westlife in Fabulous Magazine and some new pics :)

2009-11-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

X parfume launch

2009-11-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

Westlife pictures Switching The xmas lights in Dublin

2009-11-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

Nicky cries as he sees dad's coffin :(

2009-11-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

sources : westlife.gr

Westlife New Album : Where We Are Tracklisting

2009-10-30T10:49:00.000-07:00
1. What About Now
2. How To Break A Heart
3. Leaving
4. Shadows
5. Talk Me Down
6. Where We Are
7. The Difference
8. As Love Is My Witness
9. Another World
10. No More Heroes
11. Sound Of A Broken Heart
12. Reach Out
13. I'll See You Again

Westlife New Single : What About Now Lyric

2009-10-30T10:44:00.000-07:00
Shadows fill an empty heart as love is fading
From all the things that we are but are not saying
Can we see beyond the scars and make it to the dawn?
Change the colors of the sky and open up to
The ways you made me feel alive, the ways I loved you
For all the things that never died
To make it through the night, love will find you
What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,

The sun is breaking in your eyes to start a new day
This broken heart can still survive with a touch of your grace
Shadows fade into the light I am by your side, where love will find you
What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late, what about now?

what about now?
Now that we're here, now that we've come this far Just hold on
There is nothing to fear, for I am right beside you
For all my life, I am yours

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
baby, before it's too late
Baby, before it's too late,
what about now?

_aRKy_

shnicky after performed on X factor

2009-10-27T09:53:00.001-07:00

westlife performed on X factor 2009

2009-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

sources : www.westlife.gr

WHAT ABOUT NOW' VIDEOSHOOT 2009

2009-10-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

westlife in the funeral of Stephen Gately RIP

2009-10-24T04:14:00.001-07:00

www.westlife.gr

westlife new single 'WHAT ABOUT NOW' on Youtube :)

2009-10-24T04:07:00.000-07:00

WESTLIFE - cover CD new single 'WHAT ABOUT NOW" !!

2009-10-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

_aRKy_

THE BYRNES AT THE LAUNCH OF BERTIE AHERN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 2009

2009-10-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTH DAY NICKY :)

2009-10-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

_aRKy_

Message from Shane

2009-09-18T10:01:00.000-07:00
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

Hello from Nicky

2009-09-18T10:00:00.001-07:00
Hello!

First up, I wanted to say a massive, massive thank you on behalf of myself and the rest of the lads for making this tour one of the most enjoyable for us ever. The crowds were amazing each and every night and we were completely blown away by your support. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!!

As you know, the tour has now finished and we're all taking some time out to recharge our batteries. We'll be spending the next year chilling out with friends and family and having some holiday time. Nobody has any massive plans, except Shane, who reckons he's spending the whole year on the golf course!! Not sure what Gillian will have to say about that... I'm sure he'll put the clubs down for a while when the baby's born!

Don't worry, we'll be coming back fully-refreshed and better than ever before you know it!

Love
Nicky

NICKY AT FRIENDS' WEDDING IN SPAIN 2009 (Special for Okky)

2009-09-18T08:30:00.000-07:00
Okky, this Pics specially for you friend...
I Wish ur mom get well soon..
Please dont sad, i will be there to feel ur pain friend.. :(

Le Gra,
aRi

shane & gill new pics (13 sept 2009)

2009-09-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

source : westlife.gr

_aRKy_

Shane and Nicky Slide

2009-09-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

_Shane Time As a Groomsman_

2009-08-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Westlife star Shane Filan made his way down the aisle again this weekend - but this time as a groomsman.

Shane - who married Gillian Walsh six years ago, was delighted when he was asked to be a groomsman for pal Paul Keavney. Paul married Sheena Henry from Sligo on Saturday, with Shane's other close pal, Keith Moran, as best man.

The wedding took place in Ransboro Church in Sligo and the three pals were also at the top table at the reception held in nearby Castle Dargan Hotel.

Credit/Source: The Irish Star / Published on 10.08.2009

Le Gra,
ArKy

Shane Filan New Project

2009-08-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Westlife star Shane Filan has been granted planning permission for a building project that will create 200 new jobs.

The singer, who co-owns Shafin Ltd with his brother, Finbarr, will develop a seven-acre site at Carraroe, just outside Sligo town.

The project will include a supermarket, 10 shops, eight apartments and office space.

Shane, 30, said: "The project is a huge vote of confidence in Sligo at a difficult time.

"It sends out the valuable message that Sligo is open for business."

An Bord Pleanala agreed the plans last week with work expected to start on the project in January.

Credit/Source: Irish News Of The World

Le Gra,
ArKy

pic from Georgina's Facebook

2009-08-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Westlife New Single 2009 - As Love Is My Witness

2009-08-14T20:54:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 6th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Nicky & G :)

2009-08-08T21:39:00.001-07:00

aRKy_

so cute even in silly pics :P

2009-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

aRKy_

Westlife star Kian mourns his father

2009-08-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

WESTLIFE star Kian Egan’s father Kevin died peacefully at his home at the weekend following a year-long battle with cancer. Kevin (Francis) Egan, a native of Maugheraboy, passed away surrounded by close family at his home at Scarden Court, Strandhill Road on Saturday night. He had been receiving specialist medical treatment for cancer but his health took a turn for the worst last week and close family were called to his side. Only two months ago the former ESB employee wrote a touching tribute to his son Kian which was read at his spectacular wedding to 26 year-old actress Jodi Albert in Barbados. He was too ill to travel to the ceremony but urged Kian, 29, to go ahead with the celebration and to “have the time of his life”.Kian's mother Patricia was by Kevin’s side along with Kian's brothers Tom, Gavin, and Colm and sisters Marielle, Vivienne and Fenella. The singer always maintained an extremely close bond with his dad over the years touring with Westlife. He regularly flew his parents over to concerts to spend time with them and he continued to live in Sligo as the band hit the big time.

sources : www.westlife.gr

HAPPY BDAY TO NICOLE FILAN

2009-07-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

:: HAPPY BIRTDHAY ::
4th (July 23, 2005)
TO NICOLE ROSE FILAN

Wish u to be a great galz
Wish u to be sweet baby
And loving to ur lovely brother Patrick Filan and ur loely parents Shane Filan and Gillian..

Le Gra,
_ArKy_

Nicky : 'I'm Byrning The Calories By Boxing'

2009-07-19T09:46:00.000-07:00
Westlife singer Nicky Byrne has got the eye of the tiger as he prepares to launch a pop comeback.

The Dublin star has taken up boxing to get in shape for Westlife's big return to the charts later this year.

Nicky, 30, told the Irish Daily Mirror: "I'm really into it. It's such a tough sport but I have been doing all the workouts and the sparing sessions and all.

"When we took a year off I really wanted something to keep me in shape.

"Boxing is perfect because it works you out on a physical and mental level. I love it."

Nicky's bandmates Kian, Shane and Mark have also been hitting the gym to get in their best shape for their upcoming 50-date tour next year.

Shane said: "It's a tough schedule to be on the road and working late hours all the time so we want to be 100% ready for it."

Credit/Source: The Irish Daily Mirror

Le Gra,
ArKy

_SHANE FILAN TO FRONT SOCCER TEAM FOR CHARITY_

2009-07-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Shane Filan is set to realise a childhood dream by leading his own soccer team against home town club Sligo Rovers. The Westlife singer, a Rovers fan all his life, is stepping up several divisions for the game next month. Shane is striker for his father-in-law's work team from the Sligo Plumbing and Heating company. He has been playing on the astroturf in Division Two of his local Nightowls League. The 30-year-old plans to recruit one or two surprise guests for the game at Sligo Showgrounds against League of Ireland Premier Division side Rovers on Ausgust 5. He set up the event for pals Lesley Ann Culkin, 26, and 27-year-old Hilary Jones who are climbing Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, to raise funds for the Irish Red Cross. HR consultant Lesley Ann, whose boyfriend Michael Walsh is Shane's brother-in-law, said they were discussing a football match as a likely fundraiser when the singer volunteered. She said: "He has so many other things to do that we are absolutely thrilled. I know it will be a great night at the Showgrounds." Shane has been banging home winners during the past 10 months for his team in the amateur astro-turf league at a sports complex in Sligo. He said: "We've won a good few games. It's good craic. I started off on the left-wing, but I wasn't great there. "Then I moved up front and I started scoring goals. I'm getting there slowly but surely." Westlife's link to soccer goes back 12 years to their first TV appearance when they performed at half-time during a Sligo Rovers home match and it was shown on RTE's Nationwide. Shane said: "It was a 30-second clip. We were delighted at the time. It was great exposure and we felt very excited when we saw ourselves. "We were on telly and we thought we were very famous. We were 17 or 18 years of age at the time with dreams of becoming Backstreet Boys or Take That. "Little did we know that a year later it would all kick off for us and it's been mental ever since."

Credit/Source: The Irish Daily Mirror

Le Gra,
ArKy

Nix and G new pic

2009-07-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

Nicky Byrne and his wife Georgina at 'The Wright Venue', Airside Business Park, Swords, Dublin, Ireland - 10.07.2009

_aRi & oQ_

Shnicky Videos

2009-07-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

_aRi & oq_

Shane Filan expecting third baby

2009-07-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

Westlife frontman Shane Filan has revealed that he is preparing for a third edition to his family.

Shane's wife Gillian told her husband the news just before his 30th birthday party at their Sligo mansion. And the singer announced that his childhood sweetheart was pregnant after he blew out the candles on his birthday cake in front of 150 guests.

In a speech, the singer said that he was bowled over by the news.

"My wife Gillian has been asking me a lot about what I'd like for my birthday. I thought she was going to get me a watch or something," Shane said.

"But she has definitely surprised me - by telling me she is pregnant with our third child."

The crowd burst into cheers and then hit the dance floor in celebration. Shane's Westlife bandmates then hit the stage for an impromptu gig, performing their hits World of Our Own and Flying Without Wings.

The Filans already have one daughter, Nicole (3), and a 10-month-old son Patrick. "I'm absolutely delighted," said Shane.

Shane message :

Hi everyone

I know a lot of you have already heard the rumours, but I wanted to confirm to you myself that Gillian and I are expecting another baby.

We’ve been keeping it a complete secret from everyone for a while, and made the announcement at my 30th birthday party on Saturday. The baby’s due early next year and we’re completely over the moon about it. The thought of becoming a dad for the third time is just amazing!

Thanks, as always, for all your support

Shane x

source : www.westlife.gr

_aRi & oq_

Nicky with lovely JCo

2009-06-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Patrick Filan

2009-05-31T07:52:00.000-07:00

Shane and Nicky Cars

2009-05-29T22:13:00.000-07:00
__ SHANE CARS __

__ NICKY CARS __

Gillian & Shane

2009-05-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

Nicky, launching Chlidline big BBQ in Dublin 2009

2009-05-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Shnicky on KiJo Wedding (08-05-09)

2009-05-14T00:27:00.000-07:00

the Byrnes in Dublin (06-05-2009)

2009-05-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

Pics of Georgina Bday Party (04/05/2009)

2009-05-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

ByRne & FiLaN

2009-04-10T02:11:00.000-07:00

Video Nicky & Shane in Meteor Awards

2009-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:00
Nicky & Shane - Interviews Arrivals Meteors (17.03.09)

huaaaa... they aRe so HOTz!
eh btw, di video ini Shane blg klo westlife bakal rekaman sekitar bulan July! assiikkk :D

unexposed Nicky's pics

2009-04-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

Football superstars to play charity football match for Liverpool Unites

2009-03-31T06:58:00.000-07:00

Mar 13 2009 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

SOME of the world's greatest footballers are set to grace Goodison Park, Prenton Park and Anfield in a massive fund-raising initiative by former Liverpool star Jason McAteer.

The Reds hero, 37, who helped raise $550,000 for victims of the 2004 tsunami, has arranged three star-studded football matches to be played at each of Merseyside's three major football grounds, with local children benefiting.

The organisers hope to attract names like Zinedine Zidane, Oliver Kahn, Lothar Matthaus and Marcel Desailly to the first clash, to be staged at Goodison Park on Saturday May 23.

The three-match event has been labelled CAUSE – Children's Aid Using Soccer Events – and the three designated charities to benefit will be Liverpool Unites, Save The Children and The Prince's Trust.

Money will also be made available to each of the staging clubs for their own charitable purposes.

Co-organiser Dave Lockwood said: “We raised in excess of $550,000 last time.

“It is dangerous to set numbers, but I think we would hope to raise $1m over three games this time.”

McAteer has joined forces with former team-mate Steve McManaman to attract some of the most prestigious names in football to the trio of matches.

McAteer said: “We only got the go-ahead for the game on Tuesday but we have been going through Macca's little black book ever since.

“We have spoken to showbiz stars like Gordon Ramsay, Tim Lovejoy and Chris Evans, while Westlife stars Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan have already confirmed their participation in the first match.

“The concept of the game is to get the three clubs uniting together in a common cause.

“Four legends from each of the three clubs will form a Merseyside team, against a European All Stars team.

“The event will be an entertainment showpiece as well as a football match.”

McAteer recently made a personal trip to Banda Ache to see how the Tsunami Aid money was being spent – but it was a tragedy closer to home which inspired him to launch CAUSE.

He said: “When Rhys Jones was shot and killed it touched everyone. His parents have maintained the utmost dignity at an incredibly difficult time and they hope to spread positive messages across the country, educating young people of the dangers of knife and gun crime.

“They are looking to build a youth centre for local children so we offered to help with that as well.

“Benefiting Liverpool Unites sort of made sense.”

The second match will be played at Tranmere Rovers later this year with Liverpool staging a third game in 2010.

Le Gra Go Deo,
ArKy

Shane and Nicky Pics at meteor Award

2009-03-24T08:14:00.001-07:00

2009-03-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

SHNICKY face

2009-03-05T06:30:00.001-08:00
hehe..fotonya lucu..wajah Shane & Nicky dijadiin satu..Shane di kanan, Nicky di kiri..

Nicky's new pics 3 March 2009

2009-03-05T00:13:00.000-08:00

_kyky

HAPPY B-DAY aRi FiLaN :)

2009-03-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

HAPPY B-DAY to my very best friend aRi FiLaN..
may aLL your dreams c0me tRue and happy ever after with your husband Shane filan and your lovely children Nicole & patRick.. :)

... ShNicky Forever Love...

2009-02-24T01:57:00.000-08:00

Nicky and Me

2009-02-16T06:43:00.000-08:00

Nicky Byrne sangat mempengaruhi hidupku.. sejak aku tau Nicky, banyak bgt hal2 baru yang aku dapet, banyak pengalaman dan cerita2 indah dan mengesankan yg bakal slalu aku ingat.. gara2 Nicky, aku dulu ga mau punya pacar..dulu aku mikirnya, aku bakal nunggu Nicky, sapa tau dia putus sama Georgina..eh tapi bukannya putus, malah married deh mereka,,haha

ya ya..bisa dibayangkan deh betapa hancurnya hatiku waktu itu (aduh maap, bahasaku sinetron bgt?!!..)

Sejak saat itu, aku mulai berfikir sedikit realistis, dan mau ga mau harus nerima kenyataan klo Nicky udah jadi suami org..walaupun ga rela (sampe kapanpun aku ga bakal rela!..) tapi ya sudahlah, selama Nicky seneng, aku juga ikut seneng.. lama2 aku mulai membuka hatiku,haha..mulai bisa tertarik sama cowok lain selain Nicky,,hehe..

Tapi sama aja sii, walaupun akhirnya aku punya pacar (kali ini pacar beneran..haha) tapi cintaku sama Nicky tetep donk, ga bisa ilang.. malahan, foto Nicky yg selalu ada dimanapun, di dompet, di kamar, di binder, di buku, di meja, di tembok, dimanapun..bukan foto cowokku..haha

Aku ga tau knp aku bisa segila ini sama Nicky...tiap liat foto Nicky bawaannya pengen nangis aja..makannya aku ga bisa lihat foto Nicky lama2, ga tahan..bisa2 aku nangis..huhu
Dulu..tiap malem sebelum aku tidur aku slalu liatin foto Nicky di PCku.. sampe nangis2 gitu malem2..mengagumi kesempurnaan ciptaan Allah..hehe.. rasanya teduh bgt deh klo liat matanya yg biru...arrrggghhh!!!

Tapi belakangan ini aku udah rada2 jarang ngelakuin rutinitasku yg itu..sekarang aku lebih sering dengerin suara Nicky tiap mau tidur.. thanks a lot to my best friend aRi fiLan yg sangat baik hati yg udah bikinin aku satu lagu special yg isinya kumpulan part2 lagu yg dinyanyiin Nicky..thanks ya jeng.. aku suka bgt dengerin lagu itu... mungkin karna kebiasaan baru itu juga yg bikin aku sering mimpiin Nicky akhir2 ini..seneng bgt rasanya bisa ketemu Nicky walaupun cuma dalam mimpi..

Btw..maaf bgt yah klo tulisanku ini ga penting..abis lagi ga jelas sih mau ngapain, lg ga ada kerjaan..dan yg pasti lagi kangen bgttttt sama Nicky.. makanya aku curhat deh disini..

Nickyyy..... aku kangen bgt sama kamu..hikssss..
Gina,, nitip my Nicky ya, jagain dia baik2..hikss..
i love Nicky sooo mucH!!

oq byRne

ShNicky & wifes

2009-02-15T23:44:00.000-08:00

upload by : aRKy

Shnicky's pics

2009-01-22T01:51:00.000-08:00

oq byRne

Shane gets Sligo geared up for World Rally

2009-01-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

The visit of journalists from Belgium, Norway, France, Germany and Britain underlines the massive international interest in the spectacular event which is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors to the North West and generate nearly 50 million for the local economy. Westlife's Shane, who also spearheaded the official launch of Rally Ireland last year, delayed a family break to welcome the media delegation to Sligo on Saturday. "Shane has played a key role in promoting the event and we're very grateful for all the effort he has made to give the rally added profile. He event postponed his departure for a family break last week-end so that he could welcome the international media delegation", explained Clr. Deirdre Healy McGowan, Chairperson of Sligo Rally Ireland Festival Committee. During a three-day visit to the region, international journalists toured the North West and were given a helicopter trip over the various stage routes. They also joined rally driver, Shaun Gallagher, in his World Rally Championship Subaru around a specially set up stage in Leitrim. Martin Bromley, General Manager of Failte Ireland North West, said the visit of the journalists showed the true international nature of the World Rally Championship and Rally Ireland. She pointed out that from a tourism point of view, Rally Ireland provided the North West with a great opportunity to showcase the very best of the region and secure significant international exposure. Commenting on the media tour, John Naylor, Event Organiser, Rally Ireland, said he was delighted that so many international journalists had seen at first hand the attractiveness of the North West and the various stage routes which would make Rally Ireland such a competitive and spectacular event. Chairman of Failte Ireland North West, Pachal Mooney, said the North West's infrastructure was perfect for hosting an event of this kind and said the Rally would provide a timely boost for tourism providers in the region. Rally Ireland, the first stage of the 2009 World Rally Championship, takes place throughout the North West from January 29th to February 1st. The spectacular Service Park will be located at Sligo IT with the Rally Headquarters at the Clarion Hotel. The last Rally Ireland event in November 2007 attracted 250,000 spectators, generated 48 million in economic benefit to the region and was viewed in over 180 countries by over 62 million people. Meanwhile, the launch of the ceremonial start of Rally Ireland was held in Enniskillen last Thursday. The County Fermanagh town will have the honour of starting the rally on the evening of January 29th. Over 10,000 spectators are expected in Enniskillen for the event.

Le Gra,
aRi FiLaN

my first post :)

2009-01-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

hi ya :)
thanks a million for my best buddy aRi fiLan for making this lovely blog for us..
well, this is my first post in this blog, and i hope i can post something cool daily here..
why we made this blog? well the only one reason is cause we both love WESTLIFE so much! espesially Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne , cause as we know that aRi is Shane's wife, and i'm Nicky's wife..lol.. so we dedicate this blog for our lovely SHNICKY.
aRi and me really want to share anything in this blog, and we want you all to do the same, you can give us comments or anything about SHNICKY..

enjoy this blog guys..
i love SHNICKY

Le gRa gO deO,,
oq byRne

2009-01-18T00:25:00.000-08:00
Okkyy... senang deh akhirnya kita jadi punya blog juga... :D
Ga sabar pengen curhat2 d blog ini, hehehe...
Ok let us to keep posting and share what we feel to ShNicky...
Enjoy...

Le Gra,
aRi

2009-01-17T22:56:00.000-08:00

SHANE FILAN PLAYING FOOTBALL (January 01.2009)

Athlone IT’s lack of scoring power proved costly as they exited the O’Byrne Shield with this defeat to UCD in miserably wet conditions at the AIT grounds last Sunday.

Edward Burns’ side enjoyed plenty of possession in this wind and rain swept encounter, but they could just could find the finishing touch to complement their often fine approach work. AIT only managed to score two points from open play, and one of those was scored by half-back Shane Filan.

In mitigation, the home side were without some key players who could have made a difference in attack. Cavan’s Ray Galligan was ruled out after picking up an injury in the previous Sunday’s game against Longford, while Ballinagore’s James Durkan remained absent due to injury. In addition, Maryland’s James Reynolds, who lined out at wing-back against Longford, was unable to play due to illness. AIT’s hopes of victory were dealt a further blow 14 minutes into the second half, when their leading forward Brian Smyth (Westmeath) was forced off through injury.

On the other hand, UCD could call on the scoring skills of Barry O’Rorke (who scored three points from play), Mark Ronaldson and Wexford star Ciaran Lyng. The Dublin side led by 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time and it continued to be a close affair in the second half, before Ronaldson eventually wrapped up victory for his side with two late points.

Despite this defeat, there were some positives for AIT. The defence did quite well and the work-rate throughout the team could not be faulted. Tang’s Ciaran Duncan had some good moments at corner-back, while the half-back line - which was impressively anchored by Athlone GAA clubman Gary Quinn, with David Reilly and Shane Filan on the wings - proved a good unit. Midfielders David Reynolds and Ger Dennigan had periods of prominence though neither managed to fully impose themselves on proceedings. AIT moved listed full-forward John Stapleton to midfield for long spells and although this helped them to garner more possession, it left them short of a targetman in attack.

The AIT forward line lacked penetration and composure in front of goal, although there was no lack of effort from the likes of Sean Lowry, Brian Smyth (until injury ended his involvement) , Trevor Phelan (Doon) and Niall Judge.

If the Athlone side can get some key players back and work on their finishing, they have every chance of a victory in their forthcoming Sigerson Cup clash against IT Tralee.

The UCD line-up included Castledaly’s Tommy Warburton at wing-back, and the Westmeath U21 panellist had a fine game - particularly in the first half, during which he got forward to score a splendid point.

The handful of hardy spectators in attendance were totally exposed to the elements and rain fell almost throughout the contest. A tricky crossfield wind made scoring difficult at both ends and it was hard to know if it favoured either team at any stage.

AIT centre-forward Brian Smyth and UCD’s Mark Ronaldson swapped points from frees inside the opening six minutes, before former Dublin minor star Barry O’Rorke put the visitors in front with a good point following a patient build-up (10th minute). UCD’s Colm Murphy was the dominant figure at midfield in the early stages, as he showed his fielding ability.

The home side drew level courtesy of another free from Smyth. The umpires disagreed over whether it was a point but referee John Bannon awarded the score. In the 21st minute, AIT corner-forward Niall Judge hit a terrific point from a free (off the outside of his right foot) close to the right touchline.

AIT keeper Donal Moore (Roscommon) denied UCD a goal in the 25th minute, with a point-blank save from Mark Ronaldson. Three minutes later, Tommy Warburton levelled matters after O’Rorke and Murphy were involved in the move. The diminutive but lively Niall Judge then did well to earn a free-in which he pointed himself to put AIT back in front.

However, the Dublin side then reeled off three points on the trot to claim a two-point lead. First, Jamie Owens hit the target, and then Mark Ronaldson set up Colm Murphy for an excellent point. Moments later, Barry O’Rorke seized on a loose ball and surged forward unchallenged before pointing off his left foot.

In the 35th minute, Brian Smyth gave AIT a lift, scoring a fine point from distance to leave UCD leading by a single point at half-time (0-6 to 0-5).

Shortly after the restart, Ciaran Lyng pointed a free to increase UCD’s lead and the No 13 on the other side, Alan Douglas, then squandered two good scoring chances. First, he palmed the ball into the grateful arms of UCD ‘keeper Ronan Colgan - had Douglas opted to catch the ball, he certainly would have had a better chance of scoring. Moments later, Douglas fired wide from close range and AIT’s difficulties in front of goal continued throughout the second half. At the other end, O’Rorke popped over a point after being set up by full-back Cian O’Sullivan.

In terms of the experimental yellow card rule, John Bannon was quite lenient, sensibly allowing for the conditions and opting to issue black cards rather than yellow on several occasions. The first player to be shown a yellow card was UCD defender Paul Kelly, about ten minutes into the second half.

AIT’s first score of the second period came from (Niall Judge), who was now struggling to make an impact from open play. Ciaran Lyng, an All-Star nominee in 2008, replied with a point for UCD. Shane Filan lifted the home side with a fine point, after a well-worked move. Crucially, however, the Dublin students were able to respond any time their lead looked threatened and Tiernan Diamond restored their three-point cushion.

Judge reduced the gap to two points with another pointed free, but Mark Ronaldson sealed victory for UCD with two late points.

SCORERS – UCD: B O’Rorke 0-3; M Ronaldson 0-3 (1f); C Lyng 0-2 (1f); T Warburton, C Murphy, J Owens, T Diamond 0-1 each.

Athlone IT: N Judge 0-4 (4f), B Smyth 0-3 (2f), S Filan 0-1.

UCD: Ronan Colgan; Peter Kelly, Cian O’Sullivan, Danny Curran; Paul Kelly, Cormac Brady, Tommy Warburton; Mark Loftus, Colm Murphy; John Fitzpatrick, Tiernan Diamond, Barry O’Rorke; Ciaran Lyng, Jamie Owens, Mark Ronaldson. Subs: Mick Gurn for Paul Kelly (yellow card, 46 mins); Declan Trainor for Owens (46); Finian Canavan for Brady (yellow card, 60).

ATHLONE IT: Donal Moore; Ciaran Duncan, Fintan Reilly, Sean Rattigan; David Reilly, Gary Quinn, Shane Filan; David Reynolds, Gerard Dennigan; Sean Lowry, Brian Smyth, Trevor Phelan; Alan Douglas, John Stapleton, Niall Judge. Subs: Liam Fox for Smyth (inj., 49 mins); Dean Leahy for Rattigan (yellow card, 70).

REFEREE: John Bannon (Longford).

Le Gra,
aRi

2009-01-17T22:40:00.000-08:00

WELCOME...

( Preface )

Huff...Thanks God, finally we have time to made this blog special only about ShNicky (Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne) and about ArKy (Ari Filan and Okky Byrne). Actually this blog just for fun and maybe just for sharing when ArKy missing ShNicky so much. But don't worry, of course ArKy will update info about ShNicky in this blog. Because of ArKy loveeeeeeee ShNicky so much, please don't be boring if ArKy only talking about SHANE STEVEN FILAN and NICHOLAS ADAM BYRNE, Westlife's member whos stole Arky heart, hehhehehe....

For all the reader, you could leave comment to this blog.. ArKy wish Westlife, especially ShNicky will see this blog too, AMIN! :D We wish ArKy friendships will be forever as ShNicky did. (AMIN...) At least Arky so thanks you to u who spend the time to read this blog. Ok, let enjoy this blog ;)

Le Gra Go Deo,
ArKy