Westlife to mark 25 years with new album and shows
Westlife have announced plans to mark their 25th anniversary with a new album and a series of special shows to celebrate the milestone.
The news comes more than two decades after their first world tour began on 9 February 2001 at Newcastle Arena in the UK.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the band said they are "thrilled to announce the launch of our 25th anniversary celebrations" and promised "new music, an album, special shows and many, many more surprises along the way."
They confirmed that Mark Feehily will not be taking part in the anniversary events due to ongoing health issues.
Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan will continue the celebrations as a trio. "We hope he can join us back on stage when he is ready and able. He sends his love and positivity to you all as always," they added.
Westlife have enjoyed remarkable success in Ireland over the past 25 years. They hold the record for the most number-one albums by an Irish act, with eleven albums topping the Irish Albums Chart.
On the singles front, the group have had sixteen number-one hits in Ireland, including Flying Without Wings, My Love, Uptown Girl and Mandy. Their debut single Swear It Again also topped the Irish chart, while Fool Again peaked at number two in 2000.
Feehily, who became a father in 2019, has dealt with ongoing health challenges in recent years. He underwent surgery for a hernia and previously revealed he had been treated for sepsis during the pandemic, which led to several absences from live performances.
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