Latest news with #ShaneFilan
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Emotional scenes as Westlife stars turn up to support Louis Walsh as he pays final farewell to mum after health battle
WESTLIFE stars turned up to support Louis Walsh as the band manager paid a final farewell to his beloved mum. The X Factor star's mum Maureen, nee Healy, who lived in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, passed away on Monday, June 2, aged 94 following a lengthy illness. 6 6 6 The mother-of-nine had been battling Alzheimer's for the past decade, with Louis telling Woman Magazine in 2015: 'She doesn't know me. But she's fine, healthy and happy and doesn't know any better.' She was remembered locally as the 'warmhearted matriarch' of a large and close-knit family. Apart from Louis, Maureen, who was predeceased by her husband, Frank, is also survived by daughters Evelyn (O'Connor), and Sara (Keogh), sons, Paul, Frank, Eamon, Padraic, Joseph and Noel and their extended family members. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The funeral mass took place in the nearby Church of the Holy Family at 12 noon today and was followed by the burial in Kilkinure Cemetery. Louis, who wore a black suit with a white shirt and black tie, looked distraught as he walked behind the coffin to the church. Dozens of family, friends and locals gathered outside on the streets to follow the hearse and pay their final respects. Luminaries from the music world including Westlife stars Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne joined brokenhearted family, neighbours and friends. Kian was pictured with his arm around Louis after the funeral mass. While Shane and his wife Gillian both looked emotional as they walked hand-in-hand together to the ceremony. Former Eurovision singer Dana also was also seen showing her support for her beloved pal. Michael English, the 94 year old's favourite country music singer, sang a selection of hymns at her funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Family, close to the neat home where she reared eight children. In a touching eulogy, one of Maureen's daughters, Sara Keogh described her as 'extraordinary'. She stated: 'We celebrate all the 94 years of the extraordinary woman Maureen was and the incredible mark she left on all of us. 'We had a great upbringing. We wanted for nothing. She pushed us to make the best of ourselves - she didn't do a bad job, I think." Sara spoke of the lifelong hospitality shown by her mother to all comers, at all hours, her ability as a cook and homemaker. She recalled her mother going to work for Western Care Association, which provides services to people with intellectual disabilities and neurodiverse needs, in the 1970s. 'KINDNESS AND LOVE' She added: 'This gave her a new lease of life. She loved every minute of it. This was where she made some of her best friends in life'. Her son Frank, told mourners, Maureen was at the heart of her family's lives. He said: 'We all loved her, respected her. She was a woman of great strength, loyalty and grace. 'Her life was not one of enormous gestures but countless small actions of goodness, kindness and love. 'She was hardworking, had great faith and found joy in the simple things. Mourners were told that GAA matches, playing cards; 25 and Bridge, as well as country music, set dancing, and fancy dress were amongst the loves of Maureen's life. Fr Michael Quinn, chief celebrant of the funeral Mass, spoke of the immense loss to Maureen's family; her eight children, 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He went on to describe her as a person of great faith with particular devotion to Padre Pio. Symbols carried to the altar included Maureen's Rosary beads, a picture of Padre Pio, a Mayo flag, a transistor radio noting the endless satisfaction she got from listening to local Midwest Radio, a rolling pin (love of baking), a family photo, a pack of cards and a copy of her favourite reading material, Ireland's Own magazine. 6 6 6
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Heartbroken Westlife star opens up about parents' battle with cancer
Westlife singer Shane Filan has said he misses his parents "every day" as he urges fans to take part in Relay For Life. Relay For Life, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, is a 24-hour event which brings local communities together to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who have been lost to cancer. Participants team up and take it in turns to walk through the day and night, with someone always on the move during the 24-hour period. Shane, who is ambassador for Relay For Life, lost both of his parents Mae and Peter to cancer. Speaking about the event he said: "I'm so proud and honoured to be an ambassador for the Irish Cancer Society's Relay For Life. "I know first-hand the devastating impact cancer can have on a family, as I lost my mum and dad to the disease just nine months apart. "I miss them every day, but I know they would be incredibly proud of my work today with Relay For Life. "It's so vital for people whose lives have been touched by cancer to have an outlet to come together and get support. "Relay For Life is a magical, moving event that celebrates our cancer survivors in our communities, it helps give solace to those who have lost loved ones. Most importantly, it gives hope. Hope for better services, hope for better treatment, and hope for a future free from cancer. "It's hard to believe, but one in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. While every three minutes, someone in Ireland is hearing the words, 'You've got cancer'. The funds raised through Relay For Life helps ensure no one has to face a cancer diagnosis alone. "I'm urging everyone to get involved in their local Relay For Life, or to bring a Relay For Life to their own area if they don't already have one, so everyone can experience how moving, uplifting and powerful this special event is. "I'm thrilled to see that Relay For Life is being brought to Westmeath and my hometown of Sligo for the first time this year. "My ambition is that one day, Relay For Life will be in every county in Ireland, supporting cancer patients and their families across the country and remembering loved ones lost at this special event. Hope to see you at a Relay For Life soon." Following successful University Relay events in DCU, UCD and Trinity College, the first of 11 Relay For Life community events across the country, Relay For Life Mayo will take place in the South Mall, Westport, Co Mayo on 17 May starting at 5pm. Relay For Life events will also be held in Donegal (24 May), South County Dublin (31 May), Kildare (7 June), Clare (21 June), Kilkenny (5 July), Wexford (5 July), Laois (16 August), Midleton (23 August), Sligo (13 September) and Westmeath (20 September). A key feature of every Relay For Life is the survivors' lap, where cancer survivors who have lived or are living with cancer are invited to open the event with a special celebratory lap of their local Relay track. A moving Candle of Hope ceremony is one of the main highlights of Relay For Life. Thousands of candle bags that have been personalised with messages of hope and remembrance are lit in celebration of cancer survivorship and to honour loved ones lost to cancer. The uplifting Relay For Life event also features entertainment and fun for all the family. The funds raised at Relay For Life are essential to enable the Irish Cancer Society to provide free, vital support services to people affected by cancer across Ireland and to fund ground-breaking cancer research. To register a team for a Relay For Life event near you, or to find out about bringing one to your community, visit
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘I know the devastating impact cancer can have on a family' – Westlife star Shane Filan urges people to take part in Relay for Life
Today at 07:04 Westlife singer Shane Filan, who lost both his parents to cancer just nine months apart, has urged people to take part in the Relay for Life to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Participants take it in turns to walk through the day and night during the 24-hour event in aid of the charity. It is opened with the survivors' lap, where cancer survivors who have lived or are living with cancer take part in a special celebratory lap of their local track. A Candle of Hope ceremony also takes place, with thousands of candle bags that have been personalised with messages of hope and remembrance lit in celebration of cancer survivorship and to honour loved ones lost to cancer. Westlife's Shane Filan, who is an ambassador for the event, said: 'I know first-hand the devastating impact cancer can have on a family, as I lost my mum and dad to the disease just nine months apart. I miss them every day, but I know they would be incredibly proud of my work today with Relay For Life.' His mum Mae died of lung cancer in December 2019 and his father Peter died of pancreatic cancer in October 2020. He said it is 'so vital for people whose lives have been touched by cancer to have an outlet to come together and get support'. 'Relay For Life is a magical, moving event that celebrates our cancer survivors in our communities, it helps give solace to those who have lost loved ones. Most importantly, it gives hope. Hope for better services, hope for better treatment, and hope for a future free from cancer.' He added: 'It's hard to believe, but one in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. While every three minutes, someone in Ireland is hearing the words, 'You've got cancer'. The funds raised through Relay For Life helps ensure no one has to face a cancer diagnosis alone.' The funds raised at the event support the Irish Cancer Society to provide free support services to people affected by cancer across Ireland and to fund cancer research. The singer has urged people to get involved in their local Relay For Life, or to bring a Relay For Life to their own area if they don't already have one. ADVERTISEMENT 'I'm thrilled to see that Relay For Life is being brought to Westmeath and my hometown of Sligo for the first time this year,' he said. "My ambition is that one day, Relay For Life will be in every county in Ireland, supporting cancer patients and their families across the country and remembering loved ones lost at this special event.' Relay for Life Mayo will take place in the South Mall in Westport on May 17, while further events will be held in Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Clare, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork and more.
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Westlife's Shane Filan and wife Gillian supporting inaugural Relay for Life Sligo launch on Friday
Sligo Champion Westlife's Shane Filan and his wife, Gillian, are lending their support to the inaugural Relay for Life Sligo which is being held in ATU Sligo in September.
