Shane Filan: An Irish Pop Sensation

Shane Filan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and former member of the popular boyband Westlife. Born on July 5th, 1979 in Sligo, Ireland, Filan rose to fame in 1998 as part of Westlife, one of the world's most successful boybands. In total, the band has sold over 45 million records worldwide and achieved 14 number one singles. After 14 years as part of Westlife, Shane left the group to pursue a solo career.

Early Life & Career

From a young age, Shane had a passion for music. He began writing songs at age eleven and sang with his local church choir at thirteen. At the age of sixteen, he formed a band with his friends called I.O.U. The band competed in several talent competitions and even performed at the National Stadium in Dublin. In 1998, Shane was discovered by Louis Walsh and recruited to join Westlife.

Westlife

Westlife released their debut single Swear It Again in April 1999 and it immediately shot to number one in Ireland and the UK. They went on to release a string of hit singles such as Flying Without Wings, Uptown Girl, and World Of Our Own. During their career together, Westlife achieved seven UK number one albums and fourteen chart-topping singles. In 2012, Shane left Westlife to pursue a solo career.

Solo Career

In 2012 Shane released his debut solo album You And Me which featured the singles Everything To Me and About You. The album debuted at number six on the UK album chart and went on to be certified Gold. Following this success, Shane released his second album Right Here in 2015 which featured the single Once. The album peaked at number twelve on the UK album chart and was certified Silver by the BPI.

Personal Life

Shane is married to Gillian Walsh and they have three children together: Patrick, Nicole and Shane Jr. He is a keen sports fan and is an avid supporter of Liverpool FC. In 2014 he was appointed as an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland.