Nicky was born Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne on October 9th, 1978 to proud parents Yvonne and Nicky. His Irish name is Nucal O'Byrne. He was born in Dublin as the middle child, having an older sister, Gillian and a younger brother, Adam. From the age of 7 he played for local, successful Dublin side Home Farm Football Club. he played as a goalkeeper, and when he was in his early teens he won the Young European Keeper of the Year. He met Georgina Ahern at high school. They got together after three years of shying away from each other and staring across classrooms into each other's eyes. Nicky's best friend, Colm 'Cos' Costello, got the two together, and they've been together ever since. That was 1995!
At age 15, he was signed up by Leeds United as a goalkeeper. He grew homesick, and missed his family and girlfriend. His then manager, George Graham, decided two years later, that Nicky was too short, and unless he grew a few inches he would terminate his contract. Unfortunately for Nicky, he didn't grow, and his contract with Leeds was terminated after 2 years.
When he returned home, he retook his Leaving Certificate (GCSEs) at Plunkett College. He then set up a karaoke business with his father called 'Father and Son', and they toured local pubs doing Boyzone songs. The Westlife audition came to Nicky's attention through his Aunty, but he was pessimistic about the idea. His girlfriend persuaded him to go, telling him she had confidence in him. He decided to go, but didn't tell anyone he was going. It was only when his face was seen in then paper that people found out. He was in the paper because he was up against another blonde for the only place in the band left. that other blonde was Brian McFadden. Eventually the pair of them got into the band, and Westlife was born.
Westlife's debut single was released in May 1999, Swear It Again, and started off a string of 7 consecutive number ones, ending with My Love in 2001. All four of their albums reached the top spot, and they have the Guinness World Record for the first boyband in history to have five consecutive number ones from their debut
Shane Steven Filan is a member of the Irish pop band Westlife. Filan is one of the four (formerly five) original Westlife members, along with other current members Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne. Before Westlife, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily were with Shane in a band known as I.O.U. with other Sligonians Derek Lacy, Graham Keighron and Michael "Miggles" Garrett.
He grew up in Sligo, a large town in the northwest of Ireland. He was born on July 5, 1979 to Peter and Mae Filan. He is the youngest of seven children. He has three brothers and three sisters: Finbarr, Peter Jr, Yvonne, Liam, Denise and Mairead. His parents owned a diner in Sligo named Carlton Cafe located on Castle Street and Shane used to work there as a waiter from a very early age. When Peter and Mae decided to close the cafe in 2003, Shane bought it back and turned it into a clothes shop. Shane is a big fan of Michael Jackson and even learned how to moonwalk. He attended Summerhill College, a Catholic school, with Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. All three of them participated in a school production of Grease when they were about 12. Shane loves horses, owns lots of them, and used to compete at horse tournaments. All of Shane's horses are named Charlton something.[citation?needed]
Shane Filan is the main lead singer (first voice) in Westlife. He has also cowritten a few songs, along with the other band members, including:
Shane married his childhood sweetheart, Gillian Walsh, on Sunday December 28, 2003 at Ballintubber Abbey.
Shane's wife Gillian gave birth to their first child on July 23 2005, a daughter whom they named Nicole Rose Filan. Nicole weighed 5lbs 7ozs and was born at Sligo General Hospital. Her rumoured godfather is Shane's Westlife bandmate Nicky Byrne.
