Westlife fans heartbreak as Mark Feehily pulls out of 25-year celebrations
Westlife fans have been left torn after the band confirmed Mark Feehily will not be re-joining the group to celebrate their 25th anniversary as he continues to battle health issues
Westlife devotees have been left gutted as the iconic band has confirmed Mark Feehily will sit out from their 25th anniversary events due to ongoing health struggles.
Mark, who rose to fame with fellow bandmates Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, and Kian Egan, stepped away from Westlife in February 2024 citing health reasons.
In a challenging year, Mark faced surgery for a hernia and combated sepsis during an August 2020 Covid lockdown. Doctors advised him to take it easy following surgery last August, leading to him missing Westlife's international gigs in Canada, the US, Mexico and Brazil.
Fans were holding out hope for his return in time for the band's celebratory milestone; however, he has conveyed that this isn’t on the cards. On Wednesday night, Westlife reached out to their loyal fanbase over social media, stating: "To our amazing fans, We would like to take this opportunity to share some very important news with you all."
The heartfelt message went on to reminisce about their journey: "We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 25th Anniversary celebrations... On the 9th February 2001 we kicked off our first ever world tour at the Newcastle Arena. Who would have thought we would still be here 25 years later?," reports the Mirror.
Westlife's Mark Feehily. (Image: ITV) Westlife shared the announcement with their fans on Wednesday night.Westlife teased fans further about the upcoming festivities, proclaiming: "We have so many exciting plans to share with you very soon which will include new music, an album, special shows and many, many more surprises along the way."
Westlife are marking their 25th anniversary with a celebratory post, although it comes with a tinge of sadness. In a joint statement, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, and Shane Filan expressed their gratitude for the fans' unwavering support while also sharing the news that their bandmate Mark Feehily would be unable to join them for the upcoming celebrations due to ongoing health issues.
The statement read: "Sadly, Mark will be unable to join the celebrations. 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."
The remaining trio continued: "The four of us can't quite believe its been 25 years. We could only have dreamt of the continued love and loyalty you have consistently shown us around the world. We are so lucky to have all of you with us and we can't wait to celebrate together! Happy 25th To Us All! Love, Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane x."
However, the news sparked a mixed reaction among fans. One emotional fan wrote: "I don't know whether to cry with happiness that you're finally coming back for your 25th year anniv or sob at the fact that mark won't be joining you to celebrate it. I'm so overwhelmed.."
Another fan commented: "Love you guys... BUT, Westlife isn't Westlife without Mark. 3 just don't cut it," while a third speculated about a possible return of former member Brian McFadden, who left the band in 2004.
Mark initially shared details of his health struggles last year when he announced his departure from the band. In a heartfelt message on Westlife's official Instagram account, he explained that his health issues began in August 2020 following surgery, which left him in severe pain and necessitated a visit to the emergency department.
He went on to say: "I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe 'Sepsis', a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life. I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown. For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiance and my then 10-month-old daughter. It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU."
Mark disclosed that he was discharged from hospital in December 2020 but has since been battling with chronic health issues. He further explained: "In late 2021, I became very ill in Newcastle before a concert and ended up back in AandE, this time being told I had pneumonia. I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December. I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery which I went ahead with in May 2022 meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour."
Mark Feehily explained: "Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour but unfortunately the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me. I developed a very large 'incisional hernia' and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option."
Luckily, his most recent surgery was successful, but Mark recognised that he had to take some time off to recover. He confessed: "It is with the utmost level of regret that I must now temporarily stand down from all Westlife touring until a time that I have had the chance to fully recover from the turbulent journey I have been through as an individual.
Westlife (L-R) Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Bryne (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)"Believe me, I wish things could be different! I would like to thank you so very much for your support and understanding of me and my health over the past few years."
Mark also expressed gratitude towards his family and medical team who supported him through his health issues. He said: "To Shane, Kian and Nicky, I love you three and I know you'll knock it out of the park. I'll be there with you in spirit for each and every show whilst you continue to fly the Westlife flag around the world."
Mark added: "But for now, I have to make the right decision for my health and wellbeing, for my family, and for myself as a person. Please don't worry. Sending the most positive vibes in your direction, I will see you very soon beautiful people! WESTLIFE FOREVER! Love, Mark Feehily xx."
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Selena Gomez jokes that her sister loves Taylor Swift more than her while celebrating her birthday with touching moments and shared memories
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
LONDON (AP) — Brighton has signed teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas, who gave up a Champions League season with Olympiakos to play in the Premier League. The 18-year-old Kostoulas signed a five-ye...
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 — Brighton has signed teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas, who gave up a Champions League season with Olympiakos to play in the Premier League. The 18-year-old Kostoulas signed a five-ye... %23charalamposkostoulas) |
|
|
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Tottenham Hotspur have a new head coach but one of their biggest players appeared to be keen to divert the focus elsewhere
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Thomas Frank has revamped Tottenham’s backroom team after being appointed as the club’s new manager.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
EastEnders fans were over the moon when it was reported Michelle Ryan would be reprising her role as Zoe Slater, as they think they've 'worked out' her return storyline
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed from a Homeland Security press conference led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The series stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro as father-daughter CIA operatives
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
talkSPORT.com has all the latest news, views and reaction from the world of football. Tottenham have officially announced that Thomas Frank has succeeded Ange Postecoglou as their new manager. Mean…
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Thomas Frank has signed a contract until the summer of 2028 as Tottenham head coach after leaving Brentford
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Liverpool and Manchester United to battle for Osimhen? | Leverkusen in for Quansah? | Milan keeping tabs on Zinchenko?
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twenty One Pilots have shared a brand-new single, 'The Contract', from their upcoming album 'Breach'. Listen here.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
A US senator from California, Alex Padilla was bundled out of a news conference being held by President Donald Trump’s homeland security chief, Kristi
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Next week's spoiler pictures!
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Dua Lipa confirms her engagement to Callum Turner and shares heartfelt details about the proposal and their future together.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.