Westlife fans received some uplifting news about Mark Feehily as bandmates Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, and Kian Egan appeared on RTE’s Late Late Show hosted by Patrick Kielty. The trio gave a heartfelt update on their fellow member, who has been taking a break from touring due to ongoing health challenges. During the show, the band also performed a world-exclusive live debut of their new single “Chariot.”
Speaking warmly about Mark’s condition, Shane Filan shared that while Mark is unable to rejoin the group on tour for now, his spirit remains a huge part of the band. “He’s doing fine,” Shane said. “Unfortunately, he’s not able to be with us at the moment, which is sad. It’s a tough decision for him to make, but we respect it completely. He’s on the new song ‘Chariot’ and on all the other tracks from the album, which means the world to us. We can’t wait to have him back as soon as possible.” His words drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience, reflecting how much fans miss Mark’s presence on stage.
The emotional moment came as the group celebrated one of their biggest weeks in years, following the announcement of new tour dates in Dublin and Belfast’s SSE Arena. “It honestly feels like we’re back in 1999 again,” Shane said with a smile. “The response to our new music has been amazing — our fans have always been incredible to us, and this week has just blown us away.”
Nicky Byrne echoed those sentiments, reflecting on the group’s enduring bond with fans. “It’s been 27 years as a band and 25 years of touring,” he said. “Hearing fans share their personal stories about how our songs have touched their lives really means everything to us.” He recounted one emotional encounter with a fan who said her late mother’s final concert was a Westlife show — a reminder of the deep connections their music has forged over the decades.
Meanwhile, Kian Egan confirmed that due to overwhelming demand, the group has added more shows to their 3Arena Dublin residency, now totaling 13 performances, along with seven dates in Belfast. The milestone appearances mark an incredible continuation of Westlife’s 25th anniversary celebrations — and with Mark Feehily’s hopeful return on the horizon, fans have even more reason to look forward to what’s next for the beloved Irish group.
