Shane Filan

Shane Filan

Shane Steven Filan (born 5 July 1979) is an Irish singer and songwriter. He is one of the two lead singers of boy band Westlife, which was formed in 1998, disbanded in 2012, and regrouped in 2018. Westlife have released thirteen albums, embarked on twelve world tours, and won several awards, becoming one of the most successful musical groups of all time. Shane Filan Biography

Filan has released three solo albums: You and Me (2013), Right Here (2015) and Love Always (2017). He has appeared fourteen times in the UK Singles Chart with number-one hits, making him one of the most-appeared Irish music artists in British music number-one singles history.

Early life

Shane Steven Filan was born on 5 July 1979, in Sligo, Ireland. He is the son of Peter and Mae Filan (née McNicholas). Filan is the youngest of seven siblings; three brothers and three sisters. From a very early age, Filan worked behind the counter of his parents’ business- a diner in Sligo -including on school Holidays.

He attended primary school at a local Catholic school, and secondary school at Summerhill College, with future Westlife bandmates Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. All three of them participated in a school production of Grease. The Hawkswell Theatre became a significant part of their careers.

Filan was a fan of Michael Jackson as a child, and claimed the singer inspired him to pursue a career in music. Before Westlife, he studied business and accounting.