BABY NEWS

Feehily absent at bandmates celebration. (30th August)
Westlife Star Mark Feehily was conspicuously absent as his bandmates celebrated the christening of Shane Filans daughter in Sligo yesterday. 
The singer and his partner, Kevin McDaid were expected to make their first public appearance together in Marks Sligo hometown since he "came out" this month. 
However, the gay couple were not among friends and family who attended the church ceremony and christening party for Shane and his wife, Gillian's baby, Nicole.

Source: Unknown

Baby Nicole Haptised (30th August)
Westlife star Shane Filan stepped into the spotlight for the first time with his beautiful daughter at her star-studded christening party. The singer and his wife Gillian, 25, proudly showed-off baby Nicole in front of a celebrity gathering. Among guests were 26-year-old bandmate Nicky Byrne and his wife Georgina, while Westlife member Kian Egan, 25, also joined the party. But Mark feehily and his boyfriend Kevin McDaid chose not to make an appearance at Sunday's service. Only days ago he revealed he was gay and decided his presence might over-shadow Shane and Gillian's special day. Stunning Gillian looked the picture of beauty as she posed for the cameras on the steps of St.John's Church. Wearing a classy black dress and white cardigan she said "It's a really exciting day for the whole family" Little Nicole looked so cute in her special christening outfit. "It was a great day for all our families and we had a ball. It was a nice,small,personal gathering" Kian showed-up without Hollyoaks tv star girlfriend Jodi Albert, but brought his dad Kevin along for the event. After the private 35-minute service, guests were invited back to Shane's €2million mansion for a celebration where they were treated to gourmet food and champagne. Shane added "The day went like a dream and we just wanted to keep it low-key family based. "Little Nicole was great and she didn't cry though the service which was brilliant". Nicole was born on July 23 after a caesarean in Sligo General hospital. Shane,26, has taken a three-month break from the band but is raring to get back to the studio to record a new Westlife album. He said "It's been great to get time just to concentrate on the baby but now i feel more determined than ever to record the best Westlife album" 

Source: The Irish Mirror

Westies Snapped at Christening (30th August)
These are the first photographs from Westlife star Shane Filan's daughter's Christening. Band mate Nicky Byrne and his wife, Georgina, helped celebrate the event this week. The couple were among the family and friends who gathered at St.John's Church for the 35-minute cermony. Kian Egan arrived with his dad, Kevin. His girlfriend Jodi Albert couldn't make it. Mark Feehily also failed to turn up at the baptism of baby Nicole. Mark and his partner, Kevin McDaid, were expected to make their first public appearence together in Mark's Sligo hometown since he came ot earlier this month. However the gay pair were a no show. He also never showed up at the party afterwards in Shane and Gillian's nearby mansion. Shane said of his new born: "The baby looks like me,She's got dark hair and is absolutely gorgous"

Source: The Irish Daily Star

Shane's baby girl baptised (30th August)
New dad Shane Filan and wife Gillian glow wit pride 
after christening their baby girl. The protective Westlife pop shielded one-month-old daughter Nicole, the couple's first child, from the cameras as they emerged from St'John's Church. But the bop bop baby singer and Gillian beamed for the cameras as the emerged from Sunday's ceremony. The couple were surrounded by family and friends including bandmates Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan. 
Party 
Nicky was accompanied by his wife Georgina, while Kian- who is dating actress Jodi Albert- went solo. Fellow Westlifer Mark feehily had been tipped to make his first public appearence with his mystery partner after coming out as gay- but failed to show. The cermony was followed by a party at the Filan's nearby €2million mansion.

Source: The Irish Sun

Shane Found Sweet Inspiration (5th August)
by Paul Martin
Doting Westlife dad Shane has found sweet inspiration from the birth of his first child.

The pop hunk has been so overjoyed at the birth of his daughter Nicole that he's already finding inspiration from her for new songs.

A source close to the star said: "Shane is mad about her and has got a new lease of life from her birth. He's now desperate to get back into the studio and help write a great album. His big ambition is for Nicole to see him live in Westlife when she is old enough to understand what's going on. He's even been writing new material at home while he enjoys his time off from the band."

Source: The Irish Mirror (5th August)

Mother & Baby are FILAN fine! (3rd August)
"We Both Burst Into Tears"

WESTLIFE star Shane Filan burst into tears yesterday as his wife gave birth to his own Bop Bop Baby.
Singer Shane was at wife Gillian’s hospital beside when 5lbs 7oz Nicole arrived 10 days early by Caesarean section at exactly 8.27 in the morning.
And Shane, 26, told the Irish Sunday Mirror yesterday: “We both cried – it was the most emotional and amazing experience of my life.” 
Delighted Shane added: “But both Gillian and Nicole are doing well.”
“We only realised yesterday that Gillian would have to have a Caesarean section so it was quite dramatic but everyone is doing great.”
Proud Shane said new baby Nicole was definitely a chip of the old block and a family friend said she weighed in the same as Shane did when he was born.
“The baby looks like me.” He said. “She’s got dark hair and is absolutely gorgeous.”
“Gillian is fantastic – she’s been resting a lot and will be staying in hospital for a few days. But I can’t wait to get her and Nicole back home.”
The couple discovered yesterday that Gillian would have to undergo a Caesarean section as it was best for the baby. Shane thanked the staff ay Sligo General for taking good care of his two Uptown Girls.
“The staff at the hospital were unbelievable throughout the whole thing.”
The couple have been preparing for their new arrival for the past nine months. But Gillian refused to let Shane decorate the nursery until Nicole was born.
A pal said: “Gillian was a bit superstitious about decorating so Shane is going to be a very busy boy over the next few days.”
“They had bought all the stuff for the nursery but Gillian wouldn’t let Shane organise the room until Nicole arrived.”
Shane and Gillian wed in December 2003. The couple were childhood sweethearts and met through bandmate Kian Egan – who is a cousin of Gillian.
Westlife are on a three-month summer break but last night Mark Feehily , Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne sent messages to their pal to congratulate him on his new arrival.

Source: Irish Sunday Mirror

Shane has a new number one! (3rd August)
WESTLIFE hunk Shane Filan was jumping for joy this weekend after wife Gillian gave birth to a baby girl – their first child.
The birth came as an early surprise to the millionaire pop singer, as his 25-year-old wife was due for another ten days.
Baby Nicole was born at 10am yesterday morning at Sligo General Hospital. And 25-year-old Shane told Star Sunday he was “blown away” by his new daughter, who weighed in at 5lbs 7ozs.
Co-incidentally, baby Nicole weighed in at the same weight as her famous dad.
“It’s absolutely amazing, a bit of a surprise as Gillian wasn’t due for another ten days but we are so happy,” he said.

Ecstatic
Shane and Gillian- who tied the knot on December 28, 2003 in Ballintubber Abbey – had been eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child.
“Gillian and I are absolutely thrilled. This is everything we ever wanted,” said the delighted Dad.
The proud dad added that mother and baby were doing well and were resting after receiving a few visits from close family members.
“It is a great time for the family and we are all delighted. Gillian is resting now and so is the baby,” he added.
Band mates Kian, Mark and Nicky are expected to pay a visit to the ecstatic couple over the coming days. Kian has already said that he has willingly offered his baby sitting service to cousin Gillian and band-pal Shane.
However, fans of the chart toppers eager to catch a glimpse of the baby are set for disappointment. Shane has insisted that he and Gillian – who runs two clothes stores in Sligo and Galway – will not sign up for any exclusive magazine deals with their daughter!

Busy
“Shane is uninterested in magazine offering huge money to get the first picture,” said a close friend of the star.
In between visiting his wife and daughter, Shane will be a busy man as the couple – who live in a mansion outside Sligo – had decided to wait until after the birth to decorate the nursery.

Source: Unknown

I’m a dad! (3rd August)
I’m a dad!
WESTLIFE hunk Shane Filan has a new woman in his life – a beautiful baby daughter.
Little Nicole Filan decided to give her famous father and proud mother Gillian a surprise yesterday when she made a appearance 10 days ahead of schedule.
The couple’s first child weighed in to Sligo General Hospital at a healthy 5lbs 7oz – the exact same birth weight as her 26-year-old dad. Yesterday afternoon an elated Shane arrived at the hospital armed with a massive bouquet of flowers for his wife of 19 months and a pink teddy bear for the new queen of his heart.
A family friend said: “They are delighted, the baby was born 10 days early. Mother and child are doing well. Gillian and Shane are on cloud nine. It is a dream come true.”
Shane, who was at his wife’s bedside for the birth, has taken the next five weeks off from Westlife to spend time with his new family at their seven-bedroom mansion in Sligo.
Gillian, 26, is expected to be released from hospital early next week, which gives singer Shane a few days to do up the nursery for his new arrival.
The couple, who first heard of the pregnancy last Christmas, had opted not to know the sex of the baby.
And Nicole, who was conceived last November on the first night Shane and Gillian moved into their dream home, will not be gracing the pages of any glossy magazines.
Her private millionaire parents have already turned down lucrative offers for the first pictures of the Filan family.

Source: The People

Shane's A Daddy (29th July)
Congratulations to Westlife's Shane Filan, 26, and his wife Gillian, 26, who are celebrating the birth of their first child, a daughter. Nicole was born on Saturday in the Sligo General Hospital in Ireland. She was 10 days early and weighted in at just 5lb 7oz. Westlife's manager Louis Walsh said, 'Shane is absolutely delighted.'

Source: New Magazine

Shane's A Proud Dad (29th July)
* Westlife star Shane Filan, 26, has said that the birth of his baby daughter Nicole was the proudest day of his life. 'When the baby came out i was lost for words; my wife Gillian and i were both in tears,' he decalred. 
Shane who married 25-year-old childhood sweetheart Gillian 18 month ago, added: 'It was extermely emotional. One of the first things i noticed was her dar hair; she has loads of hair. We held her and she was so gorgeous. Along with my wedding day, it was the most amazing moment of my life.'
Baby Nicole was born by caesarean section on 23 July, weighing just 5lb 7oz. 'I was really nervous - i just wanted the baby and Gillian to be fine,' Said Shane. 'Thankfully, everything went without a hitch.' Shane's now hard at work decorating nursery at his mansion in Sligo in Ireland. 'Gillian wouldn't let me start work on it until the baby was born because she's superstitious,' he added. 'I'm working on pure adrenaline and no sleep.'  

Source: Now Magazine

Top of the tots as grans greet baby Nicole (26th July)
WESTLIFE singer Shane Filan is celebrating the arrival of an ‘uptown girl’ of his own after his wife Gillian gave birth to baby Nicole over the weekend.
The couple’s first child was born in Sligo General Hospital at about 8.27am on Saturday morning and although Gillian was reportedly two weeks premature, the delivery went smoothly. The happy couple have so far refused any pictures of their new arrival, even declining a reported offer of E750,000 from a magazine. But proud grannies Mai and Rosaleen were beaming with joy on Monday as they came to visit their newest grandchild.


Source: Sligo Weekender.ie

Shane is Nappy to be a Father (26th July)
Westlife singer Shane Filan is already changing his new baby Nicole's nappies. 
He said yesterday: "I have been changing her nappies and feeding bottles. 
"Its great fun. It really is. In fact, I'm off to feed the baby again right now." 

Shane said he is looking forward to having little Nicole and mum Gillian to himself for the next six weeks at their home in Sligo. 
Westlife don’t resume touring and recording until early September. 
The 26-year-old first time dad added: "The fact Nicole was a couple of weeks early means we have that extra time together at home when they come out of hospital in a few days. It's fantastic." 

Nicole weighed in at 5lbs 7oz last Saturday at Sligo General Hospital. 
She was induced by caesarean section after doctors decided fluid in Gillian's womb was at an unacceptably low level. 
Shane said Gillian is now feeling fine. 
"She's feeling much better the past couple of days and is looking forward to coming home." 
He added: "Nicole is great as well. She likes to sleep a lot." 

He said his Westlife pals were very excited about the baby. 
Former band member Brian McFadden - who has two children with estranged wife Kerry - was in touch. 
Mark Feehily already visited Gillian and the baby. 
And Kian Egan was due in the hospital later yesterday when he returned from a holiday aboard. 

Shane confirmed he and Gillian rejected an offer of a lot of money by a glossy magazine for the first picture of baby Nicole. 
"The baby cant say No, and we don’t want to exploit the baby's identity like that," he said.

Source: The Irish Daily Star

Girl for Westlife star (26th July)
Westlife star Shane Filan has become a father.
His wife Gillian has given birth to a baby girl.
Nicole Filan arrived 10 days early weighing in at 5lbs 7oz reports IOL.com.
Shane and Gillian married a year and a half ago.

Source: Ananova.com

Some Dutch articles about the birth (26th July)
Zanger Shane Filan van de boyband Westlife is vader geworden. Zijn vrouw Gillian, met wie hij anderhalf jaar getrouwd is, beviel in het ziekenhuis van een gezonde dochter. De baby kwam tien dagen te vroeg. Shane en Gillian hebben hun dochter de naam Nicole gegeven. De overige leden van Westlife feliciteerde Shane met de geboorte. Ook ex-Westlife zanger Bryan McFadden zou Shane persoonlijk hebben gefeliciteerd.

Source: radio538.nl

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Westlife-zanger is vader
Shane Filan, zanger van de Ierse boyband Westlife, is vader geworden. Zijn vrouw Gillian Filan is dit weekeinde bevallen van een meisje met de naam Nicole. 
De baby kwam redelijk onverwachts, want Gillian was eigenlijk pas over negen weken [pardon? dat is een foutje neem ik aan! Haha!] uitgerekend. De kleine Nicole is dan ook iets te licht maar maakt het volgens de dokters prima. 
Shane Filan en zijn jeugdvriendin Gillian Walsh trouwden in december 2003. Ze kenden elkaar daarvoor al vele jaren

Source: skyradio.nl

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Shane vader
Westlife-zanger Shane Filan is vader geworden! Shane en zijn vrouw Gillian zijn sinds zaterdag de trotse ouders van een dochter en ze hebben haar de naam Nicole gegeven. De baby kwam te vroeg en was iets te ligt, maar ondanks dat maakt ze het volgens de doktoren goed. Alle leden van de boyband Westlife hebben Shane gefeliciteerd met de geboorte van zijn eerste kindje. Ook Bryan, die de groep vorig jaar verliet om een solocarričre te starten, schijnt zijn ex-bandmaatje te hebben gefeliciteerd. 

Source: TMF

Westlife star Filan becomes a father (25th July)
Westlife star Shane Filan and his wife Gillian are celebrating the birth of their first child, a baby girl. 
According to reports, baby Nicole, who was born 10 days premature at Sligo General Hospital, weighed 5lbs 7oz.
The couple, who are both 26, married a year and half ago. According to the Sunday Mirror, singer Filan said: "It was the most emotional and amazing experience of my life." "The baby looks like me. She's got dark hair and is absolutely gorgeous. Gillian will be staying in hospital for a few days and I can't wait to get her and Nicole back home," he said.

Source: RTE.ie

Baby girl forWestlife's Shane Filan (24th July)
Shane Filan’s wife Gillian gave birth to the couple's first child at Sligo General Hospital.
Baby Nicole Filan arrived 10 days early weighing in at 5lbs 7oz.
Shane and Gillian, who are both 26 years old, married a year and a half ago.

Source:  Sligo weekender

Baby joy for Filan (24th July)
The couples happiness followed a dramatic 24 hours when it was discovered that the fluid around the baby in the womb was dangerously low. Medical staff decided to proceed with a caesarean birth yesterday morning, and little Nicole came in to the world at 8.27 am 
Shane is quoted as saying "The baby is fine now thank God. And Gillian is in great form. She is sitting up holding the baby right now. All is brilliant in the Filan Camp.

Source: Daily Mirror

Shane: My Joy As A New Dad (24th July)
Westlife star Shane Filan was flying without wings yesterday as he experienced the thrill of becoming a dad for the first time. 
The 26-year-old pop idol was clearly elated after his wife Gillian gave birth to a baby girl, Nicole, who weighted in at five-and-a-half pounds.
"It's unbelieveable. It really is the best day of your life," Shane told the Sunday World yesterday afternoon as he rushed back into Sligo General Hosipital with a bouquet of flowers for his wife.

The couple's happiness followed a dramatic 24 hours when it was discovered that the fluid around the baby in the womb was dangerously low.
Medical staff decided to proceed with a caesarean birth yesterday morning, and little Nicole came into the world at 8.27am, two-and-a-half weeks premature.
"She's a small little baby, a gorgeous little thing," Shane told me. "The fluid around the baby was low in the last few weeks and after a scan on Friday morning it was decided to go ahead with the caesarean this morning."

Excitement
"There was no fluid around the baby, so they didn't want to take any chances. But the baby is fine now, thanks be to God. And Gillian is in great form. She's sitting up holding the baby right now. All is brilliant in the Filan camp."

Shane's excitement was palpable as he tried to come to terms with the fact that he's now a dad. Even though he's had 13 number one hits with Westlife, including Queen Of My Heart, the star yesterday admitted they don't compare to the joy and thrill of fatherhood. 
"They don't even come close," he laughed.
Shane and Gillian, who live in a fairytale seven-bed manshion in their native Sligo, wed at Ballintubber Abbey in Co. Mayo, in December 2003.

Westlife shave been on an extended break, amid recording sessions for their next album.

Shane said yesterday that he's looking forward to spending some time with Gillian and their baby daughter before Westlife start promoting their new CD later in the autumn.
"Tell all the fans thanks for all their support. I've had lots of letters and cards from them in the last few months since it became known that Gillian was expecting. I really appreciate it," he added.

Source: Sunday World

Westlife star becomes a father (24th July)
Sunday, July 24 2005, 10:21 BST -- by Daniel Kilkelly 

Westlife star Shane Filan became a father yesterday. 
The singer was at the bedside of wife Gillian when 5lbs 7oz Nicole arrived yesterday morning. 
"We both cried," Filan told the Sunday Mirror. "It was the most emotional and amazing experience of my life. 
"The baby looks like me. She's got dark hair and is absolutely gorgeous. Gillian will be staying in hospital for a few days and I can't wait to get her and Nicole back home."

Source: DigitalSpy.co.uk

It's a girl called Nicole! (24th July)
THE latest member to join the Westlife boys was welcomed with open arms yesterday when baby Nicole Filan made a sudden arrival 10 days early. 
Shane Filan and his wife Gillian were described as "ecstatic" after the birth of their first child - a bouncing baby girl who has already been named Nicole. 
Nicole weighed in at 5lbs 7oz, coincidentally the exact same weight as her father when he was born. 
The couple, who are both 26 years old, admitted they were eager to start a family as soon as possible after they wed 19 months ago. 
Sligo General Hospital refused to confirm Nicole's birth, but a friend of the family said: "It's true. They are delighted. The baby was born 10 days early. Mother and child are doing well." 
Earlier this month Gillian said: "I'm feeling really excited, a little nervous though, but having Shane, my sister Joanne and my mum visiting nearly every hour of the day makes me feel better. Shane has been absolutely wonderful to me. He's even doing the housework. 
"Our baby will be loved so much. So many fans have sent cards, letters and gifts. I couldn't ask for better Westlife fans." 
Announcing the pregnancy last February Shane described the moment Gillian broke the news to him. He said: "It is a dream come true. We just burst out crying and couldn't stop hugging each other. It was one of the best moments of my life." 
The young star confirmed the baby was planned and said he intended to take the last few months of Gillian's pregnancy off work so he would "be able to look after her". 
The couple moved into a huge new house in [part of Sligo] earlier this year. Nicole is the third baby with a famous father from the successful boy band. 
Brian McFadden, who has since left the band and is currently going through a bitter break-up with his wife Kerry Katona, is dad to toddlers Molly and Lilly-Sue.
Source: Ireland's Sunday Independent

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