My Shane is gonna be a Super Dad
Gillian interview (May 2005)By Paul Martin
Westwife Gillian Filan says her pregnancy has been a dream come true - thanks to her hubby Shane.
The Sligo girl has revealed how the star has been the perfect partner, with early morning kitchen runs, to satisfy her cravings.
In her only interview since becoming pregnant, Gillian, 25, said: "Shane has been amazing. He gets up at three in the morning when I get hungry and makes me little snacks and brings them to bed.
"He can't do enough for me and he's always running around the place to look after me.
"He goes into town when I need something and gets up at all hours of the night - so I couldn't ask for more.
"I get really hungry now because I am eating for two so if I wake he goes and makes a cup of tea for me and gets some biscuits and brings them up.
Despite their superstar status and global fame, Gillian and Shane, 25, remain one of the most down-to-earth couples in showbiz.
Gillian said she will not follow in the footsteps of showbiz mums like Victoria Beckham and Madonna and booking into a plush private clinic for the birth.
She added: "I'll be staying in Sligo- the hospital and the staff there are fantastic and that's more than enough for me.
"The baby is due in the first week of August and I can feel it kick now which is amazing.
"The first time it kicked Shane was away on tour but that didn't ruin the big moment. I was actually on the phone to him at the time and I suddenly felt this kick.
Shane was on the other end of the line and I was going, 'Oh my God what was that?'
"I could hardly speak or hear for the next five minutes because I was so excited.
Now the baby kicks all the time and it definitely recognises the sound of Shanes voice. Whenever he is talking, it moves around all the time and he even sings the odd little song to my tummy too.
Gillian had been for her second scan before our interview and revealed: It's amazing to see the baby on the screen and Shane was very excited by the whole thing too.
"We aren't getting one of these 3D scans because it's too easy to identify the sex of the baby and we want to keep that a secret. I think half of the fun of the pregnancy is the surprise and not knowing is a major part of it for me. I really have no idea what it is to be honest - I think it's a girl and Shane thinks it's a boy so at least one of us is right.
"We havent picked any names yet. We have a few in mind but well be deciding for sure nearer the time."
Gillian said the pregnancy has brought her and Shane closer. The couple tied the knot at a ceremony in Ballintubber Abbey, Co.Mayo, in December 2003 and have recently moved into a sprawling seven-bedroom mansion on the outskirts of Sligo.
The should have no trouble finding space for a nursery, Gillian added: "We havent started decorating it yet. But for the first few months the baby will be sleeping in our room anyway.
"I suppose we will wait until its born before we do the nursery so we know what colours to do it in."
Aside from preparing for her first baby, Gillian is still every bit the working girl. She runs two Morgan shops- in Sligo and Galway- as well as the Anna Rose jewellery shop in her home town with sister Joanna.
Gillian said: "I enjoy getting up and going to do a good days work. I like the motivation that it gives me. I'm not going in every day of the week because of the pregnancy but I keep myself busy.
It's great because Shane now has a few months off Westlife because the tour is finished so it's nice to be able to spend more time together in the build up to the birth. My family are really excited about the whole thing.
This is the first grandchild for my mum Rosaleen and dad Michael so it's a massive deal for them - they are very excited."
Gillian said the Westlife fans have been sending her baby presents, she added: "There are loads of presents that come in the post every day and they are all very sweet. The fans send little baby clothes and cards and letters and it keeps coming and coming every day. They've been amazing to be honest.
When I get nearer the birth, around eight months, I'm just going to pull the tracksuit out of the wardrobe and wear that. I'm not going to be running around in designer gear- it will be more a case of just relaxing around the house in anything.
"The great thing is the Morgan shops have clothes that are really good for pregnancy so I will be using them and that will keep me going until the last couple of months."
Three months after the birth, Shane will return to the studio to record a new Westlife album. Gillian said: This definitely isnt the end of Westlife despite rumours. Shane is 100 per cent committed to the group and so are all the lads. They all get on like best mates and they want to keep the band going for a few years yet. They still have a massive fan base, singles and a tour."
Source: Irish Mirror, 8th May 2005
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