'Freedom' is ours! Sligo honour puts us there with deValera and Mother Teresa
Hi Kian here,
BY the time you read this we'll have been made free young men of Sligo after
yesterday's big civic honour.
I'm not sure what that entitles us to...I hope it means that I can park my
car anywhere in the city, although I'm told that U2 are still in danger of
being clamped in Dublin, even though they got the 'freedom' there!
Yesterday's ceremony was actually called the Freedom of the Borough and,
joking aside, it is a big deal to us.
We're up there with people like President deValera and Mother Teresa, can
you believe that! To put us in a category with those people is a bit
like...Wow!
I'm obviously writing our column for the Sunday World before the
celebrations, so I'm not quite sure what lies in store for me. I'm sure, by
now you have seen it all on the telly or heard all about it on the radio.
And you can read all about it elsewhere in today's Sunday World.
I'M DOING the column from my bed on Friday lunchtime because I'm knackered
after the last couple of months in America and Canada and still suffering
from "jet lag" after the flight home.
It's great to get back and enjoy my mother's cooking. There's nothing to
beat Irish food. That's one of the things I was looking forward to, Irish
sausages and bacon.
I've been really enjoying the last couple of days back home, just doing
normal things again after living on planes in the weeks gone by. Thursday
was a fantastic day here in Sligo, weather-wise, so I went out for a game of
golf with my brother. It's something I haven't done in years and it took me
FOUR HOURS to complete the 18 holes.
I had planned to hit the town on Thursday night, but jet lag took care of
that. I went to bed and slept right through till midday Friday.
It was great to be back in my own bed again. Believe it or not, it's the
simple things in life that give you the most pleasure.
The last week has been a hectic one for us, as we were flying around Canada
promoting Swear It Again, which Is currently No 20 in the American charts.
That's been a brilliant start for us in the States and now we can build on
the fan base with our next record.
Some of us bumped into cousins and aunties while we were there. I met my
cousin Muirean from Malahide in Toronto and I went out for a few drinks with
her and some friends to a place called The Pleasuredome, which is like a
virtual reality arcade. Mark and Nicky met their aunties, so it was a real
family affair on that trip.
Canada went very well for us. There's a huge buzz about Westlife there and
we were invited to appear on Good Morning Canada, which is one of their
biggest TV shows.
THE week ahead is going to be a busy one for Westlife, with some Very
high-profile stuff coming up.
We'll be making a public appearance at the famous Harrods store on Wednesday
and I'm told they're expecting a massive turnout of people for that event
We'll also be gearing up for the big Party In The Park pop concert at Hyde
Park next Sunday which is headlined by our co-manager Ronan. He'll be
performing his brilliant new solo single, Life Is A Rollercoaster.
That's going to be a great day because we were there last year and had the
time of our lives. It attracts 100,000 fans every year and that's an amazing
audience to perform to.
It's in aid of the Prince's Trust Charity, so we'll be performing in front
of the man himself, Prince Charles, and we'll get the chance to meet him
backstage.
We'll fill you in on all the gossip from backstage at that event in next
week's column.
I THINK it's brilliant that you have your own column in the Sunday World.
My favourite songs are Moments, Fool Again, Open Your Heart and What I Want
Is What I've Got. I would do anything to meet you all. My favourite members
are Shane, Nicky and Kian. I think you're the best band in the world.
Ciara Clarke, Ballina, Co Mayo.
DEAR lovely Westlife. I am delighted you have your own column in the Sunday
World and every Sunday I get the paper just to read your column. I think you
are the best boy band ever and you are all gorgeous lads. I love all your
songs and I wish I would meet you some day.
Hamonica McEnroe, Kells, Co Meath.
I JUST want to tell you that there's Westlife fever in my school. All us
girls talk about all day every day is Westlife. I'm just telling you because
I think you should know how much we talk about you.
Jennifer Hanrahan, Kilcock, Co Kildare.
We are the biggest fans in the world of Westlife. Our favourites are Nicky
and Kian and we think Bryan, Shane and Mark are deadly as well. So all those
girls out there who like Nicky and Kian better lay off because they are
ours!
lta Dagger (12) and Anne Bracken (13), Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
YOU are the best group to come out of Ireland in a very long time. The first
time I saw you was on the 2FM Beat On The Street and I thought you were
brilliant then... but you're even better now.
Sinead Kelly (12), Rialto, Dublin 8.
