BY the time you read this I'll be recovering from my sister Yvonne's wedding
in Sligo yesterday...and on a plane heading back to the States.
It was so good to get home for a few days...and the fact that there was a
big family event made it even more special.
Yvonne's wedding was one day I wasn't going to miss - in fact I booked it
into Westlife's itinerary TEN MONTHS ago. I made sure the record company
knew all about it well in advance, so that there was no chance of me missing
out. Otherwise, I would have been a dead man.
Yvonne also did me the honour of asking me to drive her to the church
on her big day and I felt so proud as we made the trip in a BMW which I had
on loan from my friend, Martin Reilly.
She didn't fancy having to climb up into my new toy -a spanking new
Mitsubishi Pajero which I picked up since I came home from the States. And I
couldn't take the risk of her ripping her beautiful wedding dress climbing
down from it! They say a wedding day is the most special day in a lady's
life and Yvonne looked radiant as she walked up the aisle on Saturday
morning.
There waiting patiently - and, no doubt, nervously -was her fiance Michael
Ryan. It was such a beautiful ceremony and a joyous occasion for all the
families and friends on both sides.
The wedding celebrations were held at the Sligo Park Hotel, where we had a
day to remember.
Sing
There was fantastic music provided by local band, The Passengers, and, of
course, I was persuaded to get up and sing a song or two.
I would describe The Passengers as beyond excellent. They really are a great
group who perform a wide selection of songs to suit all ages. I had seen
them play locally on several occasions, so I was really looking forward to
the day of entertainment yesterday.
The only downside of the day was the thought of having to travel back in the
early hours of the morning to catch a flight to the States. I'm probably
comatose on the plane as you read this, but at least I'll be able to get 10
hours of sleep on the flight.
I KNOW you've been reading in newspapers recently how tired we are because
of the gruelling routine in America as we tour from State to State
promoting our first single, Swear It Again.
It's true that we are tired, but it hasn't got to the stage where we've
ended up in wheelchairs, as one report claimed.
There was talk of the whole band coming home for a week for a rest, but
we're so determined to make it big in America that nothing is going to stop
us.
We will put up with the tiredness and the two flights a day if it gets us to
the top - because America is the big one. If we make it there - then we've
really made it.
It's going so well over here now that we have to stick with it to keep up
the momentum. If we all left for home now it would cost us big time. And
America is the ultimate prize.
At the moment, we're No 2 in the sales charts with Swear It Again...and No
21 in the Billboard top 100. Each week we're moving closer and closer to
that number one spot. so it's fingers crossed.
IT'S hard to explain the type of breaks we're getting in the States because
the TV shows are not known back home.
But we're getting the really big ones, including Regis and Cathy Lee, the
biggest breakfast show in the US.
It's seen by about 20 million people, so it doesn't get better than that.
Regis also presents the American version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
WE also did the Mandy Moore show on MTV and, as you may have read in some of
the papers, Mark hit it off with Mandy. I'll let him fill you in on all the
juicy gossip here in the Sunday World Westlife column another week.
WE'LL be back this side of the world for the big Party In The Park on
Sunday, July 9. That's going to be a great pop concert because over 100,000
fans are expected to attend.
Our co-manager Ronan will also be singing on the bill that day, so we really
will have a great party. And there'll be plenty of gossip to report from it.
WE think that Nicky is gorgeous. It was a dream come true when we got to
meet him at his house recently and we'd love to see the photograph in the
Westlife column.
Michelle, Laura, Rachel and Claire, Kilbarrack.
SHANE, hi, I'm Wendy and I think you're really sexy. Right now I am
listening to you and the band's songs. And if I was with you I would listen
to you day and night singing my favourite song, I have A Dream. My dream is
that I would he with you for the rest of my life. If I didn't like you in
personality, well, I would still stay with you because of your lovely face.
If I won two tickets to see your concert, I would like the front row to look
at you.
Wendy Bright, Wexford.
HI, to everyone in Westlife, especially Mark. I just want to tell you all
how much I love you. I've seen your Westlife: The Story So Far video. I've
got your album. My room is a monument to you. Congratulations on everything,
including getting into the record books.
Thank you for giving me so much wonderful music and I think you're
all gorgeous. Can't wait till I see you live in the Point in March. I've got
my tickets, and counting the days.
Charlene Curran, Co Fermanagh.
KlAN, I have only one thing to say...you rock my world. Lots of love and
support 4ever.
Nicole Heneghan, Co Limerick.
