Ahead of Westlife's hotly-anticipated Aviva Stadium gigs on Friday and Saturday night, we take a look back to when they played an altogether different football ground in Sligo in their early days...
Westlife at the Showgrounds in Sligo
The Showgrounds in Sligo has been the breeding ground of some of Irish football's greatest talents. Current Ireland captain Seamus Coleman honed his skills for Sligo Rovers before making the move to Everton, with the likes of Seani Maguire, Dixie Dean and Billy Hamilton all togging out for the Bit O Red during their careers.
Although Sligo is known as one of Ireland's quintessential 'football towns', throughout the world, it's known as the birthplace of one thing: Westlife.
Three of the boyband's members, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan, hail from the shadow of Benbulbin, and back in 1997, were part of a fledgling boyband known as IOYOU.
Before the days of Louis Walsh's influence, record-breaking feats and even before Brian McFadden and Nicky Byrne joined the group, they were part of the half-time show as Sligo Rovers hosted Shelbourne at the Showgrounds.
In 1997 @WestlifeMusic, then known as IOU, played their biggest audience so far, performing at The Showgrounds at half-time
Looking good @markusfeehily @shanefilan @KianEganWL
The suits were sponsored by @ejsmenswear 🙂
Fantastic ambassadors for Sligo for 23 years and counting pic.twitter.com/lDQQ4qTlX5— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) April 18, 2020
It remains the only time that Westlife (or groups adjacent to Westlife) have ever played in the Showgrounds, despite campaigns to play a leg of their 'farewell' tour at the home of Sligo Rovers in 2012. For their returns to Sligo, the group have played the likes of Lissadell House in 2010 and Sligo GAA's Markievicz Park in 2003.
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Since their performance in the middle of a League of Ireland match, the lads have gone on to dominate the world of music, currently sitting on 26 top ten hits in the UK charts, coupled with 13 top five albums in the UK alone. With 50 million records sold worldwide, they're undoubtedly the darlings of Sligo (yes, even Nicky, despite the fact he's from Baldoyle).
While Westlife were in their pomp, Rovers seemed to be at their lowest ebb, struggling in the doldrums of the First Division while Westlife were flying (without wings, of course). However, under the stewardship of Paul Cook, the Bit O Red eventually returned to the top table of Irish football and winning two FAI Cups in the process.
In an ironic twist, the same year Westlife had their 'farewell' tour, Sligo Rovers won their first League of Ireland Premier Division crown since 1977.
Talk about 'Seasons in the Sun'.
Sligo Rovers, much like all football clubs in the current climate, are in desperate need of support. One such way to support the club is to play the club lotto, which is available online here.
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