Westlife singer Shane Filan pays tribute to "incredible" mother, who has died

16 December 2019, 14:22

Westlife star Shane Filan has described the "saddest day" of his life, following the death of his beloved mother.

Shane announced that his mother Mae died this weekend, thanking friends and fans for their support.

He said that his "incredible" mother died peacefully in Co Sligo, Ireland.

Shane also said that his mother's funeral will be a "private time" for him and his family and said he knew his fans would "understand and respect that".

He wrote: "Yesterday, Sunday 15th of December was the saddest day of my life... My mother Mae who was an incredible beautiful woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by all her family.

"I'd like to say thank you to everyone for all your well wishes at this time. To all the fans for all your support and lovely messages, thank you.

"Her funeral is a very private time for me and my family to grieve and I know you all understand and will respect that. If you would like to do something in her memory you can make a small donation to Sligo North West Hospice who looked after her so beautifully and peacefully in her final days and will continue to do for so many more families.

"Thank you. Love always, Shane & Family."

Mae was a mother of seven children, and leaves behind her husband Peter and kids Finbarr, Peter, Yvonne, Liam, Denise, Mairéad and Shane. She had 22 grandchildren.

Shane's mother helped start boyband Westlife's careers, when she contacted family friend Louis Walsh and told him to give the group a shot at the big time.  

Louis told the Irish Independent: "She knew my mother. Mae was from Kiltimagh originally and was living in Sligo. Anyway, she rang me and said how good her son and the group were, and for some reason I believed her.

"Every mother says their son is brilliant. I believed Mae Filan. I met them and there was something about them. They were rough around the edges."