Shane Filan has confirmed the sad news that his father Peter has died 10 months after his mother Mae passed away.
The former Westlife star, 41, took to social media and confirmed his father’s passing and praised the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin for the care given to him.
Mr Filan, a father of seven, was well known in County Sligo where the family run the popular Carlton Cafe.
Family: Shane Filan, 41, has confirmed the sad news that his father Peter has died 10 months after his mother Mae passed away
In a statement, Shane wrote: ‘Yesterday Sunday the 4th of October my heart was broken. I lost the most important man in my entire life, my dad Peter.
‘He was my best friend, my guidance through life and an absolutely amazing father. He was my hero.
‘He died peacefully in his sleep in the amazing care of the medical team of St Vincent’s Hospital, Hawthorne Ward and my brother Peter.’
Shane added: ‘I can’t thank the staff of St Vincent’s Hospital enough, for the incredible care they all gave him over this last year.
Tribute: The former Westlife star took to social media and confirmed his father’s passing and praised the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin for the care given to him
‘I’d also like to say thank you to all the Westlife fans and friends around the world for all your lovely kind messages at this very sad time. His funeral will be private to family due to all the current restrictions and safety.
‘For those who would like to do something in his memory you can make a small donation to cancertrials.ie for other families in the future.
‘He was one of a kind and will now be reunited with the love of his life of 55 years, my mum Mae. Together forever. Thank you. Love always, Shane & Family.’
Shane’s father is survived by his seven children Finbarr, Peter, Yvonne, Liam, Denise, Máiréad and Shane.
Shane wrote: ‘Yesterday Sunday the 4th of October my heart was broken. I lost the most important man in my entire life, my dad Peter’
He added: ‘He was one of a kind and will now be reunited with the love of his life of 55 years, my mum Mae. Together forever. Thank you. Love always, Shane & Family’
According to Rip.ie, Mr Filan is also survived by 22 grandchildren, his brother Tom, sister Margaret, his sons-in-law Michael, Rowan and Cathal and his daughters-in-law Geraldine, Ciara, Patricia and Gillian.
Shane’s mother Mae passed away last December with the singer calling it ‘the saddest day of my life’.
It was Shane’s mother who kickstarted Westlife’s career when she contacted family friend Louis Walsh and told him to give the group a chance.
Louis previously told the Irish Independent: ‘She knew my mother. Mae was from Kiltimagh originally and was living in Sligo.
Parents: Shane’s mother Mae passed away last December with the singer calling it ‘the saddest day of my life’
‘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.’
Westlife formed in 1998 after Shane, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily bonded as schoolmates in Sligo.
After forming a band with other friends, Louis Walsh cut some members of the original group, who were called Six as One, and held auditions for replacements in Dublin.
Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden joined the group and managed to secure a major record deal with BMG.
Brian later left the group in 2004 and the remaining four members continued on until they split in 2012 and later reformed in 2018.
Career: It was Shane’s mother who kickstarted Westlife’s career when she contacted family friend Louis Walsh and told him to give the group a chance (pictured in December 2019)