Westlife fans follow the stars to light capital for Christmas
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Westlife's Mark, Nicky, Shane and Kian helping seven-year-old Ishthara Larkin switch on the Christmas lights on Dublin's Grafton Street. Thousands of fans packed the street to see the pop stars do the honours outside Brown Thomas.
Pictures: Independent Woman
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By Allison Bray
Wednesday Nov 18 2009
DUBLIN'S Grafton Street came to a standstill last night as thousands of people cheered on Westlife as they flicked on the switch to the street's Christmas lights.
It was the band's first public appearance here since band member Nicky Byrne's father, Nicky Byrne Sr, died suddenly less than a fortnight ago.
While he is still coming to terms with the tragic death of his beloved father, Nicky paid tribute to the people who have supported him and his family during the ordeal.
"It's been a hard time but everybody -- the media, the fans -- have been brilliant and respectful to our family," he told the cheering crowd.
He told the Irish Independent how this Christmas will be especially tough as his father would have turned 61 in a few weeks. Last year, he celebrated his father's landmark 60th birthday by buying him a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Concert
"I'm holding up. I'm doing my best. We're all doing our best. It was just so sudden, such a shock," he said.
However, he said it is comforting to be back home and he's looking forward to tonight's Cheerio's Childline Christmas concert at the 02 arena which the band will headline.
"It feels good to be working in Ireland at the moment. It feels good to be working and to be able to go home and be on the phone to my mam. We've had brilliant support. Everyone has been great. I know everyone is there for us. It's just the finality of it all is just too hard to comprehend at the moment," he said.
Meanwhile, a legion of adoring fans stretched as far back as South Anne Street to catch a glimpse of the band during their appearance at the annual illumination ceremony outside Brown Thomas's flagship store.
The crowd went wild as band members Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne joined TV3's Martin King at the podium at 6pm. The affable weatherman had promised snow for the event and with the flick of a switch a torrent of fake snow blasted down, a feat he joked, "I can't even do with God".
The band's manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh was also given a hero's welcome as he took to the podium.
He shot down rumours that were circulating yesterday that his proteges John and Edward Grimes, or 'Jedward', were due to appear at the event.
Santa Claus, meanwhile, made a return appearance at the store following a 10-year absence. Other commitments at the North Pole had kept him away from the luxury department store over the years but he returned last night in a horse- drawn sleigh and will be on hand to be photographed with children in aid of the ISPCC and the Christina Noble Foundation.
He also officially launched the shop's stunning store window display that features a traditional homespun Christmas theme with a nod to the Art Deco movement.
- Allison Bray
Irish Independent
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