Things are looking up for Shane Filan

Former Westlife singer Shane Filan didn’t let bankruptcy get him down, says Ed Power.

FORMER Westlife singer Shane Filan was declared bankrupt in 2012, just as the chart-topping band were preparing for two farewell shows at Croke Park. He wouldn’t change a thing. A victim of the property bubble, he’s come through his financial difficulties and says he’s stronger for them, now that his solo career is blossoming.

“It was horrible — a very testing time,” he says of the implosion, which left him on the hook for an estimated €20m. “Without a doubt, it makes you mentally tougher. You think about your kids — your marriage. From out of all that came the song ‘Everything To Me’. It’s about the important things in life. You realise money doesn’t make you happy. I’ve learned the hard way. I’m the better for it. I appreciate what I have now.”