End of an era for chart-topping band behind only Elvis and the Beatles
With 12 number ones to their name, they are behind only Elvis and The Beatles in the list of all-time chart toppers.
Their first seven singles went straight to number one, breaking a record held by The Beatles, and were the first group to score four number ones in a year.
The band Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Bryan McFadden eclipsed the likes of Take That and Boyzone.
Industry experts put the secret of their success down to hard work, good songs, and something which many other boybands have in short supply talent.
"Part of the secret of their continuing success is, unlike some other boybands, they are actually talented singers and performers who are brilliant in concert and work incredibly hard to promote themselves," said HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo.
"Their clean-cut image and personal brand of well-crafted pop ballads have seen them appeal to a very broad audience, from pre-teens to their parents.
"They also had a very sharp manager in Louis Walsh, who has a great instinct for what the public want and knows how to deliver it."
Walsh formed Westlife in 1998 as the successors to Boyzone.
Boyzone's Ronan Keating was drafted in as "manager" a canny move which ensured Westlife inherited the older group's fan base.
Their debut single, Swear It Again, went straight to number one in May 1998 and from then on the band were unstoppable.
They found their formula big ballads and cover versions and stuck to it.
Number one hits included Flying Without Wings, I Have A Dream, Queen Of My Heart and World Of Our Own.
Although they failed to crack America, the band are huge everywhere else. The boys are millionaires several times over and are one of Ireland's biggest exports.
It now remains to be seen whether Westlife can continue their extraordinary success as a foursome.
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