Mixed emotions for fans as Westlife bow out

Tens of thousands of Westlife fans last night veered between ecstasy and agony as the veteran pop band played the first of two farewell gigs in Dublin’s Croke Park.

Some 82,000 mainly female fans turned out to say an emotional goodbye to Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily as they bow out after 14 years.

And Westlife gave them the two-hour show of a lifetime, including nearly all of their hits, from Swear It Again to What About Now and Flying Without Wings.