I love Nicky Byrne and I will always do

After 14 years,26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles,11 top 5 albums,7of wich hit tthe top ten spot and have collectivety sold over 44 million copies around the world,10 sold out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish,we today annouce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.The decision is amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far,we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures.We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans.We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.

Over the years Westlife has becaome so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family.We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too.We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording,touring and having hits together.It has been a dream come true for all of us.

Kian,Mark,Nicky and Shane

WESTLIFE TOUR DATES:

10 May 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
12 May 2012 - London O2 Arena
13 May 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
14 May 2012 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
15 May 2012 - Liverpool Arena
17 May 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
18 May 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
19 May 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
20 May 2012 - Birmingham LG Arena
22 May 2012 - Nottingham Capital FM Arena
23 May 2012 - London O2 Arena
24 May 2012 - London O2 Arena
26 May 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena
27 May 2012 - Glasgow SECC
29 May 2012 - Belfast Odyssey Arena
30 May 2012 - Belfast Odyssey Arena

01 June 2012 - Belfast Odyssey Arena
02 June 2012 - Belfast Odyssey Arena
04 June 2012 - Birmingham LG Arena
05 June 2012 - Nottingham Capital FM Arena
07 June 2012 - London O2 Arena
08 June 2012 - Birmingham LG Arena
09 June 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena
11 June 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
12 June 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
13 June 2012 - Liverpool Echo Arena
15 June 2012 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
16 June 2012 - Glasgow SECC
17 June 2012 - Glasgow SECC
19 June 2012 - Glasgow SECC
20 June 2012 - Belfast Odyssey Arena
22 June 2012 - Dublin Croke Park
23 June 2012 - Dublin Croke Park

We wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone for their kind words and support since making our announcement.Our fans continue to be the best support system we could ever hope for and we thank each and every one of you.

The support we have felt over the last couple of day's gives us all strength as we look forward to our new individual paths in life and we all feel excited about the next chapters that we are embarking on.We know it doesn't make for a good storybut regardless of what you might read in the papers this was wholeheartedly a united decision.Obviously there is already a huge amount of speculation as to what exactly is next for us all,but until you hear it from us it remains just that;speculation.

We are planning a fan Q A and some intervieuws in the coming weeks so that we can speak directly to you all and so that you can hear our plans,straight from us.Until then,we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts-we really do have the best fans in the world.

Kian,Nicky,Shane and Mark