Westlife have reassured fans about Mark Feehily’s health, following his struggles in recent years.
Mark Feehily is doing “OK” despite not joining Westlife’s 25th anniversary tour amid his recent health battles.
The 45-year-old singer took a step back from the group in February 2024 as a result of three-and-a-half years of medical problems, including sepsis, pneumonia, and a hernia operation, and while he features on the Flying Without Wings hitmakers’ new music, he won’t be joining them for their celebratory concerts marking their career milestone this year.
The other members of Westlife, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan , appeared on BBC Breakfast on Monday (11.05.26), where they offered a reassuring update on Mark’s health.
Shane said: “He’s ok, he’s taking a step back at the moment. He’s on the new music, which is great; he’s on Chariot, obviously, as well, but no, not with us on this one.
“He’s good and he sends his love to everybody and to all the fans too.”
Mark admitted in December that he is still not strong enough for the gruelling commitment of a world tour.
Announcing he was to take part in a three-part programme for Ireland’s RTE Radio, he wrote on Instagram: “It’s been quite difficult to watch my band’s big World Tour launch knowing I won’t be able to be there with you all to join the party.
“However. It’s been really amazing to see our band still flying so high, and the incredible global support that’s still there for us. YOUR support!
“To everyone who has shown me such kindness recently, those I know those I’ve never met, your support has kept me going and given me strength when I didn’t have any of my own.
“All of this really drives home the honest truth that I’m simply not ready to take on a massive world tour yet. My body and my mind need time.
“However, thankfully, sitting in a chair to do a radio show is a completely different physical mental demand to doing a massive world tour and I feel very lucky to be able to do this new @rteradio1 show.”
Mark previously detailed his “health challenges” when he announced he was stepping back from Westlife.
He posted: “It’s Mark here… Most of you are aware that I have had some health challenges over the past while.
“It actually all started 3.5 years ago in August 2020 when I had surgery. Within a few days of this surgery I was in severe pain and was rushed into A+E.
“I eventually ended that awful day in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where I was informed that due to a complication with the surgery, I had developed severe ‘Sepsis’, a life-threatening infection that would require immediate emergency surgery to rectify the problem and basically save my life.
“I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown. For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiance and my then 10-month-old daughter. It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU.
“In late 2021, I became very ill in Newcastle before a concert and ended up back in A+E, this time being told I had pneumonia. I was told I had to go straight home to recover and regrettably miss the rest of the concerts that December.
“I was referred to a consultant who told me I needed more surgery which I went ahead with in May 2022 meaning I was forced to miss more of The Wild Dreams tour.
“Three months after that surgery, I tried my best to soldier on for you guys and to go back on tour but unfortunately the physical demands of the concerts and extensive travel were proving too much for me.
“I developed a very large ‘incisional hernia’ and I was told that I needed further surgery to fix it. This would be my fourth major surgery since the start of it all, but I had no option.”
Westlife offer update on Mark Feehily’s health
