An Post honours band with limited edition stamps

An iconic Irish boyband is putting its stamp on letters and parcels.

Limited edition Westlife stamps to mark the Irish pop group’s 25th anniversary have been issued by Irish postal service An Post.

Westlife has sold more than 55 million records worldwide, and had 14 UK number one hits.

An Post said the stamps were a tribute to the band’s global success and role as “wonderful ambassadors for Ireland and its music” and the group said the recognition “means the world” to them.

But Brian McFadden – who left Westlife in 2004 – has not been featured on the stamps.

The collection from An Post features booklets of four National Rate “N” stamps – currently €1.35 (£1.17) each, alongside 12,000 copies of a souvenir “band” stamp sheet.

Each of the stamps is dedicated to current band members Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan.

“It is such an honour and privilege to be featured on Irish stamps and it is a very special way to commemorate our 25 years of Westlife touring together,” Westlife said.

“We are so grateful to the fans who’ve supported us right from the very beginning and also a special mention and thank you to An Post too. See you on the envelopes! Love Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane.”

The stamps were designed by Shaughn McGrath Creative, who worked closely with the band.

Exclusive Westlife photography and a special commemorative ‘Sligo’ stamps are included in a ‘First Day Cover envelope’.

All of the current band members are from Sligo except Byrne who is from Dublin.

Westlife was set up by boy band manager Louis Walsh in 1998.

The band disbanded in 2012 before reuniting six years later.

The lads are due to celebrate the 25th anniversary with gigs in the Royal Albert Hall in October.

Mark Feehily announced he was taking some time off in 2024, due to ill health and the remaining three members have performed without him.

Fellow Irish boyband, Boyzone, have also been featured on stamps – but in the central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan instead of Ireland.

In the year 2000 the postal service of the central Asian nation issued stamps featuring members of Boyzone on them, as part of a series on famous faces.

A spokesperson for An Post said music, musicians and bands are popular topics for the Irish stamp programme, and rhymed off Hozier, Christy Moore, Thin Lizzy & Phil Lynott, U2, The Dubliners, Sinead O’Connor, Christy Dignam and Shane MacGowan.

Aileen Mooney, An Post’s Irish Stamps Manager, said the organisation was proud “to celebrate Westlife’s incredible journey” .

“These stamps are more than postage – they are a celebration of Irish culture, a keepsake for fans, and a lasting tribute to 25 years of Westlife,” she said.