1. Nicky Byrne is best known for being a member of the pop group Westlife; Westlife has since released twelve albums, embarked on thirteen world tours, and won some awards, becoming one of the most successful Irish boys groups of all time.
34 Facts About Nicky Byrne
1. 2.
In September 2012, it was announced that Byrne would be a contestant for the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.
3.
Nicky Byrne was a footballer and played for Home Farm and St Kevins Boys in North Dublin.
4.
Nicky Byrne became a professional player, and joined Leeds United as a goalkeeper in 1995, and was a squad member of the FA Youth Cup winning team of 1997.
5.
Nicky Byrne played for Leeds for two years, leaving when his contract expired in June 1997.
6.
Nicky Byrne played in a reserve game for Scarborough and in a trial game with Cambridge United, before returning to join Dublin club Shelbourne.
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Nicky Byrne then signed for Cobh Ramblers playing 15 games in all competitions, then St Francis FC, all in Ireland's League of Ireland.
8.
On 14 May 2009, Nicky Byrne was a substitute for a Liverpool Legends XI that played against an All Star XI in a Hillsborough Memorial match to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
9.
Nicky Byrne represented the Republic of Ireland at U15, U16 and U18 levels.
10.
Nicky Byrne is a fan of Celtic FC, and on 9 August 2011 played in a Celtic Legends XI at Celtic Park in front of a crowd of 54,000 against a Manchester Utd Legends team.
11.
Nicky Byrne scored in the match, played at Old Trafford.
12.
Nicky Byrne was the only non-professional player to score in the match.
13.
In June 1998, Nicky Byrne attended an audition for new Irish boyband, where Boyzone manager Louis Walsh approached him to join his new venture, Westlife.
14.
Nicky Byrne joined Westlife along with Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden.
15.
Nicky Byrne revealed in Westlife: Our Story that he had wanted to change the name of the band to West High; but the others preferred Westlife.
16.
Nicky Byrne had a number one single in Ireland in 2002, alongside the Republic of Ireland national football team and Dustin the Turkey with the Irish 2002 FIFA World Cup anthem, "Here Come The Good Times ".
17.
In early January 2016, it was rumored that RTE had internally chosen Nicky Byrne to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.
18.
Nicky Byrne had not yet confirmed or denied such information but announced that he would grab the opportunity with both hands if given.
19.
On 13 January, Nicky Byrne was confirmed to be the Irish singer for the 2016 contest in Stockholm with the song, "Sunlight".
20.
Nicky Byrne performed in the second semi final on 12 May 2016, but failed to advance to the final.
21.
In 2003, Nicky Byrne guest-hosted an edition of CD:UK with Cat Deeley.
22.
Nicky Byrne hosted the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics live from Dublin's Croke Park in front of 80,000 spectators.
23.
Nicky Byrne has narrated stage shows such as The Snowman Christmas Special and the Picture of You documentary dedicated to former Boyzone member Stephen Gately, who died on 10 October 2009.
24.
Nicky Byrne has hosted the Cheerios ChildLine Concert a record seven times, which was broadcast on RTE2, and in more recent years on TV3.
25.
In October 2012, Nicky Byrne hosted the RTE reality TV show Football's Next Star.
26.
In 2013 through 2015, and again in 2017 and 2018, Nicky Byrne presented the Irish votes at the Eurovision Song Contest.
27.
Nicky Byrne co-hosted the short-lived TV talent show The Hit on RTE One along with Aidan Power.
28.
On 4 February 2014, Nicky Byrne signed a contract with RTE 2fm to host a new weekday show from 11am to 2pm together with veteran DJ and presenter Jenny Greene.
29.
In January 2015, Nicky Byrne started hosting the new weekly National Lottery game show The Million Euro Challenge on RTE 1, although the show was axed that July.
30.
In January 2017, Nicky Byrne started hosting an Irish version of the TV show Dancing with the Stars, alongside Amanda Byram and with Jennifer Zamparelli from 2019.
31.
In October 2021, Nicky Byrne was announced as the host of a new singing competition commissioned for RTE entitled Last Singer Standing.
32.
Nicky Byrne has co-written some songs in his Westlife years and on all ten tracks on his debut solo album and to one unreleased song:.
33.
Nicky Byrne was born in Dublin and grew up in the Northside area of the city, where he attended Pobalscoil Neasain and continues to reside.
34.
Nicky Byrne married Georgina Ahern, his secondary schoolmate, on 5 August 2003 at the Wicklow Register Office, Wicklow, County Wicklow.