Mark Feehily hopes that the success of Normal People will give his hometown of Sligo a much-needed tourist boost.
The Westlife star and his bandmates Shane and Kian have always brought a slew of dedicated fans to Sligo on a band pilgrimage.
But after the international success of Normal People, Mark, (40) hopes that a new breed of tourist will flock to the Yeats County for a different reason.
“Normal People really has put Sligo on the map and I only watched it because so many people were talking about it,” he said.
“I didn’t realise it was filmed in Sligo until I watched it and discovered how beautiful they made the place look.
“Honestly, I was so pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the show not only looked but also how brilliant the acting was on screen.
“It was so well made, the tension and the relationship between Connell and Marianne was always on the verge of happening but never quite gets there.”
Mark admitted that the tale of unrequited love made him recall similar past relationships.
“I was particularly drawn into it from start to finish and I can relate to a lot of stuff that goes on in it,” he said.
“You know where people are mind-blowingly unwilling to commit but also telling you that they are head over heels in love with you at the same time.
“It was really good and I love seeing things that are made in Ireland that are so international and cool and I hope people travel to Sligo on the back of it.”
Westlife are currently taking an enforced break from the music industry due to the global pandemic restrictions.
And up to this point all four members have been enjoying this rare tranche of time at home with their loved ones.
Although Mark has hinted that they may be about to start recording some new material.
“I would be lying if I said that because we now have effectively a year without gigs where we naturally arrived at a place where we have to ask; what can we do?
“And thanks to technology we can social distance and write and record music and it is something that we have been talking about.
“We haven’t officially had that conversation but it is definitely the one major viable option we have of filling the time between now and the rescheduled tour.
“I have this need to perform and sing which is hard to explain and I have actually started singing to Layla, my daughter. So instead of putting on Peppa Pig, she gets to watch me.
“We would have a happy compromise at home where she gets 50 percent Peppa and 50 percent me, Daddy Pig.
“But she loves it and tries to copy me and it gets me singing with some backing tracks and it was for me and her.”
