Shane Filan has celebrated an ‘incredible’ 20 years of marriage to his wife Gillian.
The Westlife star and Gillian, both 44, returned to the place they said ‘I do’ two decades ago, the sprawling Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland.
Singer Shane and his partner Gillian enjoyed an ‘unforgettable few days’ at the estate, with the pair giving fans a glimpse at their romantic trip.
In one image shared on Instagram on Friday, Shane looked dapper in a smart black shirt and some matching trousers which he teamed with a white jacket.
He could be seen standing with his arm around Gillian who looked glamorous in a black sequinned dress which featured a thigh-high split.
Shane Filan has celebrated an ‘incredible’ 20 years of marriage to his wife Gillian, with the Westlife paying tribute to his partner on Instagram on Friday
Shane and Gillian, both 44, returned to the place they said ‘I do’ two decades ago, the sprawling Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland
In a heartfelt message, Shane captioned his post: ‘What an incredible 20 years married to this Lady @gillianfilansligo and an unforgettable few days back in @ashfordcastle to celebrate’
In another picture, they could be seen dressed in more casual attire as they stood in an entry to the castle, with some extravagant Christmas decorations hanging around the door.
In a heartfelt message, Shane captioned his post: ‘What an incredible 20 years married to this Lady @gillianfilansligo and an unforgettable few days back in @ashfordcastle to celebrate. I’m a lucky man!’
While Gillian wrote: ‘Making magical memories in @ashfordcastle for our 20th wedding anniversary ❤️ It was the most beautiful few days – relaxing and reminiscing on our special day there 28/12/03.’
Shane and his childhood sweetheart Gillian tied the knot in 2003 and have three children together – 17-year-old daughter Nicole and sons Patrick, 14, and Shane, 13.
While the couple looked happy as they celebrated their anniversary, their time together has not been without its difficulties – in 2018 it was reported Gillian was declared bankrupt six years after Shane’s own financial collapse left him in £20M debt.
Court documents obtained by the Daily Mirror at the time showed Gillian was ruled to be bankrupt by The High Court on 23 July, in relation to joint loans she shared with her husband.
Shane found himself in similar financial troubles in 2012 after his company with brother Finbarr, Shafin Developments, went bust after borrowing millions from Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank.
According to The Irish Independant, the bankruptcy is believed to have stemmed from mortgage debts Gillian and Shane had with Ulster Bank believed to be worth over €4m, or approximately £3.5m.
In one image, the couple could be seen dressed in more casual attire as they stood in an entry to the castle, with some extravagant Christmas decorations hanging around the door
Shane and his childhood sweetheart Gillian tied the knot in 2003 (pictured) and have three children together – 17-year-old daughter Nicole and sons Patrick, 14, and Shane, 13
During the economic boom Shane and his brother borrowed millions from the Irish banks to build a 90-strong housing development along with a nursing home and supermarket in Dromahair, Co Leitrim – close to Shane’s home in Sligo.
These plans were scrapped when the company went bust and Shane filed for bankruptcy in Kingston County Court.
Relocating to Surrey, Shane and wife Gillian were forced to sell their home in Sligo – valued at €10 million during the financial boom – for €800,000 in 2014.
Shane – who sold more than 10 million records as part of the Irish boyband Westlife – has since spoke openly about his financial troubles. Writing in his 2014 biography My Side Of Life, he said: ‘My whole life flashed before my eyes. It felt as if somebody had died. Everything was gone – my home, the cars, all our money. I sobbed inconsolably. This was the bottom of the barrel.’
Gillian wrote of her stay at Ashford Castle: ‘Making magical memories in @ashfordcastle for our 20th wedding anniversary ❤️ It was the most beautiful few days’
