Shayne Ward is always proud of his Irish culture. The singer made his debut onto the world stage 20 years ago when he auditioned for The X Factor.
His singles including That’s My Goal and No U Hang Up have become firm favourites across the world.
Now he’s heading back on the road this year and will play two dates in Ireland in October. VIP Magazine got to sit down with him ahead of the tour to take a look at his playlist.
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Hi Shayne! We’re so excited becuase you’re coming to Ireland in October to play The Ambassador. You must be just as excited to get back on the road!
Exactly that. I’m just really excited about getting back on the road. I feel like it’s been a while where I’ve just completely just focused on shows to the end of the year. I have this lovely balance of acting, so that kind of takes me away for a bit. But I just keep coming back to the music, and I just feel like I’ve starved myself releasing music for so many years, just naturally because I’m focusing on other things. So that’s another reason for going on tour just so I can start releasing new material to my fans and reconnecting with them more than anything. I’ve had such a very loyal fan base, especially in Ireland, considering that my family are born and bred there.
Like you said you have a strong connection to Ireland, so you must be really excited to come to come back here?
I do. I do.I absolutely love it. I love hearing from relations. Last time I was there, I did this great show where I got to reconnect, with the place of my mum’s birth in Dundalk. So it was really nice because I met my mum’s great-auntie, who’s the last surviving on her daddy’s side. So it was just really nice. It was the first time I’ve met her, so those those moments are very special for me. I’m sure I’ll meet some cousins when I go back.
What is your favorite thing to do when you come to Ireland?
It’s just as soon as the the plane lands and my feet touch the ground. I’ve always said this it’s like it’s home from home, and I just feel instantly connected. I’ve always felt very proud and strong about my Irish roots, with my mam and my dad. I just feel an instant connection of welcome every time I come to Ireland. I just love being there, and I probably should go more but life gets in the way. I have two beautiful kids, and that’s something that I’m looking forward to really kind of teaching them about my upbringing and my heritage in terms of my mam and dad, and their grandparents, and their parents, and so on and so forth. The Irish crowds as well, you know yourself. Everyone can be biased and say these are the best places, but Ireland just has some of the best crowds.
And just on your kids there I know you obviously have a very different job than probably most dads do. Do they understand what you’re doing?
Not my son he’s only three, bless, but he also he knows I go away to work because his favourite words are “Daddy back soon.” But my little girl she’s kind of more familiar with me being on TV, and that her mum’s on TV, so she knows that. I think she’s learning the word “famous”. It is so funny when when kids try to understand it, because they don’t fully, and they still find it strange if they see me performing on television. I remember when I brought my little girl, Willow, to a Manchester show a good few years ago. She came up on stage, and she had her ear defenders on. I was so proud to hold her in my arms and sing my song. And I was singing Gotta Be Somebody, which was a cover of Nickelback. And I had a moment where I’m thinking, “Is she singing the words?” I put my ear next to her she was saying “Daddy, put me down. I want to go home.” I thought I was having a beautiful moment, thinking she’s singing with me. [Laughs] When she woke up the next day, she was like, “Why were all these people shouting your name, Daddy? I don’t like them shouting at you!” I’m like, “No, they’re just shouting because they like me.”
What is it like juggling acting and music and your family life?
I think it’s just it’s just that. It’s just finding good balance. My partner Sophie she is incredible. She really, really is. I spend a lot of time away and she just holds the fort. That being said she’s an actor herself. She’s put that on the back burner, to take care of the family. And I’m grateful for that. She’s going to be getting back to acting soon herself, which is very exciting. So I’ll take a back seat and I’ll be dad for a little while, which I’m very excited about in terms of just letting Sophie go out and find herself and get back to the acting world because she’s missed it. She’s excuse my language but f**king brilliant. I’m really proud of her, so I’m excited to see her back where she belongs. It’s just about an understanding, of having that nice balance. I feel very blessed that I get to do acting and singing. But the show, The Good Ship Murder, that I do I get to sing at the end of every show, because that’s part of the characters. That’s what
kind of keeps keeps me wanting to get back to live music. And that’s why it now feels right. It’s 20 years since I won The X Factor, so it’s it’s a celebration this year too, of an anniversary.
Breaking into the music industry is very different now with social media. Are you happy you made your breakthrough with The X Factor?
I think there’s benefits for both, really. It’s a daunting task going for an audition and getting knocked back or making it through rounds and not getting through. It’s not easy and it can really can make or break someone, in terms of their own confidence and spirit. But it can also open doors for you when you’ve got that kind of exposure of being on a show like The X Factor. I guess the great side of socials, you don’t have to go on a show like these shows anymore, because you’ve got your instant platform in the comfort of your own home. We are now kind of overwhelmed greatly with some incredible talent just at the touch of a button. We can see 20 fantastic singers. Back in the day, we used to watch something like X Factor and you’d be able to go, “Where has that voice been? Where’s that voice come from?” Whereas now, we hear those voices every single day. You’ve got it at your fingertips for free, basically.
Growing up did you always know that you wanted to a professional musician?
I’m one of seven. Three brothers, three sisters, and music was always played in our household. It would always be Irish music, it would always be country music, and it would always be pop. It was cassette tapes makes me sound very old but it was! So there was always something playing in the house that’s actually what helped me, because I performed with some of my idols and greats from Ireland. Every time I was on The Late Late Show, I got to sing with Finbar Furey from The Fureys. I did a duet with Foster and Allen. I met the legend that is Daniel O’Donnell who’s a beautiful guy. I also did Childline do I used to always be backstage with Westlife, and U2 and Boyzone. I’ve got so many great memories and that all just stems from the music I listened to growing up. I kind of always knew that I would somehow get into you know, I knew myself that music would be some part of my life.
Who did you listen to growing up?
My mum’s favorite singer is Patsy Klein. So she would always be playing. Of course Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Tammy Wynette, Brenda Lee. Then you go to the Irish like The Dubliners, of course Foster and Allen. The Corrs, The Canberries. I mean, we had the best pop era in the 90s, didn’t we? Some of the best bands coming through. I was listening to everything from Five, Boyzone, of course Westlife, Steps, 911, A17, Another Level. The list is kind of endless of everyone that I was listening to.But then I loved as well I loved, I’ve always loved the Bee Gees growing up. I’m all about harmonies, so the Bee Gees were someone I always listened to, and The Stylistics.
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Who would you say is your biggest musical inspiration?
It’s very hard to say who’s had the biggest impact. I think it was because I was very spoiled, in terms of that music was always playing. Or a sibling would always be singing something else from another room, so I always heard different songs.
What was your first like concert that you went to?
I think my first concert would have been a Westlife concert. It was the one where they were walking if anyone could find what year that was they were walking on a treadmill-like style belt. And I remember when someone said Shane Filan’s name on the stage. And I’m only young, I’m in the audience, like, “It’s my name. I’m called Shayne too!” I think that was my first concert in Manchester.
So many people’s first concert was Westlife!
I’ve got a great memory of me and Shane Filan after Childline. It was the Point Depot at the time. We were back stage both having a drink. And I’ll never forget it. We both just stood at the bar and it was so lovely because we’re both just having a giggle. And he started singing the start of That’s My Goal, telling me how it should be sung. And I said, “Well, I’ll tell you how the start of Flying Without Wings should be sung.” So, you’ve got Shane singing and me singing back to him. We did that for about an hour and I just loved it.
What is an album that shaped you?
Can I give you three? Me and my mates used to listen to them all the time. Craig David, Born to Do It, Backstreet Boys, Millennium, I think. To be honest, it would have been any of Westlife’s.
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What is the best gig that you’ve been to?
I’ve been to so many. I’ve seen Prince. But I have to give you one that I’m going to go to. I’m gonna go I’m gonna go see Oasis, and that’s pure nostalgia for everybody, especially me, being from Manchester. I’ll come back to you on that one and let you know at a later date if that’s gonna be the best gig I’ve ever seen.
What is it like for you when you’re on stage and when you hear people singing back to you?
It’s a hard one to explain other than you feel appreciated. You feel seen in that moment. And for me, it’s about seeing a smile on their faces. I think if I see that they’re enjoying themselves, then I think to myself, “Okay, I must be doing something right.” I just feel an interesting connection to them. They like what I do. I feel welcomed. So it feels nice. That’s what I’m excited about getting back to absolutely.
What has been your biggest achievement so far?
I’ve had some wonderful things. I feel very blessed to have achieved like Madame Tussauds waxwork many years ago. I would say supporting Westlife at Croke Park was a big achievement for me. I think it was my Christmas number one. The fact that I had a number one at Christmas with “That’s My Goal” I think professionally that will always be my biggest to date.
When you stepped into The X Factor audition room 20 years ago, could you have imagined your career going into acting and doing this now?
No, I think you never know what tomorrow brings. I think when I was 21 looking back now, it’s funny. And it’s crazy. I mean, sometimes you can say that everything happens for a reason. It’s why I’m here today. I think you learn so much. You learn to appreciate those moments more. And I really appreciate them. But I also know that there were moments in the studio where I wish I’d gone, “Okay, maybe I should have been behind the desk and watched a bit more,” or “I should have done this on stage,” or “I should have done that in the audition.” When I walked in I mean, everything happened so fast. It’s 20 years later, and I’m still doing what I love to do. And now I have the crossover into acting. I have a beautiful family with Sophie, and I’ve got Willow and Rain. I’m about to go out on tour. So I just you know, tomorrow is never a given. So I just count every day as a blessing. You know hopefully, here’s to another 20.
Shayne Ward returns to Ireland with two headline Ambassador Theatre, Dublin shows on Friday, 10th October 2025 and Saturday 11th October 2025. Get your tickets here.