PICS: Fans flock to the Páirc for a date with Westlife

"The prosecco is flowing, the sunday is shining, certain what more could you ask for?"

Liam Barry from Goldbergs summed up the feelings of many on Friday evening every bit Cork basked in glorious sunshine and buzzed with the enthusiasm of tens of thousands of concertgoers descending on Páirc Uí Chaoimh to see Westlife.

Westlife on stage who played. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The boyband are Leeside for 2 nights equally role of their Wild Dreams Tour and yesterday's weather contributed to an temper that felt like a dream come true long earlier the concert started.

David Whelan lead singer with Wild Youth playing support to Westlife at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Dublin band Wild Youth and British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé provided well-received back up before the crowd erupted when Westlife opened with Starlight.

Emeli Sande playing support to Westlife at Pairc Ui Chaoimh . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

With tens of thousands of fans in attendance(including Mr Louis Walsh), and like crowds expected on Saturday night, the political party looks set to continue all weekend.

Amy, Jane, Elaine and Chelsea Duggan and Shane Farmer all from Midleton at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Fans have come from far and wide for the event, with groups from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands joining throngs of Corkonians for what promises to be an epic occasion.

Rob Heffernan with Louise, Will and Jennifer Pollock from Lenenaghmore at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Exterior Goldbergs on Victoria Road yesterday scores of women drank gin or prosecco or bottled beers and all seemed to revel in being out in the lord's day and having the craic.

Anna McCarthy from Mitchelstown was sitting with her friends at a wooden table and said she was 'upwardly for Westlife, loving life, living the dream'.

Living their best lives with Westlife: Mitchelstown fans Gillian Maher, Anne McCarthy, Aoife Ryan, Mandy O'Regan and Kellie Treacy enjoying a drink on their way to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Friday. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

"I'll tell yous a story, I'k with my husband twenty years and the first CD he bought me was Westlife."

Her husband was at home, she added. Anna's friend Aoife Ryan said, to laughter, they were living their all-time lives with Westlife.

"Nosotros're all big fans from back in the twenty-four hours," she said, "back the showtime time bicycle shorts were around."

Davina McGowen, (left) Ballinlough and Elaine Kavnagh , Cobh at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Garda Chloe Smith, stationed at Gurranabraher, said the atmosphere had been fantastic all afternoon.

"People from all over are hither, and they're all loving it," she said. "The weather is just fantastic, and that'south helping."

Caroline Knightly was up from Dungarvan with her girl Sarah, who was on a last-infinitesimal night out before heading back to Abu Dhabi.

"She loves Nicky, Nicky is her Number Ane, I love Shane," she said.

Fans from Germany, Switzerland and Belfast at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

The odd token male person, a partner hither, or a earnest at that place, for the virtually role looked slightly mazed.

"I'd say now if a man was single or he could pass himself off as unmarried he'd be in paradise here," said Keith, a forty-something-twelvemonth-erstwhile husband who perhaps wisely declined to give his surname. "I'd say you'd exist taking off the wedding ring and hoping the tan line didn't exit y'all down."

Across the route, Michael Connery from Galway was selling Westlife hats – pinkish, white, black – at a tenner a head. "The sales are through the roof, and loads of good-looking women effectually, so we all love Westlife," Michael said.

Fans from The Netherlands at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Liam from Goldbergs said they were very witting of the hot atmospheric condition and working to aid people cool and enjoying the twenty-four hour period.

"We're doing our best to expect afterward people, we're giving out gratis bottled water, we're letting anyone who is suffering from the heat to come inside and cool downwardly, nosotros've provided toilets outside, and the council, the guards and ourselves, nosotros just work together."

Maria Smyth with her daughter Kate McCaul and her friend Joanna O'Shea at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Sergeant Barry Myers said the crowd was "well-nigh 90% women" and all were in fantastic grade.

"It's neat to see people in such good spirits, and myself and my colleagues in An Garda Síochána, we're mixing with people, having the craic, and anyone who'south not from town and request for directions, we're having a keen auld fourth dimension getting to know all these people," he said.

Keva and Bridget Byrne at the Westlife concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Over in the Marina Market, long queues lined upwardly at every nutrient stand. Kate Doyle from Wexford queued at Sultan. "I dear Westlife," she said. "I've been a fan as long as I can remember. I can't wait!"