Westlife star Mark Feehily announces engagement

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Westlife singer Mark Feehily announced his engagement last week on Twitter.

The star and his boyfriend Kevin McDaid got engaged on their fifth anniversary. They have not revealed a date for their civil partnership.

Feehily tweeted: “Hi guys,ITS TRUE!!! Myself & Kevin are engaged!! We are so happy! Exciting times ahead,thanks for all ur kind words! Lotsa love,Mark&Kevin x”

The singer kept his sexuality a secret until he began dating McDaid in 2005.

He recently paid tribute to the late Boyzone star Stephen Gately, who was the first member of a boyband to come out.

Gately announced he was gay in 1999, at the height of Boyzone’s fame.

Following Gately’s death in October, Feehily said: “Stephen was extremely brave. He was the first member of a boyband to come out, and, in hindsight, it helped me and probably lots of other gay lads to understand their sexuality and come out.

“Every time a celebrity who is admired by millions of people comes out, it’s one more blow to any negative stereotype out there.”