Shane Lynch had expected to miss the birth of his first child, who was due while he was on a promotional tour of Australia with Boyzone this November. But his adorable daughter Billie-Rae had other ideas – and made her appearance two weeks early on 25 October.
It’s certainly been a busy year for the Irishman. As well as experiencing first-time fatherhood, he is enjoying a renaissance with Boyzone – since reforming, they have been promoting their greatest hits album Back Again… No Matter What and their single Love You Anyway reached No.5 in the UK charts. “We’re absolutely loving it,” he says.
Here, Shane and Sheena, 29, tell HELLO! all about the arrival of their baby daughter, and reveal how they plan to bring up their little girl when Boyzone head off on their world tour next year.
Congratulations on the birth of Billie- Rae. Sheena, what has Shane been like as a dad?
Shane, you’ve admitted to keeping Billie-Rae awake so you can spend time with her.
Who came up with the name Billie- Rae?
Most of your Boyzone bandmates are fathers, have they offered any advice?
“It was more the early days of Sheena’s pregnancy, all the lads said, ‘She’s hormonal, she’s going to go mad.’ But Sheena was amazing, and I used to tell her that, because I never got it in the ear, I never had the stress, and she never went crazy.
You’re both Christians, will this play a part in Billie-Rae’s upbringing?
Are you enjoying being with Boyzone second-time round?