Record-breaking Westlife are to kick off their 2010 tour in Belfast — marking their 51st show at the Odyssey Arena.

The Irish boy band will be back in Belfast on May 2 as part of their Where We Are tour.

The last time they played Belfast was in May 2008, when the celebrated their 50th show at the venue, breaking all records for an artist or band.

The following month they marked their 10th anniversary by playing a show at Croke Park in Dublin to 83,000 fans. Since then they’ve taken a break from touring but are hitting the road again next year to promote their new album.

Tickets for the Belfast show go on sale next Thursday, December 9, at 9am.

Meanwhile, the band’s Nicky Byrne has revealed a tour secret to the hosts of the BBC NI programme the Friday Show, Eamonn Holmes and Rachel Tucker.

Nicky said: “When we do our tours and we go off stage at the very end, when we come back on for the encore, we made a pact that we’d always do it ‘commando’.

“It’s a true story, so every time we come back on for our final song, or the last three songs or whatever the encore is, it all hangs out! We actually did it tonight as well!”

Eamonn replied: “That gives a whole new meaning to Flying Without Wings!”

MAUREEN COLEMAN