Posted online: Dec 16th, 2009

BARACK Obama suggested that he and the Westlife lads go out for a Guinness together when he met up with them at the Nobel Peace Prize celebrations last week.

The Sligo crooners had a career highlight when they sang at a concert in Oslo for the Nobel Peace Prize celebrations and they met with the winner of the prestigious award, US president Barack Obama.

The lads sang three songs including their new single What About Now at the star-studded gig where other artists Natasha Bedingfield, Wyclef Jean and Norwegian fiddler Alexander Rybak also took the stage.

American actor and rap artist Will Smith and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, hosted the concert, which was televised across the world.

And the lads got to have a chin wag with the man of the moment before the concert. Mr Obama told the songsters of his Irish roots and even suggested they should all go for a Guinness together!

The boyband flew over to Norway on Thursday, a day ahead of their performance at the concert last night, so they could talk to Mr Obama

Singer Shane Filan told a press conference at the gig that it was a “dream come true” to meet the US President.

He said: “He was very approachable and a really cool president. So next time we’re in Washington we’re going to hook up with him for a pint!”

President Obama did not stay for the concert.