Lisa McHugh is an up-and-coming Country star with very strong family ties to Donegal. In her new column ‘Country Girl’, the Glasgow native tells us on what’s going on behind the scenes of TG4’s talent competition Glór Tíre and speaks about releasing her latest single.
Last Wednesday, my family and friends all came to our home in Carmunnock to watch my performance on TG4’s Glór Tíre alongside my mentor Robert Mizzell.
After all competitors performed on the very first programme of the series, we were all given a full programme each to perform with our mentors to round up the support in our quest to make it to the live finals
We all gathered around the television and waited for the programme to begin on TG4 with great anticipation. Everyone was very excited, especially me.
The phone never stopped ringing, once the programme had ended, with family and friends calling me from around Donegal and Scotland until late in the night to congratulate me. It was great to hear that so many people had been able to tune in, even on the internet, to watch the show.
While we were using the Northern Ireland number to cast their votes, so were my family in Castlederg and all the family in Donegal who rang me and told me they had voted.
On Thursday my mentor Robert called me which was such a lovely surprise. He told me that he was really happy with my performances.
Robert said that I did my Irish and Scottish family very proud and just to continue being myself on the programme, not to let nerves get to me and show people what I’m made of.
I’m so grateful to Robert and his band. He has given me so much advice from the beginning and given me the opportunity to tour with him. Robert’s band has also been so supportive since day one.
This Wednesday night, all nine competitors will be back on the Glór Tíre stage to battle for a place in the next stage of the series, the live broadcast programmes which begin on Wednesday, December 2.
Hoping to make it through to the next stage, I’ve also been really busy rehearsing songs for the live shows, which include a Gaelic song which we all had to learn.
As I didn’t grow speaking Irish, it’s been very hard for me but thanks to my mother Sally [nee Coyle from Falcarragh] and my Auntie Briege McGinley, who are both fluent Irish speakers, I’ve been getting through it and been able to improve my pronunciation.
I’ve received so much support from everyone in my second home, Donegal, it’s been amazing. My sister Celia, who lives in Letterkenny, has been rounding up the support, while all my mother’s family in Cloughaneely have also been fantastic in helping me promote myself.
New Single
I have recorded a new single, Old Fashioned Girl, and I’m really excited as it went out to radio stations all over the UK and Ireland last Wednesday and I hope you enjoy it and request it on your local radio stations.
I would like to thank everyone in Donegal who has voted for me so far and hopefully the great support I am getting will carry me a long way in the competition so I can do all my Donegal and Scottish connections proud.
Please continue to show your support for Lisa McHugh and to vote for this exciting young up-and-coming Country star text LISA to ROI: 53500 or NI: 83222.
