‘It just keeps getting bigger and bigger’ says Hilltown C&W singer Jordan McPolin
Hilltown’s Jordan McPolin is getting set to appear on leading Country Music show, Glór Tíre.
Nathan Carter just might be the reason Jordan McPolin is today a Country singer and the story behind it says a lot about the County Down man’s precocious talent.
On Tuesday 27th January at 9.30pm, Jordan will appear on Glór Tíre, the long-running, hit Country Music show on Irish language station, TG4, which enjoys a devoted following on both sides of the border.
At 19, the Hilltown native is the youngest of eight competitors on the show, each seeking the prestigious title of Ireland’s Glór Tíre Country Music Champion 2026, but his is a life already steeped in Country Music.
“There was always Country Music in our house,” said Jordan. “With my grandparents on Sunday evenings there would have been Country Music records playing, but when I was six, I actually won backstage passes to Nathan Carter and I got chatting with him.
“He said to me, ‘You have to get yourself a guitar’. That Christmas, a guitar was the first thing on the Santa list.
“After Covid, one of the fellas that worked with my dad was having a party and said, ‘Come along and bring your guitar’, so I bought a bit of gear and speakers and did the performance and things rolled on from there. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
That passion for music, and the confidence it took to speak with Carter are hallmarks of Jordan’s stage presence and approach to music to this day. With gigs and stage time under his belt singing has been ever busier.
Jordan added: “It’s just been flat out. I’m out near every weekend, probably three nights a week and I’m ready now to take the next step by appearing on Glór Tíre.
“Glór Tíre has always been something I said I would like to get on to. It’s keeping Country Music alive and bringing it to a younger crowd.
“It’s just a great exposure and it’ll get my name out there even more, and reach a bigger crowd.”
For Glór Tíre, Jordan will be mentored by one of his musical heroes – leading Irish Country singer, Jimmy Buckley.
“It’s a privilege to have Jimmy as my mentor,” Jordan said. “This year he approached me to do Glór Tíre and I said, absolutely, I’d love to do it with him.”
On the show, Jordan will perform his debut single, his spirited cover of Leroy Van Dyke’s 1956 classic, ‘The Auctioneer’, and perform a Johnny Cash medley with Jimmy Buckley.
Also appearing on the show is County Donegal singer, Darcy Walsh.
Glór Tíre is presented by Aoife Ní Thuairisg and produced by Galway-based company, Gael Media. Jó Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin return as resident judges. The guest judge will be The Sunday World’s Eddie Rowley.
