Down Country Singer Jordan McPolin Says ‘The support has been insane’
County Down singer Jordan McPolin from Hilltown has reached the semi-final stage of the prestigious Country Music show, Glór Tíre.
Does Down have a new Country Music star? Jordan McPolin has certainly staked a claim to that title after qualifying for the Semi-Finals of Glór Tíre – Ireland’s most prestigious Country Music programme.
Jordan, from Hilltown in the south of the county, impressed the judges and won the public vote on last night’s show, with his spirited rendition of the Michael English song, ‘Joey On The Fiddle’.
He also saw off strong competition from fellow Ulster singers Maeve Farrell, also from County Down, Derry’s Marty Breslin, and Tyrone’s Ryan Lynch.
“I picked ‘Joey On The Fiddle’ because it’s a song I really like singing. It’s a really good, lively one that always keeps them jiving on the dance floor.”
Jordan’s victory means he goes through to next week’s Glór Tíre Semi-Final, which will be broadcast on Irish language station TG4 on Tuesday 3 March at 9.30pm.
The show is regarded as the most prestigious platform on Irish television for emerging and established Country Music artists, and is one of the few programmes produced in the Republic of Ireland which enjoys a dedicated audience in Northern Ireland.
The County Down man will be the sole Northern Irish contestant on the show, competing for a place in the Grand Final against Darcy Walsh (Donegal), Megan O’Hara (Offaly), Dee Morrissey (Tipperary), and Paudie Coffey (Kerry).
“It’s a dream come true to get into the Semi-Final,” says Jordan. “The experience of being on Glór Tíre has been phenomenal. Getting on the TV is a massive thing on its own, and the exposure from it has been brilliant.
“From the start of the campaign and my episode of the series, my Facebook page has blown up, and the followers have increased.
“Every post is getting piles of Likes and Shares, and there’s messages from everybody, the support has been insane. I couldn’t be any more thankful to them. Hopefully, everybody from County Down will support me, and I want to make County Down, and everyone who has supported me, proud.”
Down Country fans can vote for Jordan on next week’s show by downloading the Glór Tíre app from Google Play and the Apple App Store.
The Glór Tíre Grand-Final will be presented by Aoife Ní Thuairisg. Resident judges Jó Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin will be joined by guest judge, singer Brendan Shine.
Check out: www.tg4.ie and follow @glortire on social media.
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Maeve Farrell Says She Will Build On The Glór Tíre Experience
‘I’m able to say I sang at the Grand Old Opry’
She may not have made it to the Glór Tíre Semi-Final, but Maeve Farrell is the only contestant on this year’s show who can say she has sung on stage at the Grand Ole Opry.
On last night’s show, broadcast on Irish language station TG4, 20-something Maeve from Annaclone certainly did Down, and the county’s Country scene proud, with a gospel medley that showcased her impressive vocal abilities.
“That Gospel Melody is a track from my debut album, Crossroads, that I released 10 years ago,” she said. “I’ve been reflecting a lot on the steps that made me the performer and the person I am today, so I just thought it very fitting because it all represents where I started from.”
Maeve plans to “keep going, keep writing, keep recording, keep gigging”. Perhaps a hint of what is to come came during a recent visit to the Country Music Mecca that is the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I was there for the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th Birthday and 100th anniversary concert,” says Maeve. “During the visit, I was wearing a dress that my best friend designed for me. It replicates the Country Rose Barbie doll that the Grand Ole Opry and Barbie brought out.
“I was on the post-show backstage tour. When the tour guide was speaking, she asked about my dress, and I said: “Well, I’m a country singer. My stage nickname is The Country Rose. This is the Barbie Doll Country Rose dress. And the guide said: “Would you like to sing at the Opry?”
