Limerick’s Marion Kelly is determined to shake things up on TG4’s Glór Tíre

WHEN Limerick's Marion Kelly steps on stage for the first episode of the new season of Glór Tíre, it will be with a determination to “bring a different style to the competition."

Marion, who lives close to the iconic Thomond Park in Limerick city, is the sole Munster representative on TG4’s long-running, hit country music show, which returns to our screens for its 21st season on Tuesday, March 4 at 9.30pm.

“This is a really good platform for me and I’m really excited about being on it,” she says. “I haven't really sat down and thought about it, it’s all ‘hit the ground running’ kind of thing.”

On that first episode, Marion will appear with Donegal singer Jack Larry - the first two of a total of eight contestants battling it out for the coveted title of Ireland’s Glór Tíre Country Music Champion 2025.

The Limerick woman’s determination to bring a distinct approach to the show will be in full effect, as she will perform two iconic songs which lean more to the country rock rather than country and Irish side of the genre: Shania Twain’s 1997 hit, ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman’ and ‘Shallow’, the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga number from A Star Is Born.

“I just wanted to pick something different and bring a different style into the competition,” says Marion of her song choices, “and I feel these songs will go down really well.”

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‘Shallow’ will be performed as a duet with Mike Denver who is mentoring both Marion and Jack this season. Indeed, despite being one of the most popular and established singers on the Irish country circuit, Denver admits that working with Marion has encouraged him to challenge himself and think outside the box.

“‘Shallow’ was something I hadn’t even contemplated singing until Marion came to me and suggested it,” he says. “‘It’s a little outside my comfort zone,’ I said, ‘but I’ll give it a try’, because this year I said to myself, whatever the contestants want I will go with it, rather than something that just suits myself, and Marion does an amazing job on it. She’s just a great singer, very modern country with a big, big voice.”

Marion describes working with Mike Denver as an “absolutely fantastic” experience and that appearing on Glór Tíre is a major opportunity to further her name on the Irish country scene.

“It is very important for country music in Ireland,” she says, “especially as country music is getting bigger. Glór Tíre showcases that and gets people interested and brings more people in.”

Glór Tíre is broadcast on Ireland’s national Irish language station, TG4, and produced by Galway production company, Gael Media. This year’s contestants are John Mullan (Derry/Tyrone), Erin Noone (Meath), Marion Kelly (Limerick), Jack Larry (Donegal), Michaela Harkin (Donegal), Conor Owens (Fermanagh), Paddy Treacy (Fermanagh), and Jack Gladney (Carlow).

The show is presented by Aoife Ní Thuairsig. The judges are RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta’s Jó Ní Chéide and singer Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin. The guest judge for the March 4 show will be the Sunday World’s Eddie Rowley.