Limerick singer in televised semi-final to represent the county

COUNTRY singer Marion Kelly is preparing to compete in the Semi-Final of TG4’s Glór Tíre, as the search for Ireland's newest country and western music star nears its end. 

When Marion steps onto the stage of TG4’s Glór Tíre next week, she does so knowing that her journey is far from over.

A native of the Thomond Park area of Limerick City, Marion could hardly believe her success in making it to the Semi-Finals of the most prestigious Country Music show on Irish TV; “Even to get this far is an amazing experience,” she says.

Already, she has been receiving tremendous support from across Limerick for her Glór Tíre run.

“The amount of people that keep approaching me, congratulating me since I've started the show has given me such a boost,” she says. “Not only that, but my family, who have never seen the show, are now glued to it!”

The singer impressed the show's judges with her gutsy rendition of Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ and her duet with Mike Denver on the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper number, ‘Shallow’, which showcased her strong vocals.

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Marion will next appear on Glór Tíre on Tuesday, April 1 at 9.30pm on TG4 along with her fellow semi-finalists, John Mullan from Derry and Conor Owens and Paddy Treacy, both from Fermanagh, solely representing Munster in the national competition.

They will be joined by one more contestant to be chosen by public vote: Erin Noone from Meath, Jack Gladney from Carlow, and Donegal natives Jack Larry and Michaela Harkin.

The following week’s Semi-Final is when Marion will be looking for votes to get her through to the Grand Final. 

Glór Tíre is presented by Irish language presenter on TG4, Aoife Ní Thuairisg.

The resident judges are RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta’s Jó Ní Chéide and singer Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin. 

The guest judge for the April 1 show will be singer Shawn Cuddy. 

The guest judge for the April 8 Semi-Final will be the Sunday World’s Eddie Rowley.

For more information, news, and updates are available on www.tg4.ie and @glortire on social media.