The longest-running and most successful country music series on Irish television is set to return to our screens in March for its milestone 20th season.
Glór Tíre will see eight emerging talents in Irish country music fight it out for the title of Glór Tíre Champion 2024, with each contestant mentored by some of the biggest names in Irish country, including Galway’s Claudia Buckley.
This year’s hopefuls are Shannan Carroll (Meath), Jenny Hanlon (Louth), Alistair Fingleton (Kildare), Effie Neill (Cork), Karl Kirkpatrick (Fermanagh), Gerard Gormley (Tyrone), Jason McCahill (Donegal), and Chelsea Evans (Donegal).
Glór Tíre season 20 will begin in March on TG4, but ahead of that, two concert shows are being recorded on Tuesday 30 January and Thursday 1 February in Studio Telegael An Tullach in Baile na hAbhann.
Glór Tíre is TG4’s longest-running country and Irish music series, produced by Galway production company, Gael Media. The show is widely regarded as the premier platform for new and emerging Country and Irish talent, and as essential to the lifeblood of the genre.
Season 20 will be presented by Aoife Ní Thuairisg, and the judges will be RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta’s Jó Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin, along with guest judges, Eddie Rowley from the Sunday World and Trudi Lalor, singer and editor of RSVP Country.
The public is invited to attend and dance the night away with sets from Claudia Buckley, Michael English, Johnny Brady and Jim Devine, who are also mentoring this year’s contestants, who the public will also see perform on stage at the recordings.
Country fans who would like to attend the recordings on 30 January and 1 February should email glortiredancers@gmail.com to book their tickets. Doors for the performances open at 7.30pm, with the first recording at 8pm sharp.
Broadcast dates for the 20th season of Glór Tíre are 12, 19, and 26 March, 2, and 9, 16, and 23 April at 9.30pm on TG4.
