A brand new season of TG4’s Glor Tíre begins tonight with a new studio, set and format for the station’s annual search for the best country music singers.
Three Galway women are among the talented contestants in the 18th season of the popular talent show which starts at 9.30 tonight on TG4.
Galway singers Katelyn Molloy and Deirdre Keane will both be mentored by Ciarán Rosney, while Rachel Goode from Ballinasloe will be mentored by fellow Galwegian Mike Denver.
Denver will also put Aishling Rafferty from Tipperary Town through her paces and Louise Morrissey will be the guest judge of Mike Denvir’s aspiring stars.
Hailing from Fermanagh is Rachel McConnell who will be mentored by Olivia Douglas, and she will also support Colin Kenny from Borrisokane in Tipperary as he aspires to win the Glór Tíre title.
Doyen of Country music Susan Mc Cann will be the guest Judge for Olivia Douglas’ concert shows.
Leading country artist Johnny Brennan will mentor Tracy Brennan from Dungannon in Tyrone and Kenny Crawford from Lifford in Donegal.
Filmed in Claregalway, Glor Tíre features Ireland’s biggest names in country music, and the winner will receive the much sought-after title as well as a cash prize fund of €5,000, sponsored by Louis Fitzgerald Group & Joel’s Restaurant.
In addition, the winner will join country music star, Mike Denver and friends for one week of shows and performances in Portugal in 2022 and this is sponsored by Paul Claffey Tours.
Rising country music stars and contestants will experience a new and exciting judging format for season 18, which will once again see contestant’s talent tested to reach their penultimate challenge of becoming Ireland’s Glór Tíre Country Music champion.
Resident judges Jo Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabhain will be joined by guest judges, who are some of the biggest names and supporters of Irish country music industry.
They include renowned country music journalist Eddie Rowley of the Sunday World and country stars Mick Flavin, Susan McCann and Louise Morrissey.
Presenters Aoife Ní Thuairisc and Séamus Ó Scanláin will once again engage with contestants, judges and mentors and entertain TG4 Glór Tíre audiences at home. Eight contestants will feature in an initial four concert programmes when their mentors introduce audiences and fans to their contestants for the first time.
At the end of each of these programmes the judges will choose four contestants who are safe in the competition and four contestants who will face the intense public live vote as part of the first elimination.
Voting will only open live during the first elimination programme and all votes are zeroed after each elimination which will bring great intensity and excitement to the performances of season 18.
Ultimately five contestants will make it to the semi-final and three will go on to the final when the winner will be announced on 22 February 2022.
The Sunday World’s country music columnist Eddie Rowley will be the guest judge for Johnny Brennan’s concert shows.
Reigning TG4 Glór Tíre titleholder Emma Donoghue is not looking forward to relinquishing her title.
“I’ve had an amazing year, since winning the Glór Title, I’ve learnt so much about the country music industry from my mentor Mike Denvir, I’ve grown in confidence and built a fantastic, loyal fan base and it’s all thanks to the brilliance of TG4 and the Glór Tíre series,” said Emma, who went on to wish all contestants every success and encouraged them to savour every moment of the competition.
All in all this promises to be the most exciting season yet of the hit TG4 show Glór Tíre.
Return to TV screens on 11 January with this very exciting and competitive shows broadcast on 18 and 25 January and on February 1, 8, 15 and 22.
