Nineteen-year-old Nicola Lynch from Ballycroy is to feature on this Sunday’s installment of The Voice of Ireland on RTÉ One.
The bar worker and shop assistant could not reveal how she did in front of the judging panel ahead of the programme airing, but she did give the experience a resounding thumbs-up, saying it has given her the confidence to keep pursuing her dream of forging a career in the entertainment industry.
Ms Lynch said she started singing in national school with the encouragement of her teacher Leonna Conroy.
“She got me into singing in plays and concerts and festivals, and that sort of thing. I got really into music after that and it is what I want to do now,” said Ms Lynch.
Ms Lynch said going in front of the judges was a nerve-racking experience.
This year’s judging panel consists of Westlife star Kian Egan, song writer, producer and former Blizzards’ frontman Bressie, Una Foden from the chart topping girl group The Saturdays, and former S Club Seven member and successful solo pop queen Rachel Stevens.
“I’ve always been quite self-conscious and I didn’t think I’d really have the guts to do it,” outlined Ms Lynch. “But I just thought to myself, I’m only here once and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do, so I have to give it a go.”
The judges were “lovely”, she added. “I got some really positive feedback.”
Ms Lynch said Bressie is “gorgeous” but she knew well in advance of her audition that if the opportunity arose, she would opt for Una Foden or Kian Egan as her coach because they are more in tune with her style of music than the other judges.
Ms Lynch also surprised the judges with a bit of her own family background trivia. She has an impressive 14 siblings, nine brothers and five sisters, ranging in age from two to 27.
“They couldn’t believe it,” she laughed. “I suppose you don’t really hear of big families like that anymore.”
Nicola Lynch appears on The Voice of Ireland on RTÉ One at 6.30pm on Sunday.
