Lisa McHugh is an up-and-coming Country star with very strong family ties to

Donegal. In her new column 'Country Girl', the Glasgow native tells us on what's

going on behind the scenes of TG4's talent competition Glór Tíre and speaks

about releasing her latest single.

Last Wednesday, my family and friends all came to our home in Carmunnock to

watch my performance on TG4's Glór Tíre alongside my mentor Robert Mizzell.

After all competitors performed on the very first programme of the series, we

were all given a full programme each to perform with our mentors to round up the

support in our quest to make it to the live finals

We all gathered around the television and waited for the programme to begin on

TG4 with great anticipation. Everyone was very excited, especially me.

The phone never stopped ringing, once the programme had ended, with family and

friends calling me from around Donegal and Scotland until late in the night to

congratulate me. It was great to hear that so many people had been able to tune

in, even on the internet, to watch the show.

While we were using the Northern Ireland number to cast their votes, so were my

family in Castlederg and all the family in Donegal who rang me and told me they

had voted.

On Thursday my mentor Robert called me which was such a lovely surprise. He told

me that he was really happy with my performances.

Robert said that I did my Irish and Scottish family very proud and just to

continue being myself on the programme, not to let nerves get to me and show

people what I'm made of.

I'm so grateful to Robert and his band. He has given me so much advice from the

beginning and given me the opportunity to tour with him. Robert's band has also

been so supportive since day one.

This Wednesday night, all nine competitors will be back on the Glór Tíre stage

to battle for a place in the next stage of the series, the live broadcast

programmes which begin on Wednesday, December 2.

Hoping to make it through to the next stage, I've also been really busy

rehearsing songs for the live shows, which include a Gaelic song which we all

had to learn.

As I didn't grow speaking Irish, it's been very hard for me but thanks to my

mother Sally [nee Coyle from Falcarragh] and my Auntie Briege McGinley, who are

both fluent Irish speakers, I've been getting through it and been able to

improve my pronunciation.

I've received so much support from everyone in my second home, Donegal, it's

been amazing. My sister Celia, who lives in Letterkenny, has been rounding up

the support, while all my mother's family in Cloughaneely have also been

fantastic in helping me promote myself.

new single

I have recorded a new single, Old Fashioned Girl, and I'm really excited as it

went out to radio stations all over the UK and Ireland last Wednesday and I hope

you enjoy it and request it on your local radio stations.

I would like to thank everyone in Donegal who has voted for me so far and

hopefully the great support I am getting will carry me a long way in the

competition so I can do all my Donegal and Scottish connections proud.

Please continue to show your support for Lisa McHugh and to vote for this

exciting young up-and-coming Country star text LISA to ROI: 53500 or NI: 83222.