Kildare's Alistair Fingleton reaches semi-final of TG4's hit Country Music show Glór Tíre

43-year old mechanic Alistair Fingleton may still have to face the semi-final of Glór Tíre, but already his run on TG4’s hit Country Music show has given his singing career a real boost.

“In the last six, seven, weeks, since I first appeared on the show, the diary has started to fill up,” the Castledermot man said. “From this show, I’ve gotten to go to places I wouldn’t normally have gone. I’ve sung in places I would never have had the time to go and do gigs. No matter what happens, I will still be busy because there is interest from people all over Ireland, the UK even. People have asked me to do gigs because of Glór Tíre.”

Alistair has thoroughly enjoyed his experience of the show so far. “To sum it up in one word, ‘Brilliant!’ I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done,” he added.

A highlight for Alistair was reuniting with his old school friend, Irish Country star Michael English, who is also from Castledermot. Michael was Alistair’s mentor on the show and the pair duetted on ‘Rock’n’Roll Kids’, the Brendan Graham penned ode to music and friendship.

“Only yesterday I happened to look back at a clip of that, and I’m biassed, but I thought it sounded phenomenal,” Alistair said. “I know in years to come I’ll play it back and say, “I’m delighted I got to do that with Michael’.”

For his part, Michael English has posted messages of support for Alistair, calling on his fans to vote for him. Alistair will be counting on such support when he takes part in the Glór Tíre semi-final on Tuesday 16 April at 9.30 pm.

His competition will be Jason McCahill (Donegal), Jenny Hanlon (Louth), and Gerard Gormley (Tyrone), who Alistair describes as “super singers, super characters as well”.

Only one can go through to join Chelsea Evans (Donegal), Effie Neill (Cork), Shannen Carroll (Meath), and Karl Kirkpatrick (Fermanagh) in the Grand Final, and Alistair is hoping it will be him.

“I’d love to progress further and see what I can give to the competition because Glór Tire is great exposure, a great platform,” he said. “I can bring my own style to the competition and I think it would be a bonus to the competition.”

The Glór Tire semi-final is on TG4 on Tuesday, April 16 at 9.30 pm. It will be presented by Aoife Ní Thuairisg. The judges will be RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta’s Jó Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin, with guest judge, Trudi Lalor (RSVP Country).