Sitting in the audience with some friends at The Late Late Country Show in 2018, Clodagh Lawlor from Newmarket-on-Fergus in Co Clare turned to them and said: “I promise you next year I’ll be on that stage.”

Two weeks ago, Clodagh, 24, saw that dream come true when she was announced as the winner of the country star competition held in association with The Late Late Show.

“I have always loved music and I have been singing for many years. I sing all across the country from performing for our President to performing at weddings and other major events,” says Clodagh.

“I also toured the USA recently singing with “The Young Irelanders” which was a fabulous experience representing my country in the United States. I am a big fan of both Irish and American country music and love to fuse both together.”

Nathan has been very good to me since and I have always admired him for his strong work ethic

When Clodagh returned from the American tour in March, she decided to let her name go forward for The Late Late Show competition. “Like a lot of others, I thought I might as well have a go, never thinking that I would come near to winning it. It was a great surprise when I was picked as the winner and a real privilege chatting to Ryan Tubridy and Margo and doing a duet with Nathan Carter on the show.

“Nathan has been very good to me since and I have always admired him for his strong work ethic. He has invited me to perform at several of the festival shows that he is doing during the summer including the big one at the Marquee in Cork, the Farmers Bash in Belfast and a number of others. I have also been invited to perform at the Cowboys and Heroes Festival in Ballinamore in Co Leitrim and others all over the country.”

Clodagh grew up listening to country music in the family home. “Like so many other families around the country, my parents loved this kind of music so I listened to the country genre more than anything else.

“People like Philomena Begley, Margo, Daniel O’Donnell, Joe Dolan and so many other favourites in my parents’ time were well known to me through Mike Gardiner’s Country Corner on Clare FM.

It was a great experience and I met some songwriters and we penned some songs for my EP

“Once I started going to country festivals, my goal was to make it in country music. I started busking in Galway at 17 and also did short stints in Killarney, Tralee and Limerick.”

Last October, Clodagh and some friends decided to go a step further, much further, and all the way to Nashville.

“It was a great experience and I met some songwriters and we penned some songs for my EP. The buzz there is something else. The city lives and breathes music. I met Phil Mack from the Keep It Country channel at the Opryland Hotel where we did an interview for his show. That was very special for me.”

While Clodagh also credits Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire among her main American country influences, her goal right now is just to stay here at home and play all over Ireland.

I feel there is more of a grá for country music every year

“People do work extremely hard in this business and it can be a very tough industry. It is great to see young artists coming through. I am very fortunate that all my group of friends enjoy this music and this makes it a lot easier to go out at weekends and go to country festivals and dances.

“I feel there is more of a grá for country music every year. I was performing at the big festival in Fintona in Tyrone last week and it was full of young people and that was so great to see. “Right now I am where I want to be and I am so looking forward to all the big shows and festivals in the summer months ahead, meeting many new people and doing what I love best,” says Clodagh.

Updates on appearances by Clodagh are posted on her Facebook page, Clodagh Lawlor Music. Further details and bookings can be had by calling her on 086-8735186.