Glór Tire winner's delight at returning to the stage
After what felt like the longest wait imaginable, Glór Tire 2021 winner Emma Donohue finally made it back on stage recently, opening for Mike Denver, her mentor on the long-running TG4 show, at his concert in The Well, Moate.
Remarkably, since being crowned champion back in April, the student nurse from Killoran, Ballinasloe has been patiently waiting for a chance to sing in front of a live audience again. But, with the music world slowly emerging from eighteen months of unexpected and unprecedented silence, Emma's moment to shine finally arrived when she was invited to get the evening's entertainment underway at the popular Moate venue.
And while the 'Love Me Tonight' singer admitted to feeling nervous in the run-up to the big-night, her overwhelming emotions were those of excitement and gratitude...
"I knew it was only natural to feel a bit nervous having not been in front of an audience in so long, so I didn't worry too much about that, to be honest. I knew that as the hours ticked on towards show-time all of that nervous energy would turn itself into adrenaline instead. And when that starts to happen, it's the excitement of doing what you love that starts to kick-in.
"Because I was opening for Mike, though, and because Mike and his manager Willie Carty have been so good to me, I just wanted to make sure I did my best and didn't let anyone down or disappoint anyone, that was the most important thing for me. That, and making sure I got people out on the dancefloor!"
With fans making the journey from her native Galway, as well as from Wexford, Offaly, Laois, and even from as far away as Donegal, one thing Emma didn't need to worry about letting anyone there. They came in their droves to help her celebrate her first time on stage as Glór Tire's champion of 2021and to dance.
Posting on her social media platforms the day after the gig, Emma wrote: "What a night! My very first gig since winning Glór Tíre. Thanks to all my friends and family that showed up to The Well in Moate last night. It was definitely a night to remember. Thanks to Mike and Wille for inviting me to be a part of the night with them, and to Declan and Brian [Manton] for the amazing venue and hospitality as always. Hopefully, there's many more gigs to come. I'm delighted everyone enjoyed the night. I'm still on cloud nine".
Emma, who is one of the featured artists in the ones-to-watch section of the latest edition of RSVP Country, has also been back in the studio recently, putting the finishing touches to her brand new single.
"Like everything else these days, it's taken a little bit longer to plan, and then to get it to where we want it to be. But we're very close to all wrapped up on it now, thank God! So it won't be too long before we can announce all the details on that.
"And again, no more than with actually performing, my last single was back during Glór Tíre as well, my version of Isla Grant's 'Love Me Tonight.' The wait has been longer than I wanted, but I love the song I've chosen, and I'm really happy with it.
"So, the next step now is to get it out there and hopefully get to see and hear fans enjoying it. And then, of course, to get back out on the road and get playing it live. Keep an eye on my socials, there'll be more news on this announced there soon," the singer ended.