Ballinderry singer to compete in hit country music TV series Glór Tíre

A Ballinderry singer will appear in the new season of TG4's Glór Tíre.

John Mullan is one of eight emerging talents who will be fighting for the coveted title of Glór Tíre Country Music Champion 2025.

Widely regarded as the premier platform for new and emerging country and Irish talent, the popular show will be broadcast on TG4 in March and April, but the opening four episodes were pre-recorded at the end of January.

The first episode airs next Tuesday, March 4.

John (21) will be mentored by Irish country singer Cliona Hagan, who also grew up in Ballinderry.

A former pupil of Derrychrin PS and St Pius X College in Magherafelt, John has been singing since he was a young boy but only got into music properly in the last couple of years.

“I was singing from a young age but I never really knew I could sing until I was about 18,” he explained.

“There was one night I was out to see the band Midland, and just seeing them performing on stage, they looked unbelievable, they were really enjoying themselves, this is their job, and I thought, ‘This is what I want to do’. About a year later I started putting up TikToks and people loved it and here we are.

“I can probably speak for a lot of people when saying this about country music, but you can connect to it because it’s not just a song, it’s more like a story, which you can relate to better. You can feel sometimes listening to a country song, is he/she singing about me? I think a lot of people connect with country because it’s a story and storytelling and that’s why it’s one of the biggest genres in the world.”

John, who has been performing at gigs throughout Ireland over the last two years, including at the Balmoral Show, says he is inspired by American country music artists.

“The biggest one for me is Luke Combs, because he was 21 years of age when he picked up a guitar so I’m that age now and I take that as an inspiration, as look where Luke Combs is now,” John said.

“Morgan Wallen is another artist as well, he was in the same situation as well, and used the TV shows to get to where he is now, and of course, Midland, who inspired me to take up music as a career. It’s all American country with me, and I’d say to an extent with Cliona as well. She’s Irish, we’re from Ireland but she does her American country as well. Cliona grew up six houses down from me. Seeing how well she has done, it really inspires you.”

In the opening episodes of Glór Tíre, John will perform ‘Loving On You’ by Luke Combs.

“To me this is a special song because when Luke Combs performed in Ireland, he opened with this song, and that’s why I have to go with it,” John said.

John will also sing ‘Forever and Ever Amen’ by Randy Travis in his duet with Cliona Hagan.

“It's a great tune and appeals to my taste in American country music, and I think it’s the perfect song for us to do together.”

John says he applied to become a contestant on Glór Tíre as he 'wanted to challenge myself and show myself to the country on what I feel like is the best platform to sing the songs that I love and people can connect to'.

Expressing his excitement at getting the chance to be part of the 21^st season of the popular show, he continued: “It’s weird as I’ve never done TV before. It’s different for me as I have only been doing videos on TikTok, but now I’ll be going on nationwide TV and everybody will be seeing you. It will be a bit extreme.

“When I was younger we grew up on Saturday nights watching the X-Factor and The Voice, and in my eyes, Glór Tíre is a competition where people like myself and the other contestants, who are into country music, can show off to the country about what they do. I think it is the greatest platform I can go on to show myself off to everyone in the country, to sing my songs. It’s the best platform I can use.

“There are massive country singers in Ireland and to be chosen by one of the biggest (Cliona Hagan), and to have this chance to represent her is mind-blowing. I feel privileged and honoured to sing with her. It’s something special and something I won’t forget.”

John says that publicity he has received ahead of the show airing has already opened doors for him.

Talking about where he hopes to see himself in five years time, John is aiming high.

“I have three dreams – the first one is to sing in the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the second one would be to sing the half-time show at Superbowl and the third one is to sell out Croke Park,” he added.

Broadcast dates for Glór Tíre Season 21 on TG4 are March 4, 11, 18 and 25 and live shows on April 1, 8, and 15 at 9.30pm.