Co Derry country singer- 'bullying leaves scars, and it’s something I will never forget'

A 17-year-old country singer from Coleraine in County Derry is an inspiration to other young people going through a tough time.

Not only does she raise money for good causes with her singing, Katelynn Marie is also a bright light for young students who don't feel good enough or have confidence in themselves.

The young country singer has recently released her own album of 24 songs including her own single 'I'm going to find me a country boy'.

In an exclusive interview, Katelynn told us that she got very badly bullied for five years in school to the point where she had to leave. 

It wasn't just a group of girls in her class, she told us that it was pretty much everyone and even the teachers had given her a hard time.

The young girl got bullied for her weight and the colour of her hair which led to her avoiding school most days and even caused her hair to fall out with stress.

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"I started singing when I was really young and then due to bullying I had stopped singing for a few years and started singing again just as I turned 16.

"I would get called very nasty names and they were relentless for five years until I ended up moving schools...it was just the whole year not like a group of boys and girls. 

"It affected my mental health so badly. I had to get counselling and my hair and stuff was all falling out due to stress....my attendance went down the drain to be honest".

She eventually found her love for music again which has brightened up her life and gave her the confidence back that she needed.

She is now in her second year of tech and says it is brilliant.

Katelynn found her voice again only about a year ago on her sixteenth birthday. She decided to sing to her friends 'for a bit of craic'.

"But it made me feel like I'd been missing something for a very long time...it brought me so much comfort. Then I began planning a night in memory of my mum's friend, Sinead. She had passed away with cancer, so I threw a night for that to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

"My first time really singing out to the public was on the 9th of March...it was a completely different experience to what you think it would be. I was terrified to even open my mouth on the stage, but we got through it".

Katelynn said that it was amazing and over 200 people came to that event in the Bushtown Hotel in Coleraine.

“That night was such a turning point...I performed in front of over 220 people. It was scary, but at the same time, it was empowering. For the first time in years, I felt like I was reclaiming who I was.”

Katelynn is a role model for young people and says "because I went through a hell of a lot of trouble with bullying to the point where I didn't want to be here and how much I came out of my shell and how I can be able to produce a show by myself and get everybody on the floor and have a good night. This is the reason I think people should come and see me....for a good night and have a good bit of laughter as well.

"I've been told by a lot of young people my age that they went through the same thing and coming out to dances and stuff has helped them grow in their confidence. Seeing what I did has helped them a lot".

Katelynn said that she has even seen the people that have bullied her at her gigs around her home town "quite a few times" and they pretended like nothing happened, they were nice to her even.

For people experiencing bullying today, Katelynn said you should always speak out.

"I haven't been able to speak for ages and when I finally spoke out, I started getting the help I needed.

"And just get out of the house because the house seems like a comfort but it's also one of your biggest enemies".

The country singer from Derry won a singing award in a worldwide competition in the Netherlands back in September time for the Christian cover of 'Amazing Grace'.

Katelynn said that the country music business is hard, especially as a woman.

"It's a real challenge. If we wear the wrong outfit or wear the wrong heels that don't go with your outfit or have your hair messy or even dance with the wrong person, everything you do is going to get judged. It hasn't been a walk in the park, there's always going to be challenges that way as well."

The young girl said that she owes a lot to her mum Tracy, her family and her close friends and to all those who have encouraged and supported her both here in Derry and Donegal, "they all mean so much to me".

"Also big thanks to Seamus Moore for including me on his Irish tour in summer 25 and who I look forward to touring again with next summer again. I visited so many parts of Ireland with him and Paul Murray it was a great experience and very memorable one".