Ramelton’s Jason McCahill says ‘Just being on Glór Tíre is a win’

Ramelton native Jason McCahill eats, sleeps, and breathes Country music. “I picked up my first microphone when I was three or four years of age,” he says. “In Donegal, Country music runs through the blood.”

Jason is one of eight contestants taking part in Glór Tíre, TG4’s long-running, hit Country Music series, which seeks to find Ireland’s next Country Music star. Glór Tíre enjoys a reputation among Irish Country musicians as a vital platform for emerging artists and for the genre as a whole. Jason is well aware of what his appearance on the Tuesday, March 19, episode of the show could mean for his burgeoning career.

“I grew up watching it,” says the 26-year-old delivery driver. “Anybody who knows anything about Country Music knows this is the biggest show and the biggest platform you can get. Applications come from all over Ireland, so to be here means a lot to me. Just being on it is a win.”

Jason has been steeped in Country music since birth and grew up listening to Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Don Williams. His father was involved in charity work and organised fundraisers through Country music events and dances.

“I remember watching them,” says Jason, “and then I sang at one for the first time when I was eight, and it just hit me. I was hooked on Country music, and knew I was always going to go down that path.”

For his appearance on Glór Tíre, Jason will be hoping to impress the judges with his version of The Tumbling Paddies’ ‘The Way I Am’.

“It’s mad to think, all the songs you sing when you’re out playing, and I couldn’t put my finger on which song to do for the show,” laughs Jason. “So I thought, what's the most requested song when I’m out playing? And every gig you go to, you could be playing ‘The Way I Am’ three times. The Tumbling Paddies are flying at the minute, so hopefully I’m on the same trajectory.”

Each contestant on Glór Tire is being mentored by an established Country performer, and Jason’s mentor is one of the brightest young stars in Irish Country - Claudia Buckley.

“It’s a bit surreal, to be honest,” says Jason. “I was flicking back through my phone and there’s a picture of me and her dad, Jimmy Buckley, when I was 14 or 15. To come full circle now and to be mentored by Claudia Buckley, it’s massive. If nothing else comes of this journey, just to have shared the stage with Claudia and sing a song with her, is something to look back on and say, ‘Look what you did’.”

Jason and Claudia’s duet will be ‘Love Me Tonight’, originally a hit for Don Williams in 1975.

“I‘ve sung it solo myself, the more upbeat Derrick Ryan version,” says Jason, “but me and Claudia are going to move it back to the Don Williams version. Me and Claudia will have fun with it, put our own twist on it and see where it takes us.”

Jason McCahill performs on Glór Tíre on TG4 on Tuesday, March 19, at 9.30pm, along with Fermanagh singer, Karl Kirkpatrick, and Claudia Buckley who is mentor for both contestants. The judges will be RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta’s Jó Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin, with guest judge, Trudi Lalor (RSVP Country).