Local Teen Secures Semi-Final Spot in Irish Junior Eurovision | Newry News
The search for an Irish Junior Eurovision star is underway, and in the second heat, local teenager Clare Keeley secured her place in the Semi-Finals.
Thirteen-year-old singer, Clare Keeley from Gilford sang her version of ‘Symphony’ during the TG4 show and was voted straight into the Semi-Finals by judges Niamh Ní Chróinín – Presenter of TG4 youth programming, Sports Presenter Aindriú de Paor and guest judge and previous Eurovision winner, Niamh Kavanagh.
Clare will join seven other young Irish hopefuls at the semi-final show, airing on 1 October.
Clare, a student of Flynn Performing Arts, took part last year in the competition and made it to the Final three.
This year she’s hoping to go all the way, winning the opportunity to represent Ireland in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Nice, France, in November 2023.
Clare says, “I had a great experience last year, and I am delighted to be taking part in the Irish Junior Eurovision again this year.
“I would love the opportunity to go all the way and make it through to the finals and then hopefully to Nice to represent Ireland in Junior Eurovision 2023.
“I’m working on preparing my song in Irish for the Semi-Finals, which is a challenge, but I’m really excited, and I just hope the effort pays off!”
Following the Semi-Finals, judging will open to a public vote to choose a winner, culminating in a Final showcase on 8 October.
The talented teen has been dancing since she was 2 and a half years old and started taking singing lessons at 7 years old.
Under the tuition of Fiona Flynn at Flynn Performing Arts, Clare has completed grades in Classical Singing and Musical Theatre.
Clare was a member of the Elite Team at Stagebox and is now under the management of Maureen V Ward, who represents some of the best of the upcoming talent in Ireland.
A talented musician and dancer, Clare takes weekly dance classes in Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz with the Blevins Academy, Portadown, in addition to piano and violin lessons at Our Lady’s Grammar School.
She performs at all local festivals and has also been involved with Newry Musical Society in their AIMS-nominated production of ‘School of Rock’.
Last year Clare played the lead role in RTE’s ‘Toy Show the Musical’ and most recently played the lead in a workshop for a beautiful new musical currently in production in Dublin in association with The Gate Theatre, called ‘The Boy with the Green Hair’ where she got to perform with and for some of Ireland’s best musical theatre talent and producers.
The Semi-Final airs on Saturday 1 October, on channel TG4 at 8.30pm.
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