Shane McLaughlin from Letterkenny.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
IT appears Donegal is taking over The Voice Of Ireland as a second contestant from the county made it through to the battles stages of the RTÉ talent show.
On Sunday night’s third episode of this year’s series Shane McLaughlin from Letterkenny wowed the judges with his version of The Frames song Fake to bag himself a place in the next stage of the show.
That next stage is the battles. Having chosen Kian Egan as his mentor, Shane will now have to impress the former Westlife star for a place in the live shows.
The first contestant from Donegal to make it through to the next stage of the talent competition and bagging herself Brummie ‘Superstar’ Jamelia as a mentor was Roisin Carlin from Fahan.
The daughter of Brendan and Catherine Carlin impressed the judges which also include Bressie, Sharon Corr and Kian Egan, with her unique version of Justin Bieber’s hit Boyfriend which she incidentally also sang when she represented Derry at last year’s Mary From Dungloe International Festival.
Ratings went through the roof for Episode 3 on Sunday, showing that the nation is taking a lot of interest in this year’s series.
The battles stage commence on February 17 so keep an eye out for Roisin and Shane and rumour has it that there could be another Donegal contestant do well on this year’s Voice Of Ireland so keep on tuning into RTÉ ONE, Sundays at 6.30pm.