A YOUNG Buncrana man has become an overnight star with music fans across Donegal after being called up on stage by American superstar Zach Bryan at a sold-out Belfast concert.
Paul Hegarty, armed with nothing more than a homemade poster and a lifetime of guitar practice, got to live out a dream shared by tens of thousands when Zach Bryan invited him to perform his hit ‘Nine Ball’ at Boucher Road Playing Fields on Tuesday evening.
“I made the poster in my room the night before, never would have expected to get picked to go up and play and get the reception I got as well,” Paul told Highland Radio.
Before a crowd of around 45,000, Paul announced himself to the world: “I’m Paul from Donegal,” and the roar that followed said everything.
The moment was made all the more special by the song itself. Zach Bryan wrote ‘Nine Ball’ about playing pool with his grandfather, a connection that resonated deeply with Paul.
“That’s what me and my Dad did when I was about seven years old. I dedicated the performance to my Dad, he was there with me on the night,” he said.
Paul’s father, who is also called Paul, was in the crowd to witness the performance and connect with the memories.
Despite the enormity of the occasion, the younger Paul revealed he had no stage fright.
He said: “Once I was on stage it was just like playing in my room, obviously it was more exciting, but I wasn’t nervous or anything. There’s always that fear you’ll mess it up, frankly, I didn’t.”
Bryan’s crew then presented Paul with a parting gift of the guitar he played on, and merchandise, that underlined just how remarkable the night was.
Paul said: “Nobody is ever allowed to borrow that guitar, apart from that, it was the best concert I was ever at.”