SINEAD Black admits that the build-up to a dream performance at Opry le Daniel could have gone a lot smoother.
After all, it’s not every night that you get to sing on stage with Daniel O’Donnell himself.
So losing her voice in the days before the concert was not part of the plans.
But after a panic visit to her GP, a combination of antibiotics, drinks and much-needed rest eventually did the trick.
Sinead, a rising star in Country Music, took to the stage in her first ever appearance at Derry’s Millennium Forum last Monday night for the first night of filming at Opry le Daniel.
Sinead Black pictured with Daniel O’Donnell
The Letterkenny singer appeared in one of two concerts recorded on Monday night and there were concerts too on Tuesday and Wednesday as the TG4 show was recorded before a live audience.
“It was absolutely amazing,” Sinead said.
“The whole day was brilliant. I was made feel like royalty. I had my own dressing room and everybody was so nice, they really were.”
By the time she took to the stage, her voice had well recovered and so good was her performance that fans on social media were all high in their praise.
“It’s always nice to get nice comments like that,” Sinead said.
“Thankfully it all went so well, and my voice held up. If it hadn’t, my dress would have stolen the show anyway!”
Her dress, from Tokyo Boutique in Letterkenny, was the perfect finishing touch to a wonderful night.
The weekend before, Sinead led a group of her fans to Galway for the Sinead Black Dancing Weekend.
Then on the Monday night, she was on stage at the Highland Radio concert in Letterkenny where she also sang on stage with Daniel.
And while Daniel’s fan-base spreads the world over, he has long had a fan in the Black house in Letterkenny. Sinead got to know Daniel from a very young age with her father, Alex, writing a few songs for the country star.
“Daniel’s just so lovely, and he’s been so supportive,” Sinead said.
“When I was asked to perform on Opry le Daniel, it was like a dream. Daniel is a really special person whose kindness and support has been amazing.”
It’s been a busy few weeks for Sinead and with a new band in place, she’s got plenty to look forward to in 2023.
She has recently began presenting on Highland Radio which is another ambition fulfilled and later in the year, she will make her debut at the popular Clonmany Festival.
“That has been another dream of mine. There aren’t too many acts who get to perform on the main stage at the festival – maybe ten or 12. So to get that call is just brilliant.”
A daughter of Alex and Anne, Sinead continues to gig regularly with her father and they were in the Mulroy Woods Hotel in Milford last Thursday night.
And her parents and her close family were no doubt filled with pride when Sinead stepped out on stage in front of a packed Millennium Forum last Monday night for Opry le Daniel.
The singer herself insisted she wasn’t nervous and just wanted to enjoy the experience.
“I’d say I was more emotional than nervous,” she said.
“I just tried to enjoy it and thankfully I’m glad to say it went really well.”
Sinead’s performance was part of the ‘New Country’ concert which also featured up and coming artists Owen Mac and Lee Matthews.
Other names from Country to appear throughout the week were Robert Mizzell, Gloria, Tommy Fleming, Johnny Brady, Lisa McHugh, Susan McCann and Dominic Kirwan.
Opry le Daniel will air on TG4 later in the year.
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