SHE spends her spare time helping her dad with sheep but tonight Donegal singer Niamh Breslin went from farm to fame with a stunning performance on ‘The Voice UK’ – but failed to land a judge.
The Ardara girl is studying social care in Sligo IT and tonight she stepped onto the stage in front of a TV audience of eight million people to sing Martha’s Harbour by the band All About Eve.
Judge Boy George said she was ‘a beautiful Irish girl’ but her nerves seemed to get the better of her.
Niamh, who works part-time at the Corner House Bar and sings there too, thanked the judges.
Earlier the 18-year-old said “I’ve grown up on a farm, my dad used to have cows, but all I remember is the sheep, working with sheep for as long as I remember.
“Springtime is when I usually help him out a lot because of lamb season — because I love baby lambs and it’s a lot of fun, and I’m off college or school for Easter. My dad trains sheepdogs as well, so there is a lot of stuff going on in our house. I’m usually in overalls, wellies, the lot.
“I’ve had to help when a sheep is giving birth. Once I was left on my own and had to do it.
“My dad is a quiet man so he wouldn’t say a lot, but I know he is very proud. But he knows I will still be about and can help.”
The 18-year-old added: “But it was actually my mum who sent away the application form, she surprised me with it.
“She came and told me she had sent me in for The Voice UK, she gave me literally four days notice.”
Niamh started singing at the age of 11, when she got a part in a local production of Les Miserables in Donegal and fell in love with the stage.
Paloma Faith said Niamh should keep singing – and sometime she would make a breakthrough.
Said Niamh: “I really enjoyed it but it wasn’t to be.”