Wednesday’s Ploughing for Stars finalists

After our first Ploughing for Stars final on Tuesday, three more contestants will take to the stage again today [Wednesday].

It is on at the National Ploughing Championships in the Irish Farmers Journal stand at 4pm.

Everyone is invited to attend Ploughing for Stars for what is sure to be an electric afternoon of entertainment.

Three different singers battled it out yesterday and a new trio will take to the stage today.

The prize for the winner on both days is the chance to sing with Mike Denver at one of his concerts.

So, without further ado, let’s meet Wednesday’s finalists.

Michelle Murphy

From Oylegate, Co Wexford, Michelle Murphy is a fan of both country music and social dancing.

She feels getting out to a show and throwing a few shapes is an instant lift for just about anybody.

As a young girl, she looked up to the likes of Philomena Begley, Louise Morrissey, Margo and Gloria. They remain some of her favourite singers to this day.

She feels the modern wave of country singers have brought a whole new audience to the scene and this has injected great energy into Irish country music.

For Michelle, the appeal of country music is its relatability and the strong storytelling element of songs.

Peter Hoey

Roscommon man Peter Hoey is no stranger to singing competitions, having won his county’s Scór na nÓg competition twice in the solo singing category.

He grew up on his family’s suckler farm outside Tarmonbarry. This is a very musical household, his father and sisters all also have a huge interest in singing.

Country is the whole family’s musical genre of choice.

As a child, Peter listened to The Dubliners, Mary Black and Christy Moore. Now he is also in to Mike Denver, Lisa McHugh and Derek Ryan.

The 22-year-old is a recent graduate of business information systems in GMIT.

Kendal Moody

Kendal Moody is 16 and in fifth year in Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow. Her interest in music was fostered by her step-grandfather, who attended the Ploughing every year.

She decided to enter Ploughing for Stars as she felt it encompassed both of his interests and would make him proud.

Kendal’s father is a sheep farmer, and while farming may have been of big interest to her as a child, it has definitely taken a back seat to music recently.

She plays the piano and guitar. After school, Kendal most definitely sees her future in music and wants to go on to study it at third level.