When dreams really do come true

I tell a friend that I am going to interview Niamh McGlinchey: “She’s up and coming, but maybe you haven’t heard of her yet?” I stand corrected.

It turns out the lady in question saw Niamh supporting Nathan Carter at the Opera House in Wexford Town and has since been a huge fan.

She sings Niamh’s praises and says that I have to ask her about the song Golden Wings.

Niamh is a singer-songwriter from the village of Gulladuff in Co Derry, who toured with Nathan Carter for the last four years as his supporting act.

Her style is a mix of folk and country, with an Americana grassroots sound.

Derry based singer-songwriter Niamh McGlinchey.

As well as having captivating songs, a big part of Niamh’s set is telling the stories behind these songs. And, it is the song and story behind Golden Wings that has struck a chord with so many people of late.

The song tells the heartbreaking tale of Niamh’s friend Conall McCrory, who, at just 18, lost his battle with cancer.

“When you put out your own songs, you would be really nervous as to how they are going to be received,” explains Niamh.

I remember the first night I sang it in Bangor, everyone was crying – and I was nearly crying.

“What I have always said is that cancer isn’t glamorous, so I didn’t make the song glamorous. I made the song true to life.

"I mention the things people don’t want to talk about: the needles and the medication. Stuff you don’t expect to hear in a wee ballad song.”

Dreams

Instantly, upon meeting the 25-year-old, she comes across as very genuine and down-to-earth.

These suppositions are confirmed when I ask Niamh if she had always wanted to be a singer: “I never ever thought about it.

"I think, because I never ever thought that I could be a singer. That is something of dreams. I would like to say I’m a dreamer, but I’m a realist as well.

“I made the CD and, och, it got on the radio, but it never really took off until Nathan heard it. Then when he gave me that forum, things just grew and grew.”

Surprise performance

Despite Niamh’s previous hesitancy about her career as a singer, she displayed signs of being a born performer from an early age.

I think the first sign of a performance was when I just got up out of the blue at playschool during the nativity and started to sing I’ll Tell Me Ma in front of everybody. Nobody asked me to, I just got up and sang it.

After her surprise performance in the nativity, Niamh was hooked on music.

The Derry native explains that she gets her singing talents from her mother and the storytelling from her father.

She speaks of her parents very warmly and it is clear they are a big influence on her.

In her younger years, Niamh was a regular participant in Scór Na nÓg, but she could never get past the Ulster round of the competition.

With this she became despondent and, in her final year of eligibility, decided she wouldn’t take part.

Her father, though, being a wise man, clearly saw his daughter’s talent.

He gave her a small incentive to enter the competition saying if she did, she would be allowed go to the local disco, the Big Elk.

Niamh went on to qualify for the All-Ireland Scór final and the pair reached a further deal.

Seagull guitar

“Daddy says: ‘I’ll make you a deal, if you win the All-Ireland, I’ll buy you that Seagull guitar you like in Danny Otterson.’

"I says: ‘Right, dead on,’ and that was all I needed to hear,” says Niamh with a smile.

I had my eye on that Seagull guitar for months and months, I love real wood guitars.

“I remember when the results were announced and my name was called out, Daddy just lifted me into the air and started shaking me. I just said: ‘Daddy, Daddy, Seagull guitar.’”

In her teens, Niamh also took part in the All-Ireland Talent Show and, under the guidance of her mentor Dana, reached the live finals. At 17 the nerves associated with singing on live TV were a lot to handle, but Niamh’s grandmother had this in hand, bringing a Padre Pio statue in the audience with her.

On tour

Niamh went on to study psychology at Queens University in Belfast and, when she finished, she then toured with Nathan, which she describes as an amazing experience.

Although these many achievements have shaped Niamh as a singer, it was in an old barn where her father used to hold sessions that her musical roots were firmly put down.

There would be maybe about 100 different musicians there, just sitting, singing and playing.

The hearth was on and next thing, at three o’clock in the morning, Granny would start cooking pancakes on the griddle.

"I had that all when I was very young, so I appreciate real-life music.”

The girl who was once afraid to dream, no longer has that problem, and this August will cement her dreams with a solo tour.

Although she has her feet firmly on the ground, Niamh is well and truly ready to fly.

For information on Niamh’s latest album, At Long Last, and her upcoming tour, visit www.niamhmcglinchey.com.

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