‘ONE MINUTE I WAS DOING A DUET WITH NATHAN ON THE LATE LATE AND THEN JUST AS QUICKLY WE WERE HIT BY COVID’

Country music singer Clodagh Lawlor’s gallop was halted by lockdown, but she took the time to figure out her next steps, writes Eddie Rowley

WANNABE professional singer Clodagh Lawlor had spent several years hustling for a break in the country music scene, including busking around some of Ireland’s biggest towns and cities, when it finally clicked into place for her.

In May 2019, the talented newcomer from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, became an overnight sensation when she won the Late Late Show’s Search for a Country Star and duetted on the show with heart-throb Nathan Carter on hit song, Shallow, from the movie A Star Is Born.

Nathan then took Clodagh out on his summer tour that year, where she soon built up her own army of fans.

She performed at major festivals, including The Farmer’s Bash in Portrush, Co Antrim, where she shared a stage with Canadian superstar Kiefer Sutherland from the TV drama series 24.

In January 2020 the rising star was on top of the world again when she won the Best Newcomer award at the Sunday World All Ireland Country Music Awards.

To celebrate her achievements, Clodagh decided to hold a major night of entertainment in her local town hall in Newmarket, which had once played host to showband and country superstars such as Joe Dolan, Brendan Bowyer and Big Tom.

Then the shutters suddenly came crashing down on the world of live entertainment as Covid-19 led to a shock lockdown.

“I had spent five or six years trying to get in the door of the country scene, playing any gigs I could get and busking in cities and towns such as Galway, Limerick, Killarney and Tralee,” Clodagh recalls today.

“Then I won the Late Late Show contest and suddenly the door opened for me. I was finally in the big time touring with Nathan after that and making big plans for the future.

“Nathan is such a professional, so it was a huge moment for me that I was singing with him. When I was trying to get into the country music scene, Derek Ryan and Nathan were the two performers that I used to really watch. I liked how they had a commercial sound, but at the same time they were keeping it Irish.

“I had to pinch myself that I was doing a duet on the Late Late Show with Nathan that night and being interviewed by Ryan Tubridy… and that’s how my career began.

“But then, just as quickly, it was suddenly stalled

by Covid. That was a shock because I was worried about people forgetting me.

“I was only getting started introducing myself to people and getting my name established and I was afraid that people wouldn’t remember who I was when the pandemic was over. I’d only had my 15 minutes of fame on the Late Late Show the previous year.”

As she was only getting started, Clodagh says she didn’t qualify for the pandemic unemployment payment, so she had no money coming in. “Luckily, I was living at home with my parents,” she says.

“But, looking back today, I’m thankful that Covid actually gave me the chance to figure out the type of artist I wanted to be. I wouldn’t be the type of performer I am today doing concerts and shows if it wasn’t for that time.

“I found what I want to do looking back on the records Mum and Dad had at home and reliving the ’90s country music with women (American stars) Martina McBride, Faith Hill and Trisha Yearwood… and that helped me to figure out where I was going with my music.

“It put me on the track of what way I want to portray myself. While I love contemporary American country music, you have to keep the Irishness there as well because that’s where I’m from. I’m not going to try and be an American country artist when I’m Irish. I’m going to be a country artist.”

To ensure that she maintained contact with her fanbase, Clodagh also took to social media during the pandemic.

“I went online because if I didn’t I knew that people were going to forget me. So I decided to keep my personality and my day to day life out there and I still do. I think it’s nice to show people what I do and who I am, moreso than just putting out music because that’s what I like to do, follow the lives of country artists.”

Clodagh was later awarded a grant of €6,000 under the Covid scheme to support the arts and entertainment sector, and she used it to record an album. “I’ll be forever grateful for that,” she says.

“Since the entertainment business returned to normal in the last 18 months I’ve been touring with Derek Ryan who has been a huge support to me,” she adds. “I’m incredibly grateful for the doors Derek has allowed me to go through with him, taking me on tour in England, where I would never have been able to perform so early in my career, and giving me the chance to work with his incredible band.”

■ CLODAGH Lawlor’s upcoming solo shows include The Alley Theatre, Strabane on July 5 and Glor Theatre, Ennis, on July 6. Tickets are available for the box office in both venues.

I was afraid that people wouldn’t remember who I was when the pandemic was over