Double win this week for bullied & blinded 18 year old
Irelands newest country music star and winner of Derek Mooney singing in the shower competition on RTE 1 –
Ireland has a brand new country music star following a nationwide search, which culminated in the final last Tuesday at the Birds Nest Venue in Bundoran, Co Donegal. Facing incredible opposition from finalists from Cavan, Offaly, Tyrone and Donegal, it was Dublin girl Kayleigh Cullinan who walked away with the title of “Ireland Newest Country Music Star”.
The competition was judged by an elite panel from the country music industry led by the Queen of country herself, Philomena Begley and Nathan Carter’s manager, singer/songwriter John Farry, Highland Radios DJ and country music expert Packie Keeney and experienced performer and music adjudicator Marlene Fergus.
Unknown to the judging panel, Kayleigh has come a long way since her dark days 4 years ago when she was viciously attacked by a gang who recorded the attack on their phones as she was beaten, bitten and spat on. It left Kayleigh an emotional wreck. Following months of tests, she found out that her retina had been detached at she had lost almost all of her sight in one eye. She spent the following 4 years enduring 10 horrendous operations including a partial eye transplant. It was during her recovery, when she had to lie perfectly still for weeks on end, flat on her face, with only her ipod for company, that she started to sing.
Although she has missed school for the last three years, the now 18 year old plans to pursue a career as a singer using the voice she gained while recovering. Her sight cannot be restored but she has gained the most beautiful voice instead.
Having won the title of “Irelands Newest Country Music Star” with a prize of cash, hotel getaway and a professionally produced CD plus a video which will be streamlined to all the country music TV programs, Kayleigh continued her winning streak by winning €2,500 worth of tiles on the Derek Mooney Show on RTE Radio 1 and crowned the winner of their “Singing in the Shower” competition two days later!
Kayleigh’s CD is due to be launched at the Birds Nest Venue in Bundoran on 29th September with a host of well-known country music stars out in support of Irelands Newest Country Music Star!
Kayleighs story of her attack on youtube: Kayleighs Story Click Here
Derek Mooney Show RTE1 Tilestyle Tilestyle Link Click Here
Kayleigh Suicide Awareness Video: My Year that almost wasn’t Suicide Link Click Here
The Saturday Night Show with Miriam O’Callaghan Kayleigh Saturday Night Show
Interview on TV3 Kayleigh TV3 Interview
Kayleigh National Concert Hall 2 songs Made A Wish and All Coming back to me now. Kayleigh – NCH