CO Derry schoolboy Dara McNicholl has advanced to the final of ITV's The Voice Kids after earning a standing ovation on Saturday night’s show.
The Moneyneany student's stirring rendition of the Sinead O'Connor classic Nothing Compares 2 U helped him earn a place as coach Paloma Faith’s representative in the final four.
“You have this amazing talent that technical but you’re so sensitive and that feeds into the way you sing,” the singer told the young Ballinascreen GAA player.
“It’s just pure beauty.”
The 13-year-old’s delivery the 1990 song written by Prince wowed both judges and the audience, including parents Donna and Chris, who is lead physio with Ulster Rugby.
Coach Danny Jones described it as "the best performance in the semi-finals", while Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am added: "That was the right song at the right time for the right singer."
It convinced Paloma Faith to select Dara over her two other semi-finalists, Isla Croll and Hayley Karinge.
The emotional Derry teenager was immediately embraced by his family afterwards.
His mum Donna had earlier joked in the programme’s build-up to the performance that the family hadn’t always appreciated Dara’s talents.
“He hummed for years at home and I feel really bad because we used to tell him to stop,” she said. “So then when his teacher rang us to say he can sing, we felt really guilty.”
Paloma Faith told the young singer: “You went from secretly singing in the car and now you’re in the finals on national television, it’s amazing.”
The final will see Dara go up against the young singers selected by the other three judges: 10-year-old George Elliott (Danny Jones’s choice), seven-year-old Victoria Alsina (coached by will.i.am’s) and Justine Afante (Pixie Lott’s choice).
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the final will be pre-recorded with a virtual audience. A number of pre-selected viewers will help choose the winner.
The winner will receive a £30,000 bursary towards their musical education and a VIP family trip to Universal studios, Orlando.
