Jirat sets his sights on Junior Eurovision title
TELEVISION stardom awaits 13-yearold Jirat O’Neill from Gorey who is set to appear on ‘Junior Eurovision’ on TG4 with guest judge Niamh Kavanagh this coming Sunday, November 12, at 8 p.m.
The competition has four heats and a final, as the young singers seek to represent Ireland at the Junior Eurovision final in Georgia on November 26.
Jirat, a student at Creagh College, Gorey, is no stranger to the stage. He has won accolades at Kilanerin Opportunity Knocks; reached the final of Wexford Has Talent in consecutive years; did a ten-night guest appearance at Sing Out Loud in Wexford Opera House; and played the prince in Gorey Musical Society’s recent production of ‘The King and I’.
Jirat wrote his entry for Junior Eurovision himself. He put the finishing touches to the Irish language song with the assistance of his father Rob.
He recorded the backing track with Damian in SL Studios in Gorey, playing the music and vocals, which was used for his performance on the show which was filmed earlier this year.
His mother Caitriona said that Michelle Donohoe from Ferns did a couple of sessions with Jirat before going to the recording studio to help finalise the song and work on his vocals. She said his voice has now begun to break, and he will concentrate more on his piano playing in the coming months.