Singer with strong local roots to appear on Late Late Show

Tom Grennan, an English-born singer-songwriter who is proud of his family's roots in Offaly, will be appearing on the Late Late Show tomorrow (Friday)

The star, who has almost a quarter of a million followers on Instagram, will be on the programme performing his chart-topping hit, 'Little Bit of Love'.

Tom was born in Bedford, in the South Midlands of England, but has spoken regularly in interviews about his love for Offaly. His father, Martin, is from Ballycumber, and he has uncles, aunts and cousins in the county.

"I'm proud to be Irish," Tom told the Sunday World earlier this year.

"I love it, and I'm on a big WhatsApp group with my cousins who are all over in Ballycumber, Shannonbridge and Horseleap, which is on the border of Offaly and Westmeath.

"My Dad, who is a builder, plans to retire back to Ireland. He's the funniest man I know. In the first lockdown, he was on my Instagram and now he's got his own fan page. They all love him.

"My Mam and Dad are buzzin' over my music career. Dad bought a radio for the building site and he has it blasting away all day every day. When my song comes on they all stop."

The singer also recorded a video for the London Irish Centre in which he appeared wearing an Offaly jersey.

"This top is the Offaly jersey... Three of my cousins played for Offaly," explained the 26-year-old.

After a sold-out tour of the UK in September and October, Tom is planning to go back on the road in March, and he has concerts scheduled in Dublin and Belfast at the end of that month.

Other guests joining Ryan Tubridy will include Westlife, members of the Irish women's football team, and a couple of the stars of last week's Toy Show.