Big week on TV for Rachel as she bids for Eurovision glory

Getting the chance to perform on a national TV show would be a dream come true for many singers in Ireland, but Rachel Goode is going one better this week.

After appearing on the country music talent show Glór Tíre on TG4 last Tuesday night, the gifted singer from Ballinasloe is heading to RTÉ's Late Late Show this Friday to compete for a chance to represent Ireland at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Rachel said excitement was building in her home town ahead of The Late Late Show where she will be singing I'm Loving Me, one of six songs in contention to become Ireland's Eurovision entry.

"I've had so many messages from people who are mad into Eurovision, and, locally, the support has been absolutely amazing. I'm getting so many messages and lovely comments," she said.

"Two of the businesses in town, Kellers of Ballinasloe and Michael McCullagh Auctioneers, got massive posters blown up and put them outside. The dance schools in town have done dances and put them up (on social media) where they're dancing to my song.

"People are stopping my mum and saying, 'We're so excited for Rachel,' so there seems to be a great buzz.

"It's been such a difficult two years for everyone and this is something exciting for the town as well. I'm so grateful for everyone's support and I hope that I will do them proud."

From singing country and folk songs on Glór Tire to the full-on Europop of I'm Loving Me, Rachel is tasked with displaying her versatility as a musical performer this week. But that's nothing new for the classically trained soprano who has been part of several opera productions and is also a popular wedding singer.

"When I'm singing in bands, I have to sing everything. One minute I'm singing Galway Bay and the next minute I'm singing AC/DC!" she said.

Her involvement with the Eurovision process began before Christmas when she was contacted on Instagram by one of the writers of I'm Loving Me. The writers of the song felt her voice would work well on it, so Rachel asked to have a listen to the track.

"I downloaded the song and listened to it while driving. And immediately I was drawn to it, because it was such a bop. It was so lively and positive and immediately I thought, 'that's so Eurovision!'"

Because she was already a contestant on the new series of Glór Tíre, she had to check with the producers of the TG4 show, and The Late Late Show, to ensure it would be ok to compete in both.

She was given the green light and is now very much looking forward to Friday. "I think it's every Irish artist's dream to perform on The Late Late, because it's such a big show in Ireland.

"I'm really excited. I am now allowed to have dancers and that makes me feel even better, because originally I wasn't allowed dancers.

"This song is so vibrant. I was thinking that if I had to dance and sing at the same time it would really affect the voice, and the vocals on this are hard - they need to be strong.

"So it's great that I now have dancers because it will take the heat off me a bit!" she said.

Her week got off to a positive start as her debut Glór Tíre appearance last night saw her receive the approval of the judges and earn a place in the semi-finals.

The Glór Tire performance which aired last night was pre-recorded in October, but from next Tuesday (February 8) onwards the show will be broadcast live on TG4 on Tuesday nights.

Rachel said she'd like to make it as a country music performer in Ireland and she's hoping Glór Tíre will help her take a step in that direction.

"I am so excited for Glór Tíre to go live next week. I don't feel a bit nervous or anything, I just can't wait!

"I really want to get into the country music industry and I'm not that well-known in it yet. This is a great opportunity because I only just released my first single last year and I didn't expect to get on the show so soon."

Her debut single, a version of Loretta Lynn's Coal Miner's Daughter, was released last summer and she will be following it up in the coming weeks with another country single, Tennessee Waltz.

Rachel, daughter of Caroline and David Goode, is a past student of Our Lady's Bower in Athlone and Ardscoil Mhuire in Ballinasloe.

After secondary school she completed a Bachelor of Music degree, specialising in performance, at DIT, before going on to undertake a Masters in Opera Performance course at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.