A LOCAL singer has won the grand final of a national TV show. Jordan McPolin, of Hilltown, won the title of Ireland’s Glór Tíre Country Music Champion on Tuesday, 10 March.
The 20-year-old singer competed in the new series of the TG4 country music programme ‘Glór Tíre’. “It hasn’t even hit home yet,” said Jordan.
“To be crowned Glór Tíre Champion 2026 is an absolute dream come true. “It’ll probably take a week or two to actually sink in and hit home.
“To bring it back to Ulster, to the North, to County Down, is unbelievable.” Jordan overcame strong competition from County Kerry’s Paudie Coffey and Tipperary’s Dee Morrissey, winning the public vote with his spirited renditions of Conway Twitty’s ‘Hello Darling’ and ‘Down in Louisiana’.
‘Down in Louisiana’ is a song made popular by County Galway singer Jimmy Buckley, who was Jordan’s mentor throughout ‘Glór Tíre’.
Jordan’s victory marks a two in a row of ‘Glór Tíre’ titles for Northern Ireland, with Fermanagh’s Paddy Treacy scooping the award last year, and a three in a row for Ulster, with Donegal’s Jason McCahill being the 2024 winner.
Jordan is the youngest winner of the prestigious competition and also the first winner in its history from County Down.
“People from all over have been texting me and wishing me well. There were watch parties organised in County Down – people have been saying, ‘Bring it back home’, ‘Bring it back to Ulster’ and ‘Bring it back to Down’,” he said.
“Whenever somebody’s saying that, you know you’re representing them. “It really makes it hit home that you’re representing so many people and I was determined to make them proud.”
Jordan has thanked the people of his home county, who have provided enthusiastic support to him throughout his Glór Tíre run.
“Everything’s just completely blown up, the social media, the Facebook, everything!” Jordan said.
“Every time you turn your phone on, there are hundreds of new comments from new people, and it just keeps getting bigger.”
While Ulster has long been the heartland of country and Irish music, the scene is mostly concentrated in Donegal, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Derry.
“Around home used to have big dance venues, but they’re all closed down now, but country music is coming back massively with young people,” Jordan said.
“My being on ‘Glór Tíre’ will hopefully get people to realise there is a scene here and I’m hoping my bringing the ‘Glór Tíre’ title to Down will give the scene a good push and help get country music here going again.”
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