I think something beautiful and big is going to happen off the back of this – it was very special

I think something beautiful and big is going to happen off the back of this – it was very special

5 July 2023

THERE were celebrations in Drumaness on Saturday night when 14 year-old singer/harpist Niamh Noade made it through to the next stage of this year’s hugely popular The Voice Kids aired on ITV.

Niamh wowed judges Will.i.am, Ronan Keating, Pixie Lott and Danny Jones with her spellbinding performance of Abba’s Winner Takes It All.

While Niamh is from Lislea in Co Armagh, she has strong family connections in Drumaness where he dad Mal grew up and played gaelic football and was a member of the successful side which won the Down Junior Championship in 2010 and reached the Ulster semis. 

All of Mal’s family still live locally and they were glued to the television on Saturday night with the judges congratulating Niamh on her stunning performance.

Ronan Keating was the first judge to hit the button to turn one of the four famous red chairs around during the blind auditions and he admitted Niamh’s performance had brought a tear to his eye as it left him so emotional.

Known as the ‘girl with the harp,’ Niamh has previously appeared on TG4 in the semi- final of the Ireland Junior Eurovision contest. And she’s been a finalist in Teen Star UK and BBC NI’s Soloist of the Year competition.

Now in its seventh series, Niamh wad vying for the The Voice judges’ attention alongside 40 young hopefuls – already whittled down from thousands. 

In the video promo run before Niamh took to the stage, she said there was always music in her house with her playing the harp, little sister Molly playing the bodhran and little brother Malachy playing the banjo.

“Dad plays the uilleann pipes, the guitar and tin whistle,” she said.

Mal said he used to play traditional Irish songs when Niamh was a “wee nipper” and she heard them.

“My Dad is my biggest inspiration,” said Niamh, while mum Deirdre said Niamh has been watching The Voice Kids for many years and “is just over the moon” to be able to appear on it.

“I get quite emotional at times when I watch her and it will be interesting to see how I will cope,” she added.

Before she took to the stage Niamh said: “Today is a really big day. The stage is absolutely massive and I’m really nervous.”

Ronan was the first judge to ask where Niamh was from while Will.i.am asked how long she had been playing the harp.

“I’ve been playing the harp for four years, but I only started and singing during lockdown,” she told the judges.

Describing her performance as “mesmerising,” Ronan said he had tears in his eyes as it was “so moving and so beautiful”.

“I’m such a fan,” he added.

Pixie told Niamh: “Your timing was amazing. It was really special.”

When it came to Niamh choosing a judge to mentor her, Pixie said she was Irish while Danny said he also had Irish connections, with Ronan interjecting and declaring: “Let them try, let them try” and revealed that a few weeks ago he picked up a guitar and recorded his own acoustic version of Winner Takes It All.

He added: “I think something beautiful and big is going to happen off this back of this. It was very special.”

Pixie added: “Niamh, what just happened there was magical. The reason it was so special was because it was so elegant and classy and you had the audience in the palm of your hand and it was like you didn’t even have to try which makes it even more amazing.”

Danny, a member of boy band McFly, said to audience laughter that he played an Irish guitar, adding: “To have you on my team with that stunning voice of yours and with that talent, it would be an absolute pleasure.”

When Niamh chose Ronan as her judge he told her:  “I’m so excited about song choices for you. Welcome to team Ronan.”

And the former Boyzone star told his fellow judges that Niamh’s performance was a “show-stopping moment for him”.

This year’s panel of judges will critique all the performers and guide their teams of selected artists through the remainder of the series – competing against each other for the winning act.

The winner will be awarded a family holiday to Orlando with Saturday’s edition of The Voice Kids airing  at 7.30pm.