Cavan's Brendan has the X Factor!

A singer with Cavan links has made it through to the live shows of the X Factor. Plumber Brendan Murray (21), whose dad is from Kildallan near Ballyconnell, is one of four young men to make it through under the Boys category for the popular TV singing competition.
His special rendition of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares to You’ saw Brendan sail through to the final stages of the reality TV competition under mentor Louis Tomlinson of One Direction fame.

The Galway-born lad had been hotly tipped to make the cut for the live shows, having earned himself a ‘Safe Seat’ for judges houses at the previous Six Chair Challenge 
Brendan’s dad Frank worked for over 35 years with the former Quinn Group and himself was a talented singer and musician.
Brendan is reported as saying his dad Frank gave him the final push by booking his flight and accommodation sending him on his way to entering the X Factor competition.
Praising his parents for their support, Brendan said: "They've just been great. This is something that dad has always wanted to do but it was different in his time, the opportunities weren't there. He just loves what's happening."
Brendan's previous rendition of REM's 'Everybody Hurts' in the competition prompted head judge Simon Cowell to comment: "You are in a completely different league to everyone else we've seen so far. Do you know what's so charming about you? You don't even know how good you are."
The talented Brendan is well known in music circles, having represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 with the song 'Dying to Try'. However, he failed to qualify for the final in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Brendan is also a former member of the Irish boyband 'Hometown', managed by Louis Walsh.
The band achieved three chart successes in Ireland, including the number one singles 'Where I Belong' in 2014, and 'Cry for Help' in 2015.
Their debut album, HomeTown, was released in November 2015 and peaked at number four in Ireland.
In December 2016, the band announced an indefinite hiatus.
The live TV shows of the X Factor begin this Saturday evening on Virgin Media One from 8pm.