Carolan family named ‘wildcards’ on Irish talent show

Father and daughter Kevin and Klara Carolan from Bailieborough performed on Réalta agus Gaolta last Sunday.

The show is searching for Ireland’s most talented family and the duo remains firmly in the mix having being named a wildcard after their beautiful piece ‘Paint me a Picture of Ireland’ by Seán Keane. This will see the pair perform once again, giving them a chance to make the final.

On the night, they were one of two acts chosen to perform again however it was The Mulvany Sisters who came out on top.

Accompanied by Klara, fingers effortlessly crossing her guitar, the pair’s singing stunned the judging panel comprising champion sean-nós singer Irial Ó Ceallaigh, award-winning broadcaster Sinéad Ní Uallacháin and Irish violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain.

“There were tears in my eyes during that song,” Judge Sinéad said after watching the two perform.

“Kevin and Klara that was beautiful,” she said, noticing that Kevin was looking at Klara “with pride”.

“I was moved by it,” she praised.

Meanwhile Irial said “for the first time” a song “nearly” made him cry before adding that the performance was “lovely” and “natural.”

“It has to be said Klara, you have an amazing voice.”

Aoife also commented on the “beautiful” father daughter connection and praised Klara for her “precise” and “great” talent on the guitar.

Speaking after their performance, Klara said music has always played “a big part” in her life, which her father has always supported.

“It’s an honour to share the stage with him tonight,” she said.

She said she would like to pursue a music career.

“I feel that music has really made me what I am today,” she added, mentioning Dolores Keane and Seán Keane and quoted Dolores saying “music was my refuge and music kept me same.”

Her father, who was beaming with pride on stage, described it as a “privilege” to perform alongside his daughter on the show. He told viewers how they go to Galway together to busk where “hundreds” of people praise his daughter’s musical ability. “It makes me a proud man,” he said.

“She has a bit of talent you know and I’m a happy man.”

Speaking of his two daughters and his wife, Kevin said “a man has to be privileged when he has three girls in his life that he’s proud of and I’m certainly proud of them.”

Upon entering the home, Kevin is always delighted to hear a banjo, a piano, a fiddle or a tin whistle being played.

“When there’s music in a home, it’s pretty good,” he shared.