Singer Paddy Treacy has been announced as the first finalist in The Late Late Show Opening Act, a new competition that will see five performers battle it out live on RT\u00c9 One this Friday.<\/p>\n
The Fermanagh singer was revealed on Today with David McCullagh on RT\u00c9 Radio 1 on Monday morning ahead of the special, which airs on Friday 17 April.<\/p>\n
The winner will earn the chance to open for Grammy winner Shania Twain<\/a> when she plays Thomond Park in Limerick in July. They will also secure a place on the annual Late Late Show Country Special later this year.<\/p>\n Speaking after the announcement, Treacy said appearing on The Late Late Show was something he had never imagined.<\/p>\n “I really cannot wait to play on The Late Late Show Opening Act, it\u2019s really a dream come true getting to perform on The Late Late Show, a show I have watched since I was a child and a show I never ever thought I would be on some day,” he said.<\/p>\n Treacy also said the country music special has long been his favourite edition of the programme.<\/p>\n “As good as The Late Late Show is, the country music special is the highlight of shows of the year in my opinion, I never ever miss a country music special,” he said.<\/p>\n “My favourite one was when they opened the show with the Walk of Life. The production value really added to the performance, so to think I have the chance to perform on the show in front of those big names, it doesn\u2019t seem real to me.”<\/p>\n The remaining four finalists will be revealed on Today with David McCullagh on RT\u00c9 Radio 1 each morning this week between 9am and 11am.<\/p>\n All five acts will then perform on The Late Late Show Opening Act on Friday 17 April at 9.35pm on RT\u00c9 One and RT\u00c9 Player.<\/a><\/p>\n