Vote for Maggie

Retired civil servant Maggie Ferris from Nursery Avenue will be representing the north of Ireland in the live show and is hoping to make her mentor, Dana, proud.

Maggie was chosen from hundreds of other hopefuls before Christmas and since then has spent her time promoting the show and preparing for the live show this Sunday (February 20th).

“Most of the time has been spent putting up posters and working with the RTE camera crew who have been up here filming,” Maggie told the Times.

“They filmed here last week all round Coleraine and they interviewed my family and also visited St Malachy’s Church where I sing in the folk group.

“They also came down to the Riverside Theatre where my friends in Ballywillan Drama Group were staging Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and interviewed the director Brian Logan.

“We also shot some footage down at Portstewart with Dominican as a backdrop as I wanted people to know just how beautiful an area this is.

“In fact, my aunt Mary joked that I could work for the Tourist Board.”

Maggie will travel down to Dublin this week to begin rehearsals for the live show including testing sound, visuals, choreography, costume and lighting and meeting with the musical director.

This week’s show is the last of the live heats and so far, the north only has one representative through to the finals.

“I’m just hoping to do my best,” said Maggie.

“I hope that if people feel I’m good enough, they will vote and I would really appreciate that.

“So far I have had great support from my family and friends and people in the Triangle ara.

“I have also had messages of support from County Down, Dublin and County Donegal. No matter what happens on the show this weekend, I want to thank everyone for their help.

“I’m just going to enjoy it and do my best. As the show comes closer it’s getting hard to believe that it’s actually going to happen.

“But from what I have been told by people who have taken part in the show, it’s a great experience and everyone is so well looked after by the staff at RTE.”

Tune in this Sunday to RTE1 (available on Sky Channel 161) at 6.30pm to see Maggie and remember - vote Maggie for the North!