Glór Tíre finalist Tilly plans to “prove the trolls wrong”

Having had to dramatically withdraw from the finals of TG4’s country music talent show, Glór Tíre, after complaints of a breach of Covid-19 guidelines, Glasson singer Tilly Dawson-Stanley has vowed to "prove the trolls wrong" and continue with her music career despite what she says is “a vile campaign of personal abuse” as a result of her appearance on the popular show.

“The online abuse started as soon as I got into the finals,” says 22-year old Tilly “and it ramped up even further when I had to withdraw from the competition, but I am going to push through all of that and prove the trolls wrong by continuing with my music career as soon as the country opens back up again.”

With a single “Grandpa” already released, the young country music singer admits that she was “devastated” when she had to withdraw from Glór Tíre just a day ahead of the Grand Finals of the competition where she had a one in three chance of winning the coveted trophy and a cheque for €5,000.

While she insists that a Facebook Live event she took part in along with her mentor, Cliona Hagan, did adhere to Covid-19 guidelines, she accepts that this was not fully visible on camera and that a large number of complaints were made to her and to TG4.

“I had been getting so much online abuse after reaching the finals that I was beginning to think that if I won the abuse would get even worse, and then when all the complaints started coming in about the Facebook Live event both myself and TG4 came to a mutual decision that it would be better if I withdrew,” she says.

Describing the abuse as “shocking and very personal,” Tilly Dawson-Stanley says she felt that “some people” didn’t want her on Glór Tíre, but on the other hand she was very heartened to receive support from “some of the biggest names in Irish country music who were very concerned about me.”

Reflecting on her time on Glór Tíre, the talented young Westmeath woman said it was “both a bruising and an uplifting experience.”

While she feels “it just wasn’t meant to be” she says it has made her even more determined to make it in the highly competitive country music business.

“I intend to continue singing, 100%,” she says “and as soon as the country opens up again I am going to be back on the stage every chance I get.”