While Niall Sexton from Magherafelt made it through to the “Judges’ Houses,” Derry’s X-Factor hopeful Conor McGinty crashed out of the talent show on Saturday night after he was cruelly robbed of his place during the “six chair challenge.”
The 21-year-old had made it down to the last 12 in the boys category after wowing judges at his first audition with his version of “Say Something” by Great Big World.
The young Derry man was initially awarded one of the places available but was switched out in a dramatic episode which saw Nicole Scherzinger select her last six in the boys category.
Nicole said Conor had given his best performance after he delivered a rendition of U2’s “Every Breaking Wave” and had offered him a seat initially.
Later, however, he had to give his seat up for one of the other contestants
However, Conor is determined to make the most of his appearances on the X-Factor.
Conor said he was keen to make the most of his success in the show.
“It’s been great exposure for me,” he said.
“I’ve really tried to capitalise on that through social media and because I’m doing a degree in marketing I have a fair idea about it.
“My fan page has gone up from 560 likes to 10,000 and my twitter followers have just gone through the roof.”
Despite gaining and then losing a chance to get to the “Judges Houses” part of the show Conor bears them no ill will.
“Louis definitely looks out for the Irish acts,” he said.
“It can be hard for Irish acts appearing on a British show, so he definitely helped me out a few times on the X-Factor.“I was most surprised by Sharon Osbourne.
“Simon and Nicole have their business heads on all the time but Louis and Sharon are more up for a bit of fun. They will sit and chat with you.
“The Irish contestants all have a ‘What’s App’ group and we all keep in touch.
“I got on really well with Niall Sexton and Janet Grogan
“I suppose we were all in competition with each other but Niall has completely different sound to me and Janet is in the girl’s category so I never really thought of them in that way.”
Conor is now planning his next move in the business and is keeping his options open.
“I’m still working out what suits my voice,” he revealed.
“I can do pop and country but I like Irish ballads too.
“I suppose I started late but I’m lucky that I have that natural ability.”
But his discovery of that natural ability came relatively late during a chance sing song at his aunt Sharon Breslin’s house.
“We were all at my auntie Sharon’s house having a Christmas party- she would be well known for them,” Connor recalled.
“Everybody was singing but I didn’t realise that Sharon had got them all to stop and it was just me singing on my own.
“I’ve always been a massive fan of music- The Script, U2, Aslan- but that was the first time I realised I could sing.
“My mammy Maria is a singer so she says its from her side, the Meenans, but my cousin on my da’s side is Damien McGinty from Glee and my aunty Sharon sings too, so he thinks it comes from there.”
Conor has already visited the Foyle Hospice where he sang for the patients and has been asked to record a Christmas charity single for them with Bronagh Gallagher and Paul Casey.
He will be appearing at the Guildhall Stage on Monday, October 31, from 2pm to 4pm as part of the Halloween celebrations.
Photo shows Conor with pupils from St Cecilia’s College in Derry where he performed an impromptu concern on Friday.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 07825 711978. Or you can email john.gill@derrynews.net at any time.