Thousands turn out for X Factor star's homecoming

IT was a homecoming worthy of any All-Ireland win. Thousands of people turned out to cheer on Tuam’s X Factor star Brendan Murray who returned to the town this week following his exit from the TV competition last weekend.

Music filled the cold November evening sky and as the 22-year-old began to sing one of his favourite ballads, phone lights twinkled in the darkness. Young fans thronged the former court area to the rear of O’Toole’s SuperValu where a professional stage was erected thanks to the organisational efforts of a committee of local volunteers.
The event left Brendan overwhelmed and he admitted he hadn’t expected so many people to turn up.
Local musicians and some children from St Patrick’s Primary School warmed up the crowd before the Tuam star arrived and took to the stage.
After singing several songs solo and with the band, Brendan spent more than an hour meeting and taking photos with young fans as well as signing memorabilia and even a few hands and arms!

It was a night that certainly topped-off the overall feel-good factor that Brendan’s participation in The X Factor has brought to the region over the recent weeks.
Brendan Murray’s X Factor journey may have ended but he’s upbeat and looking forward to what’s coming next in his music career.
Despite having all four judges on their feet after performing the opening song of the show on Saturday night, Brendan lost out on the public vote and was one of the two contestants to leave the semi-final that night.
However, viewers were given very little time to show their support for the last six contestants as voting was only open for 17 minutes during the show.
Speaking to The Tuam Herald Brendan acknowledged that hearing the result was difficult to take in the beginning. But he quickly bounced back and was delighted to have gotten so far in one of the most-watched TV shows.

On stage he told the excited crowd how proud he was of being from Tuam and how much the local support had meant to him.

Read more in this week’s edition of The Tuam Herald

WATCH Brendan perform at his homecoming in Tuam