Help keep Eoghan’s dream alive!
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Eoghan performing live on ITV to millions on Saturday night with his impressive rendition of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’.
X FACTOR contestant Eoghan Quigg is coping well under the pressure of performing live to millions, his family have said.
His dad, Chris Quigg spoke to the Northern Constitution this week after returning to Dungiven from London. Eoghan's dad, mom and two brothers were in the audience for the first live show on Saturday night, when Eoghan (16) sailed through to the next stage after an faultless rendition of John Lennon's classic 'Imagine'.
Chris said: "He's very happy and has settled in well. We were delighted to see him at the weekend and he was especially happy to see his mum."
Eoghan's mum Denise is due to give birth in approximately four weeks and was unable to fly to London last week so the family ended up travelling by ferry and car to see their eldest son sing live on ITV, broadcast to millions across the UK.
Chris continued: "Denise is doing very well but she's very disappointed she won't be able to get over to see him this weekend. We decided it would be better for her to stay at home and keep Calum and Dylan with her."
Chris says his son is coping very well with all the pressure and seems particularly excited about this week's performance. He said:
“The nerves haven't got to him and he's loving the experience. He's not giving anything away but he's really looking forward to Saturday night's show."
And it seems star quality runs in the family, champion boxer Paul McCloskey is Eoghan's cousin. We caught up with the top boxer, the current IBF International light-welterweight title holder, to ask him how he thinks his young cousin will cope with all the attention the competition has brought him.
He said: "Eoghan's very grounded and I think he probably doesn't realise how much there has been about him in the media here, which is probably a good thing, he can just get on with the task at hand."
Paul says he watched Saturday night's live show in the local Gaelic club, he said: "It was absolutely packed and everyone was glued to the screen.
“It's incredible how the whole town has got behind him and are doing so much to support him.
“Everybody was ringing in for him and we all thought he sang so well."
It is understood there has been a new batch of the Eoghan car flags ordered, which are for sale in most shops in Dungiven, where posters and banners with the St Patrick's College pupil's name and face emblazoned on them are up all over the town.
Paul added: "it's fantastic to see everyone rooting for him but it's important that people do pick up the phone and vote for him, that's the only way to make sure he stays in. Sometimes people assume there are ones who are 'safe' but it's all about the public vote, so we ask everyone to lift the phone and keep Eoghan's dream alive."
