'I hate giving up' - 12-year-old guitarist lands Toy Show spot after third time trying
It is third time lucky for 12-year-old guitarist Paddy White, who will see a dream come true when he performs on The Late Late Toy Show this Friday night.
The young Clonakilty musician was just 10 years old when he first applied to perform on the programme.
He made it to the audition stage last year, and this year the West Cork lad has landed a coveted spot.
“Ever since I started playing music, I wanted to be on The Late Late Toy Show,” Paddy said.
“I really love Christmas and every year I watched the Toy Show and wished I was on it. I was very disappointed last year because I actually made it as far the auditions.
But always when I fail at something I try again. I don’t really like to give up - I hate giving up! I wanted to keep on trying, and this year I was selected for the show.
Paddy, a sixth class pupil at Scoil na mBuachaillí in Clonakilty, started playing the guitar at age eight.
“We play a lot of music in my school. It’s great to have a musical school. My guitar teacher is also great and very encouraging,” said Paddy, whose musical icons include Elton John, Queen, The Cranberries and Ed Sheeran.
Paddy’s proud mum Joan White, who will accompany him to RTÉ along with her husband Noel on Friday night, said all he has ever wanted is to appear on The Late Late Toy Show.
“In our family, the night of the Toy Show is a very big night - we all put on our Christmas jumpers and get loads of goodies in, and it’s like a party.
“We’re all so proud of him for getting so far," she said.
The family, along with Paddy’s sister Alice (16) and nine-year-old brother Kevin, will travel to Dublin for the young star’s performance.
“It’s very exciting and it’s a great experience for Paddy. He’s working with camera crews and musical directors and stage directors. It is all amazing and all so professionally done and he will learn an awful lot from it."
