February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
But former Bellefire babe Paula O’Neill is determined to break the curse of the pre-fab performers and launch a dazzling solo career. But it might help if she passed an audition or two.
The Cork-born singer, who was dropped from Louis Walsh’s Westlife clone-ette in January 2000, was in the running for a finalist spot on the Irish TV show “You’re a Star.” The winner will go on to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. O’Neill was philosophical about being cut.
“To be honest,” she told the Sunday World, “that was the one negative point, that the Eurovision was part of it.”
“Being in the Eurovision is not part of my master plan,” she said with a shrug.
Still, it would have been nice to get some positive feedback. Like, the judges could have been a bit more diplomatic.
“Kerry Katona McFadden [wife of Westlife hunk Bryan] told me she thought I was ordinary,” sniffed O’Neill. “I thought [it] was a bit rich coming from her.” Meow!
Distinguished judge Phil Coulter got a bit more respect, if not agreement.
“[He] told me he didn’t think I had star quality,” she said. “But I think I have.”