Three students from St Mary's University College are set to step into the circle at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville next week.
The music students from the West Belfast college were hand picked to perform at the Music City Irish Fest in the home of country music.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash, students Molly Walls, Maeve O’Donnell and Rosie McElroy will take to the famous stage for two nights and will be joined on the bill by country chart toppers including Lauren Alaina and Charles Esten.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, the girls said that they are excited to be travelling to Nashville, which has been a sister city of Belfast since 1995.
"We received an email one day from John Brolly and Dr. Frances Burgess who is head of Music here at St Mary's telling us about the opportunity for music students and that it would be done on an application basis," Maeve O’Donnell said.
"15 people came to a meeting about it and there was only three places. We got really lucky because there was a lot of competition."
Rosie McElory and Molly Walls play the fiddle and will be bringing their instruments along with them on the trip.
Rosie has been playing the fiddle since she was a young child and her current instrument was handed down to her from her grandfather.
"The instrument means a lot to me and I can't wait to entertain people with it," she told us.
While in Nashville, the girls will have the opportunity to record a track at one of the world renowned studios on Music Row. They will also visit the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University as well as the College of Music and Performing Arts at Belmont University.
Maeve added: "We would listen to some of the artists who are on the lineup and to see those who we think are inspirational and to be sharing a stage with them is unbelievable.
"People keep telling us when we are out there to go and visit the Grand Ole Opry and when we tell them that's where we are performing, it is just surreal."
The College Principal, Professor Peter Finn KSG, said: St Mary’s University College is delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Counsellor Christina Black, to our campus today to celebrate the forthcoming visit of three student teachers to the Nashville Music City for St Patrick’s Day.
"The talented trio of traditional musicians from St Mary’s will enjoy the occasion of an Ice Hockey game as part of their stay and they plan to visit the BMI recording studio which is synonymous with Nashville.
"St Mary’s has been involved in international outreach since the early 1990s and this new venture builds on an extensive portfolio of travel and learning opportunities for our students.”
Belfast Lord Mayor Cllr Tina Black visited the college to wish the students well before their trip.
“I’d like to wish these very talented students a successful, rewarding, and fun trip to our Sister City of Nashville. Belfast really values the Sister City relationship we have with Nashville – it was founded over 25 years ago on our cities’ shared love of music and culture," she said.
"Today, it encompasses economic, tourism and of course educational, collaborations. This visit will allow Belfast to promote our new UNESCO City Of Music status to America’s Music City – Nashville.
"St Mary’s is renowned for the role that music plays in the college and performing at Nashville’s Music City Irish Fest provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase both the college and the city. These students are the perfect Belfast ambassadors.”
Brenda Willis Founder and CEO of Music City Irish Fest added: “Music is a universal bridge that connects people and cultures.
"This St. Patrick’s Day, Music City Irish Fest in Nashville is delighted to welcome students from St. Mary’s University College to collaborate on music performances that will continue to build the Sister Cities relationship between these two musical cities - Belfast - UNESCO City of Music and Nashville - Music City, USA.”
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