Ireland's Sophie Lennon shines her light in Yerevan

She’s been seen on Britain’s Got Talent, was the winner of this year’s BBC School Soloist of the Year, performed as Young Fiona in the stage version of Shrek the Musical in Belfast, and appeared on the popular annual Late Late Toy Show on RTÉ. 

Eagle-eyed fans of Ireland’s Junior Eurovision national final might also recognize Sophie as one of last year’s top three finalists. Those shows often included Irish Eurovision alumni like 1992 winner Linda Martin, 2006's Brian Kennedy, and 2022's Brooke Scullion, who had some words of advice for Sophie:

'They told me that I just need to be confident and always sing from the heart and do what you love!'

Sophie’s song, Solas (which translates from Irish as “Light”) is all about finding hope in times of difficulty.

‘The meaning of the song is no matter how dark or sad times get, you’ll always be able to find the light inside of you if you remember that it’s there, like seeing the light at the end of a tunnel. Sometimes it’s a bit hard to find, and you might need a little bit of help, but it’s always inside.’

👀 Check out Sophie’s Photo Gallery from her Rehearsals!

When she’s not singing or studying, she’s especially close with her family. She can often be seen recording TikTok videos with her mum and dad, playing with her pets (cats Oreo and Cookie and rabbit Floppy), or helping out her older brother Connor, who happens to be disabled. She’s a registered young carer for Connor, which has inspired her to potentially pursue a future career in medicine alongside her musical work.

So, what’s next for Sophie after her adventures in Yerevan? She’s been hopping back and forth between her home in County Mayo and London, working on rehearsals and cast recordings for the musical production of Marnie and the Kaleidoscope, hopefully coming to the West End some time next year! Balancing her work in the theatre with the life of a normal teenage girl isn’t always easy, but she’s thankful for the people in her life who give her the ability to pursue her dreams.

'Sometimes it's not easy, but then everyone I know is very flexible and supportive!'

If Sophie and Solas shines bright for you, be sure to vote for Ireland at Junior Eurovision 2022!

🗳 Find Out: How to Vote in Junior Eurovision 2022

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