Cliona Hagan joins Unfiltered with Sarah Jane Foster to share the story behind her rise to becoming one of Ireland's most successful country music stars.

From being a painfully shy child to leaving a secure teaching career to pursue music, Cliona opens up about self-belief, sacrifice, hard work and the people who encouraged her to chase her dream. She shares the realities of life on the road, building a loyal fanbase, balancing relationships and the lessons she has learned throughout her career.

Whether you're pursuing a dream, changing careers or looking for the confidence to take a leap of faith, this episode is packed with inspiration, honesty and practical life lessons.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

• Why fear should never stop you chasing your dreams

• How Cliona went from teacher to country music star

• The importance of having supportive people around you

• Why confidence comes from taking action

• The sacrifices required to build a successful career

• How to overcome self-doubt

• The reality of life on the road as a performer

• Why authenticity matters

• How to build strong relationships while pursuing ambition

• The mindset behind long-term success

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Meet Cliona Hagan

00:44 Growing Up With Music

02:34 Performing In School & Overcoming Nerves

04:09 The Importance Of A Strong Support System

05:44 Friendships, School & Growing Up Shy

08:07 The Teacher Who Changed Everything

10:28 The Sacrifices Of A Music Career

13:11 Social Media & Building A Following

14:07 Working Multiple Jobs Before Music

15:02 Studying To Become A Teacher

16:00 Leaving Teaching To Follow Her Dream

17:02 Taking A Leap Of Faith

18:05 The Hard Work Behind Success

19:13 Learning To Be Proud Of Yourself

20:17 The Reality Of Performing On Stage

22:38 Building A Loyal Fanbase

24:36 The Most Surprising Fan Story

28:40 Life On Tour

31:10 Pre-Show Rituals & Performance Preparation

34:43 Marriage, Music & Working Together

37:10 Recording Music With Her Husband

38:14 Dolly Parton Receiving Her Album

40:40 Her Dream Performance With Dolly Parton

41:15 Receiving Her Own An Post Stamp

42:35 What's Next For Cliona Hagan

43:35 Final Thoughts

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SPONSOR

This episode was sponsored by Home Instead.

https://www.homeinstead.ie/