'I'm just a little Dubliner who works in Dunnes' - Patrick among three city singers given a Voice for the next stage of show

Patrick Donoghue  from Donnycarney will face the live shows after his mentor Una Foden said he had the potential to become an international star.

"What a comment to get. I'm just a little Dubliner who works in Dunnes, I never thought I'd get told by such a hugely successful popstar that I could be an international star," the singer said.

Patrick is eager to get going on the live shows in March. The retail worker tried his hand at X-Factor when he was 16 and made it to bootcamp. This time around the reality show feels more comfortable and less intense, he said.

The talented northsider also pointed out that the blind auditions mean that the Irish show is all about how good a person's voice is. "I don't look like your conventional popstar. I think that now is the time for the fatties," Patrick joked.

Patrick was one of nine people to get through to the live shows last night.

Dubliners Dean Forrester (21) and 28-year-old John Bonham from Santry also progressed to the next stage.

Meanwhile Una has revealed that the arrival of son Tadhg helped her rugby star husband Ben get over a serious injury.

"I was heartbroken for Ben and a lot of tears were shed but we work as a team and the upside is that he's been able to spend so much time with Tadhg."

hnews@herald.ie