Derry Teen Wins Glee Role

Damien McGinty, an 18-year-old from Derry in Northern Ireland, has landed a starring role on one of the most popular shows on television.

The youngster will star in a seven-episode arc of the hit Fox show "Glee" after he was named joint winner of a reality competition on cable channel Oxygen on Sunday night.

McGinty was one of 12 finalists selected from over 40,000 entries to compete for the prize of a starring role on the hit show.

Despite facing potential elimination on several occasions during the 10-week "Glee Project" series, he survived through to the final.

As Glee creator Ryan Murphy announced that Samuel Larsen, an indie rock singer from California had won the competition at the end of Sunday's season finale, it looked like McGinty had been beaten into second place.

However, in a surprise twist, Murphy then revealed to McGinty that he had been so impressed with him, that he was also being named a winner, with the reward of a specially scripted seven episode role too.

McGinty had become a fan favourite during the series, revelling in the role of the underdog, and gaining popularity among his fellow contestants.

McGinty is no stranger to the stage - he has been performing all over America with the male vocal group Celtic Thunder since the age of 14.

His first breakthrough came when a CD he recorded for charity was passed to Celtic Thunder producer Sharon Browne and music director Phil Coulter.

But a role on Glee will shoot his fame to a whole new level.

Although the exact nature of his role in the third season of Glee has not been revealed, it's likely to be as a foreign exchange student who comes to McKinley High, the fictional school where the show is set.