Cork dad wows the judges in Ireland’s Got Talent

A Cork father who was was told he might never walk again after a spinal injury left him paralysed has made his way into the semi-final of Ireland’s Got Talent after an impressive performance.

Barry Darcy, 38, of Castlemartyr in Cork received the Golden Buzzer from judge Louis Walsh for his performance on Saturday night.

Barry is from Wexford and has been living with his wife and sons in Castlemartyr in Cork for the last 13 years.

His version of Elvis Presley’s ‘The Wonder of You’ left the judging panel speechless on Saturday’s show and brought the entire audience to its feet.

In 2013, Barry found himself unable to stand and was taken to hospital where he learned that a disc in his back had perforated and was lying on his sciatic nerve.

He was left paralysed following surgery and, after weeks of intensive physiotherapy, was told he may never walk again.

However, following intensive treatment, Barry walked on stage on Saturday night to wow the judges and bag himself a place in the semi-final of the show.

The Rebel county was well represented on Saturday nights’ show with dance group The Odyssey and gymnastics troupe Rebel Acro also taking to the stage.

Both groups managed to impress the judges to make it into the next round of the show.

Last year, the competition was won by the 31 dancers from Billie-Jean’s Rhythm Dance Company in Midleton, who won a cash prize of €50,000 and got their own special on TV3.