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INTERVIEW EVERY TIME THE GIRLS GET A CHANCE, THEY MAKE ME SING 'GRACE' There was only one song Niamh Rice was going to turn to when Louth claimed the Lidl National Football League Division 4 title at St Tiernach's Park in Clones. "We would sing in the local pub, which would probably be our main spot. They gave us a chance to start off. We would be regular enough like. "But it's really disappointing, the industry has really been hit hard with not being able to play in pubs. Obviously I totally agree with minimising By DARAGH SMALL T he Cooley Kickhams star scored 2-3 and picked up the Player of the Match award in the four-point win over Leitrim, and it was her old favourite, 'Grace', that she belted out post-match. In a normal non-Covid world, Rice would prefer to be singing alongside her sister Eibhlin in the local pub and she knows that will take time. For now, she must do with her teammates as the backing vocalists! "Every time the girls get a chance they make me sing 'Grace', every single time. They seem to like that one," said Rice. "They love that song around here for some reason. Any time they get a chance, especially Shannon McLaughlin, will just force me to sing it. "They are great in fairness, they make me sing the verse and join in then." The Rice Sisters began gigging before the global pandemic struck and with the live performance ban still in place, Lily Finnegan's Pub and the rest of Carlingford will have to wait. "Most Friday nights we would definitely be singing anyway on Saturday or even Sunday nights," said Rice. Above: , Niamh Rice with her Player of the Match award v Leitrim. Below: Lauren Boyle, left, and Niamh Rice of Louth lift the West County Hotel Cup. 54 | SUMMER 2021 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie