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Former X Factor winner plans to uncover Irish roots
Entertainment

Former X Factor winner plans to uncover Irish roots

X FACTOR winner Alexandra Burke has revealed that she is keen to discover more about her Irish grandmother.

The Hallelujah singer is currently in Dublin performing The Bodyguard at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

Whilst her intense schedule didn’t allow her to trace her Irish roots this time around, she is planning to return to Ireland next year with her family to explore her Galway connections.

“My nan is actually from Connemara. I'm not sure what town she was from, but I wanted to take this time while I was here to research my background and my roots,” she said.

“But there wasn't enough time, so I'm hoping next year, with my family, we can take at least a week off of work and stuff to research where she was from.”

The London native did have a chance to explore some scenic destinations in Ireland, however.

“It was absolutely beautiful to take the trip all the way from Dublin Airport to Galway and to Connemara, and also I went to visit Kylemore Abbey,” she said.

"It was incredible driving past it and seeing this massive castle and then randomly stopping in for afternoon tea and visiting where the boarding school used to be and seeing the background and stuff of who used to live there. It was really, really beautiful."

Alexandra found fame after winning the X Factor in Britain in 2008.

She was mentored by Cheryl Cole and went on to achieve a Christmas number one with her first single Hallelujah.