Donegal singer Muireann Bradley (17) rubs shoulders with musical royalty on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny show

A 17-year-old singer from Co Donegal rubbed shoulders with musical royalty on New Year’s Eve as she performed alongside Rod Stewart on Jools Holland’s annual television celebrations.

Muireann Bradley from Ballybofey was watched by around two million viewers as she took to the stage for the iconic BBC2 programme.

The blues singer and guitarist performed Candyman on the New Year’s Eve Hootenanny show, before taking to the stage alongside Scottish crooner Stewart for the final song of the night.

With presenter Holland on the piano, Ms Bradley joined some of the main stars of the night for the show finale.

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Legendary singer Stewart could be seen offering the Ballybofey teenager a share of his microphone for the performance of Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think).

Her appearance on the show went down a storm, receiving the only standing ovation of the night.

The young musician had previously written of her delight on social media of “ringing in the New Year with not only Jools and his amazing Rhythm & Blues Orchestra but the legend that is Rod Stewart, the fantastic Ruby Turner, PP Arnold, the SugaBabes, Olivia Dean, Joss Stone, RAYE, Paul Jones, the Mary Wallopers and the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards”.

Her performance comes after the recent release of her debut album, ‘I Kept These Old Blues’.

The teenager, who is currently signed to the American record label Tompkins Square, has previously described how she has drawn inspiration from her father playing old tunes and the sounds of the Appalachians a century ago.

“I grew up steeped in these old blues in the hills overlooking the valley of the River Finn just outside the town of Ballybofey in Co Donegal,” she said.

“My father would play this music constantly at home and wherever we went in the car and talk about it endlessly whether anyone was listening or not, telling stories about the lives of these musicians as if they were legend, mythology or the evening news.”

Also an accomplished athlete in the boxing ring and as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor, her performance drew much praise from viewers.

Taking to social media, one viewer said she had “made all of Donegal very proud”.

“To be asked to perform amongst such high calibre company is one thing but to outshine them all with the performance of the night is astonishing,” he wrote.

“A deserved standing ovation - wishing you all the best from here on.”

Another social media user said she was the “best thing on the show by miles”, while another added that she was “just incredible an absolute joy to listen to”.