Claudia Buckley has said that Galway will always be home for her as she balances life between there and her base in Northern Ireland.
The country music superstar is a "self-confessed workaholic" as she has been touring Ireland, and overseas, with her band for the past 12 months.
At the moment, she is focused on what she is doing and she is determined to make her career the best it can be.
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Claudia told RSVP Country: "Galway will always be home for me, I’m between there and Northern Ireland. I gig up the North so much.
"I’ve a house in Tyrone, so I’m up and down the whole time. I’m like a yo-yo! Galway will always be special, it’s where my home house is, my granny lives there and my siblings are there.
"I love when I get home to see my sisters, my brother and my parents. It’s very special."
For Claudia, having two bases is very handy when she on the road and balancing her hectic touring schedule.
She said: When we’re gigging so much in Northern Ireland it saves so much time travelling. If I was gigging in Clonmany, it would be four and a half or five hours back home to Galway.
"Whereas it’s just an hour and a half to Tyrone. However, if I’m playing in Cork I’ll drive back to Galway. Having two bases is great."
Claudia is busier than ever, which means that she has to think about burnout.
The country music star said: "My mam only rang me today to make sure I’m taking my vitamins. When I’m off work I find it hard to actually switch off. I’m always looking at what’s next.
"I’m a self-confessed workaholic, but I love what I do so much. I’ve worked so hard to make this work. I thank God every day that this is working for me and that we’re doing so well at the minute."
Claudia has been on the road every weekend with her band since last November.
She said: "So we’re a year on the road. I had no idea how this was going to go for me when I first started. As you know, there aren’t many girls doing this in the capacity that I am, gigging week-on-week.
"I didn’t know if people would come out to see me every week. I didn’t know if they’d travel or if they’d like my show. That was all on my mind and I wanted to make sure people left saying, ‘That was great and great craic’."
Claudia is one of the few girls touring week in, week out, does that work to her advantage or make things harder for her? "I genuinely haven’t a clue. I’m so focused on what I’m doing at the minute and I’m determined to make my career the best it can be.
"I want to be at the top of my game and I’m going to keep working until that happens. I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I’m not looking around me.
"Olivia Douglas and I were talking at the Highland Radio trip and she had similar thoughts to me. It was nice to have another girl to share my concerns with.
"I don’t know if it’s harder or easier being a girl, all I know is that we’re trying our best."
Claudia went on a number of sun trips during the summer, performing alongside other Irish country music stars in Spain and Portugal.
The Galway singer said: "They’re really enjoyable. They’re probably the only time we get to socialise as singers. A lot of us have become good friends, but it can be hard to catch up and see each other.
"However, it can be a lot of work flying over and back and you’re probably straight back into work the second you’re back in Ireland."
Claudia’s new album In Between Dances is available to buy and stream now
Her new single Walkin’, Talkin’, Cryin’, Barely Beatin’ Broken Heart is on sale now
Read the full interview with Claudia Buckley and see all of the fabulous pictures in this issue of RSVP Country - on shelves now
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