Mary Byrne received a hero's welcome in her hometown of Ballyfermot yesterday and will tell her complete 'X Factor' story on this week's Late Late Show.
According to The Irish Times, a huge crowd turned out to see the X Factor singer at Tesco in Ballyfermot and speaking about the warm welcome she said: "I always thought Ballyfermot people were supportive but that was beyond the call of duty."
Accompanied by her daughter Debbie and brother Tommy, she greeted fans, signed autographs and sang a couple of versus of 'it's a Man's World, despite having a sore throat.
In response to the revelation that she polled more than fellow contestant Cher Lloyd before being voted off the show by judges, she said: "It's in the past.
"First of all, I was given the opportunity and not many Irish people are given that opportunity in the UK and that was fantastic. It was what it is, and there are no hard feelings whatsoever.
Speaking about Lloyd, she added that she "felt like slapping" her on a number of occasions "and I've told her that to her face".
She also advised teenagers to think twice before entering talent competitions such as 'The X factor': "It's emotional draining, the politics are frightening. I felt very sorry for the young kids at times. I really would say, wait until you are older.
"You have loads of years to be a pop star."
Speaking about her future she said that she would love to sing with big orchestras, doing the show-stopping songs that she became famous for on 'The X Factor'.
However she doesn't plan on moving to the UK: "I'd never leave my country, I love it too much."
She plans on doing 'The X Factor' tour, making an album of covers and another with original material.
However her first port of call is The Late Late Show this Friday night, 17 December and pointing to her throat she said: "I have to look after it now, it's my job."
'The Late Late Show' is on Friday on RTÉ1 at 9.35pm.
