Donegal star Grainne Gallanagh will be competing in the grand final of RTE’s Dancing with the Stars tonight – a week earlier than expected due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Show producers have brought the competition forward by a week “due to recommended guidance” around coronavirus Covid-19.

This means that tonight’s scheduled semi-final will actually be the final of the series.

Former Miss Universe Ireland Grainne now has the Glitterball Trophy in her sights as she battles to be the overall winner. The programme will be recorded without a live audience and with limited staff, but Grainne said she hopes the entertaining show will bring something positive and nice to viewers tuning in from home.

Grainne Gallanagh – Dancing with the Stars Ireland

The Buncrana model will be counting on her supporters more than ever to help her make this once in a lifetime achievement. Grainne is the first-ever Dancing with the Stars Ireland contestant from Donegal, and her supporters are ‘going green for Grainne’ today to campaign to make her Donegal’s first winner.

Local band Don’t Fear the Natives have lent their talents to the campaign by recording a special song: Go Grainne!

As a qualified nurse, Grainne has also been sharing her support for healthcare workers on the frontline during the stressful time of the covid-19 outbreak. “I can’t imagine what it’s like,” Grainne said on Instagram yesterday.

“We’re thinking about everyone, all my colleagues in London and everyone in Letterkenny that I worked with, you’re all doing a great job.”

Tonight, Grainne will be competing against fellow celebrities Ryan Andrews, Lottie Ryan and Aidan Fogarty. The winner will be decided by public vote, with voting lines opening during the show.

The Dancing with the Stars final is on RTÉ One at 6:30pm.