It's a long way from Co. Louth to Seville – more specifically, from Dundalk to The Barber of Seville.

Just ask Tara Erraught. She may hail from Ireland's smallest county, but she's got a voice that's big enough to shake the dust from any venue's rafters and will star in Rossini's most-loved opera at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre later this month.

We caught up with Tara to discuss her humble beginnings at Dulargy National School and how she's become one of the most sought-after young opera stars in Europe over the last few years.

Where did your interest in music and singing stem from?

In Dundalk, there's quite a famous singing teacher, Geraldine. When I was in primary school in Ravensdale, we had a wee orchestra in Dulargy National School. Everybody wanted to be in the orchestra, so I was learning the violin and smack bang in the middle of it. But I used to sing all the time; we're talking Neil Diamond, hits of the sixties, whatever my parents were playing in the car. There wasn't a word of Neil Diamond that I don't know, by the way (laughs). So just before my 10th birthday, they took me in to see Geraldine for a lesson – and that was just the beginning of the end, really. I didn't want to do anything else ever again, because it was so much more entertaining for me to sing than to play the violin. You could tell straight away that people were listening and you had their attention because you had this great wee story to tell them.

How did that love of singing develop into a love of opera?

We would always go to France in the summer for a couple of weeks, and one year my parents decided to drive over the Alps and go into Verona, because it was quite close to where we were. We went to the opera in Verona, which was like an out-of-world experience. I had never seen an opera before; I probably hadn't even heard that much. I'd hear whatever was on the radio but I'd never take notice – but when I saw that opera, I thought 'Oh my sweet baby Jesus, I have to do this. This is it.' Honestly, I'm not exaggerating – I just didn't want to do anything else. I couldn't understand why I had to go to school or why they were sending me on the bus every day. I think I just became an addict.

Your parents are both chefs – did they have any problem with you becoming a professional singer?

Oh, not at all. When I look at it now – because I've been living in Germany now for eight years – I think 'Jesus, weren't they so brave to let me do it? Not try to persuade me to do something else?'. When I think about it now, only for them… Of course, there were plenty of times where I'd be like 'God, am I doing the right thing', or calling home when I was homesick and saying 'Will you come and visit me?' and they never said 'You're mad. Go and do accountancy or something, have something to fall back on.' When I think of it now, only for them (laughs). Had somebody said 'Listen, wait a couple of years…', you probably would have, if you were thinking sensibly.

You used to be an usherette at the National Concert Hall, but that was also the venue where you got your big break.

I went to the [Royal Irish] Academy and by the time I was in second year, my teacher Ronnie (Veronica Dunne) had said 'Listen, I'm going to have my International Singing Competition', in December 2006. She said 'I'm gonna take you out of the Feis for a year, my competition's coming up in January and if you're a good girl, I'll let you do it.' We worked and worked the whole year, and of course, I was only 20 years old – I wasn't nearly ready for it. But we worked the repertoire and we got sorted. Ronnie kept saying to me 'Now, listen, lovie, you're only going to sing in the first round. You're going to get knocked out because there are a lot more experienced singers than you in it.' I was like, 'Okay, fine'. When push came to shove, I got through every round and ended up coming second in the competition. This was the 26th of January 2007: my first time ever singing with an orchestra, my first time ever singing in the Concert Hall – and during this period, I was an usherette in the Concert Hall, showing people to their seats. It was amazing, you can't imagine the atmosphere – because most of the people would have known me from having the craic at the door (laughs). Talk about buzzing and nearly wetting myself at the same time…. it was amazing.

You've been based in Germany for the last few years and have won some huge roles – that must make coming back for Irish performances all the sweeter.

You know what's brilliant? There are so many great Irish singers that I didn't know about, really, when I was at home. Then you come onto the continent and pick up an opera magazine and you're like 'Oh bejay, that's a very Irish name'. It's gas, it makes you very proud. I'm green on the inside if you cut me open (laughs).

You've already achieved a hell of a lot, and you're not even 30. What's left on your list of ambitons?

In Europe, what I've focused on so far has been making my role debuts. Next to come are making my house debuts, but Ronnie has said to me 'Study the roles, work with the conductors. Make one debut and then tour the role.' That's the next step. There are many other places I still want to sing: in Zurich, Berlin, places that will come and they're so supportive because they understand your plan. I want to spend a bit more time in the States as well – both on recitals and opera - which I can't wait for. I mean, Carnegie Hall, imagine? It's terrifying, but it's awesome.

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Tara Erraught stars in The Barber of Seville, which runs at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on April 20th, 22nd and 23rd. Tickets are on sale now.