The All Ireland Talent Show (series 1)
Encyclopedia
The first series of The All Ireland Talent Show
was announced in November 2008 and commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing its first series on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent
, it was produced by Tyrone Productions. Airing on RTÉ One
, it was hosted by Gráinne Seoige
.
Auditions took place in five locations across Ireland in November and December 2008. The auditions were divided into five regions with contestants competing only in their region of origin. The regions are Ulster
, Connacht
, Munster
, Dublin and non-Dublin Leinster
. The auditions commenced airing on 4 January 2009. There were five judges and each regional judge, with the assistance of two other personalities who then disappear from the show, selected five acts to be put forward to the live studio heats, which began in February 2009. Louis Walsh
was approached to act as a judge but refused to commit. On the opening night of series one, The All Ireland Talent Show had over 500,000 viewers, with Ireland only having a population of over four million people. The opening was similar to the Got Talent series. The twenty-five finalists competed for a first prize of €50,000, which was eventually won by Mulkerrin Brothers of the Aran Islands.
Shane Lynch expressed his concern over the tactical voting of other judges, saying that he felt some of them were deciding upon their marks in what he viewed as an incorrect way. "It's going to affect me, don't get me wrong, it has affected me in fact", he told RTÉ.ie
. Referring to the elimination of his dance act Raw Edge Crew, Lynch commented: "They should have done it (progressed)... and there was tactical voting involved". Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh has described herself as the "most honest" judge. Judge Dáithí also reported his dissatisfaction with his fellow judges. Judge Creedon reported his dissatisfaction with Judge Dáithí after the series.
The first episode was broadcast on 4 January 2009. It featured the Dublin auditions which saw Shane Lynch
choose five acts to compete.
but now lives in Clontarf
with her family. At the auditions she sang "Fabulous" from High School Musical 2 to her own dance routine. Judge Shane Lynch
advanced her despite the protests of his advisors Evelyn O'Rourke
and John Keogh
.
Bert and Victor O'Brien are thirteen year-old twins from Kilbarrack
. Their mother bought a guitar for both of them. They earn about €80 for their busking sessions. At the auditions they sang "Coming Around Again
" by Simon Webbe
.
Elle N Elle are composed of Irish-French
rappers Tamara Opreri and Vilma Barbosa from the James Street
area. The duo write their own hip hop
tracks and describe their songs as "accessible soft rap".
Genesis are a ten-piece dance troupe from across the city. They range in age from twelve to seventeen and many have previously performed on The Late Late Toy Show
, The Den
and Kazoo
. They dance using theatrical white masks.
Raw Edge Crew are a group of dance teachers from Blanchardstown
aged from twenty to twenty-three. At the auditions they performed a hip hop medley ending in a tribute to Riverdance
. They have been together for seven years and have previously represented Ireland in dance competitions in the United States
and Germany
. They share their skills with children from difficult backgrounds. They exited the competition after missing out on being the wild-card entry in the first live final on 8 February 2009.
The second episode was broadcast on 11 January 2009. It featured auditions from the West which saw Daithí Ó Sé
choose five acts to compete.
Rachel Goode is a 17-year-old who lives in Ballinasloe, County Galway
. She is a classical singer with an admiration for Charlotte Church
.
Eva and Bernard Coyle are a father and daughter act, who live in Roscommon
. While Eva sings, her dad accompanies her on the guitar. Judge Daithí was worried that her dad would simply be an after thought, while live in-studio, with background music, but Daithí put them through as a duo.
. He plays the electric fiddle, and performed his own piece in the auditions called, "Daithí Embraces the Night". Ó Drónaí qualified for the final in week six.
Lilac Blues are a four-piece original band from the Midlands, Kathleen and Laura are on vocals singing in melodic harmonies, Emmett on drums, and Alan on guitar. they will sing an original song for the semi finals.
The Mulkerrins are a traditional group. They comprise of three brothers from the Aran Islands
off the west coast of the mainland. 14-year-old Padraig plays the accordion, 11-year-old Eamonn plays the fiddle, and 9-year-old Séan is a sean nós dancer. Their younger (fourth) brother cheers them on from the sidelines. The brothers progressed to the series finale and won the series on 15 March 2009.
The third episode was broadcast on 18 January 2009. It featured auditions from the North which saw Dana Rosemary Scallon
choose five acts to compete.
Niamh McGlinchey is 17-year-old from Count Derry. She is a singer and the current winner of The All Ireland Scór na nÓg Singing Contest. She is currently doing her alevels at Saint Patrick's Maghera.
Rapture are a hip hop
dance crew from Belfast
. They have ten members, all of whom are under eighteen years of age. They recently appeared on Britain's Got Talent
Donegal Tenors are a four-piece group from County Donegal
. None of the members sing professionally but they do sing as a hobby. They exited in week six.
Clíona Hagan is a 19-year-old opera singer from County Tyrone
. If she wins she intends to spend the money helping her Granny, who cares for a relative.
The Rooneys are a family traditional group from County Down
, ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two years. They have performed in the past, in front of 4,000 people, in Belfast
.
The fourth episode was broadcast on 25 January 2009. It featured auditions from the East which saw Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
choose five acts to compete.
. She writes her own poetry which she then acts out in various accents.
Lauren Murtagh is a 7-year-old singer. She sang The Zutons
song "Valerie
" at the auditions. She is from Navan Co. Meath. She narrowly missed out on the final in the live shows, coming 3rd.
Donna Marie Sludds
Donna Marie is a mum of 3, who gigs as a singer full time. She started out singing years ago alongside her mum and dad. She is the most polished talent from Bláthnaid final 5, but Blathnaid feels her story will be accessible to loads of other working mums out there. She came second in the first live show, with a wildcard. She sparked controversy as she made it through to the final, as the rumored reason to be is, that Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
didn't have an act in the final already.
Lauren Boylan
Lauren is 17. She sang 'Falling' by Glen Hansard from the film 'Once'. All of the panel agreed that the purity of her voice was a rarity. They also loved her modesty and humility. She couldn't believe that she had made it through to the final 5 and had convinced herself that another contestant had got through. Blathnaid wants to make sure that her natural talent isn't over produced. She just missed out on a place in the final, coming 3rd in the live shows.
3rd World Records
2 rappers, one from Lagos and one from Limerick. Their rap is 'soft rap' and wants to embrace all ages. They were neighbours who bumped into each other in the street, said hello and took their talent from there. Advisor, Cormac Battle, couldn't believe that such a professional rap duo had walked into their audition room. These guys are also a bit of a gamble for Blathnaid, as she's worried the older generation might not get them. They came 5th in the series, thus leaving the competition.
choose five acts to compete.
Barry Walsh' is a 19-year-old experimental guitar
ist from mallow County Cork
. He began to teach himself how to play at the age of 13 and entered the show following his first public performance at his Leaving Certificate
ceremony.
Jack Lynch, also known as B Boy Six, is a 6-year-old hip hop
and freestyle dance
r from County Waterford
. He trains each day after school and all day Saturday and Sunday. Lynch placed second in the All-Ireland Hip Hop Championships this year.
. She performed a mix of contemporary dance and contortion at her audition. Murkegee attends classes twice a week in Tralee, County Kerry
.
Toby Bedell is a 37-year-old sales supply manager from County Waterford
, who has recently been made redundant
. He said losing his job had forced him to reasess his life and claimed he would not have entered the show if still employed. Bedell played "Last Request
" by Paolo Nutini
at his audition.
Vlada Fitzgerald is a 10-year-old pian
ist from County Cork
. She has been playing piano since the age of four. She performed "La Poupee De Marcella" by Jennifer Linn. Fitzgerald says she is passionate about piano and music in general. She exited in week six.
song "Valerie". Week eight's Wildcard entry was granted to operatic singer, Rachel Goode, whom Dana used her casting vote to send through instead of Murtagh.
DJ Cormac Battle
. Ross said: "Good luck to everyone who is taking part in The All-Ireland Talent Show. You are all very talented so just your respective counties, your respective provinces proud." Battle advised: "This is it. It's not a dress rehearsal anymore. You've only got one chance to make a lasting impression and this is it, so go for it." Others interviewed for their thoughts on the final included ICE presenter Sinéad Kennedy and presenter of The Afternoon Show
, Trevor Keegan. Shane Lynch's fellow members of Boyzone
were present to support his act Bert & Victor, aside from Ronan Keating
who was abstaining due to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
for Comic Relief
. The Mulkerrin Brothers
, mentored by Daithí Ó Sé of the West, won the series.
pointed out that judge Shane Lynch
loved almost everything he saw and heard but suspected that the producers had "simply gone out into the street and rounded up the first 30 people they came across". He was also intrigued that many of the chosen contestants were either black or East European.
Also DJ Jockey Joe Collins claimed that Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh's
judging skills were very poor. He pointed out that after sending an eleven-year-old home, why would she let through a seven-year-old?
The All Ireland Talent Show
The All Ireland Talent Show was an RTÉ television series billed as Ireland's biggest-ever talent contest. It was first announced in November 2008 and the first series commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent, it is produced by Tyrone...
was announced in November 2008 and commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing its first series on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
, it was produced by Tyrone Productions. Airing on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
, it was hosted by Gráinne Seoige
Gráinne Seoige
Gráinne Seoige is an Irish television presenter, Gaeilgeoir, and "fashion icon",Gráinne Seoige is one of the few television presenters who has worked for all terrestrial channels in the Republic of Ireland at some point. She has worked as a news anchor on TG4, TV3 and Sky News Ireland...
.
Auditions took place in five locations across Ireland in November and December 2008. The auditions were divided into five regions with contestants competing only in their region of origin. The regions are Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, Dublin and non-Dublin Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. The auditions commenced airing on 4 January 2009. There were five judges and each regional judge, with the assistance of two other personalities who then disappear from the show, selected five acts to be put forward to the live studio heats, which began in February 2009. Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
was approached to act as a judge but refused to commit. On the opening night of series one, The All Ireland Talent Show had over 500,000 viewers, with Ireland only having a population of over four million people. The opening was similar to the Got Talent series. The twenty-five finalists competed for a first prize of €50,000, which was eventually won by Mulkerrin Brothers of the Aran Islands.
Auditions
| Region | Location | Date |
| Dublin | Dublin | 15 November 2008 |
| West | GMIT Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a third level institute of education and is based at five locations in the west of Ireland.-Galway Campus:... , Galway Galway Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the... |
22 November 2008 |
| North | Derry Derry Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"... |
29 November 2008 |
| East | Kilkenny Castle Kilkenny Castle Kilkenny Castle is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland built in 1195 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways... |
6 December 2008 |
| South | Cork Cork (city) Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban... |
13 December 2008 |
Judges
The five judges were announced on 13 November 2008. Each had two advisors.| Region | Judge | Assistant Judges |
| Dublin | Shane Lynch Shane Lynch Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone... |
Evelyn O'Rourke Evelyn O'Rourke Evelyn O'Rourke is an Irish radio researcher, roving reporter, presenter and television personality employed by RTÉ and from Dublin.O'Rourke joined RTÉ in 1998 and featured as a researcher on The Gay Byrne Show and The Arts Show on RTÉ Radio 1 before moving on to become roving reporter on Today... /John Keogh John Keogh -Biography:Keogh was a leading Irish campaigner who struggled to get Irish Roman Catholics the right to vote and the repeal of the Penal Laws. He was of an obscure family and made his considerable fortune in land speculation, brewing, and silk trading... |
| West | Dáithí Ó Sé Dáithí Ó Sé Dáithí Ó Sé is a television presenter with TG4 in Ireland, where he presents the weather forecast and does continuity announcements. He has also presented various programmes on TG4, including travel programme Dáithí ar Route 66, about the U.S... |
Bláthnaid Ní Donnacha/Páraic Breathnach Páraic Breathnach Páraic Breathnach is an Irish actor and television personality. He has appeared in several major Irish films throughout the years, including Michael Collins and Breakfast on Pluto. He is also well known for playing the character of Jacksie Walsh on Killinaskully, as well as being a frequent... |
| North | Dana Dana Rosemary Scallon Dana Rosemary Scallon , known in her singing career simply as Dana, is an Irish singer and former Member of the European Parliament .... |
Majella O'Donnell Majella O'Donnell Majella O'Donnell is a businesswoman, singer, reality television star and the wife of entertainer Daniel O'Donnell. She is a native of Thurles, County Tipperary.... /Joe Lindsay |
| East | Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is an Irish TV presenter, Gaeilgeoir and all-round personality. She has presented Echo Island, The Afternoon Show and Charity ICA Bootcamp. She was a judge in The All Ireland Talent Show and participated in Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Career:Ní Chofaigh is an accomplished... |
Cormac Battle Cormac Battle Cormac Battle is an Irish musician and radio presenter/producer. He is the vocalist and lead guitarist with the bands, Kerbdog and Wilt as well as the current presenter of RTÉ 2fm's alternative music programme, The Battle Axe . The show airs each Sunday night from 19:00 - 22:00... /Frank McNamara Frank McNamara (musician) Frank McNamara is an internationally known arranger, conductor, composer, and pianist from Ireland.-Biography:His career began at the age of 11, when he first appeared on Irish national television. Frank attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated with music honors... |
| South | John Creedon John Creedon John Creedon, also known as "Creedo", is an Irish language enthusiast and veteran broadcaster with RTÉ Radio. Host of The John Creedon Show, evenings on RTÉ Radio 1, he has also filled in for Dave Fanning on The Dave Fanning Show.... |
Michael Healy-Rae Michael Healy-Rae Michael Healy-Rae is an independent politician in Ireland. He was elected at the general election in February 2011 to the 31st Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála for Kerry South.... /Sinéad Sheppard |
Shane Lynch expressed his concern over the tactical voting of other judges, saying that he felt some of them were deciding upon their marks in what he viewed as an incorrect way. "It's going to affect me, don't get me wrong, it has affected me in fact", he told RTÉ.ie
Rte.ie
RTÉ.ie is the brand name and home of RTÉ's online activities, located at the URL http://rte.ie. The site began publishing on 26 May 1996. According to RTÉ, it operates on an entirely commercial basis, receiving none of the licence fee which funds much of RTÉ's activity. The site, it says, is funded...
. Referring to the elimination of his dance act Raw Edge Crew, Lynch commented: "They should have done it (progressed)... and there was tactical voting involved". Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh has described herself as the "most honest" judge. Judge Dáithí also reported his dissatisfaction with his fellow judges. Judge Creedon reported his dissatisfaction with Judge Dáithí after the series.
Week one (Dublin)
The first episode was broadcast on 4 January 2009. It featured the Dublin auditions which saw Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
choose five acts to compete.
Angela Mykolyuk
Angela Mykolyuk (Cyrillic: Анжела Миколюк) is six years old. She is originally from UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
but now lives in Clontarf
Clontarf, Dublin
Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts...
with her family. At the auditions she sang "Fabulous" from High School Musical 2 to her own dance routine. Judge Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
advanced her despite the protests of his advisors Evelyn O'Rourke
Evelyn O'Rourke
Evelyn O'Rourke is an Irish radio researcher, roving reporter, presenter and television personality employed by RTÉ and from Dublin.O'Rourke joined RTÉ in 1998 and featured as a researcher on The Gay Byrne Show and The Arts Show on RTÉ Radio 1 before moving on to become roving reporter on Today...
and John Keogh
John Keogh
-Biography:Keogh was a leading Irish campaigner who struggled to get Irish Roman Catholics the right to vote and the repeal of the Penal Laws. He was of an obscure family and made his considerable fortune in land speculation, brewing, and silk trading...
.
Bert and Victor O'Brien
Bert and Victor O'Brien are thirteen year-old twins from Kilbarrack
Kilbarrack
Kilbarrack is a residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, running inwards from the coast, about from the city's centre. Modern-day Kilbarrack is within the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council, with part of its old lands now in Donaghmede, and part in Bayside under Fingal County Council...
. Their mother bought a guitar for both of them. They earn about €80 for their busking sessions. At the auditions they sang "Coming Around Again
Coming Around Again
"Coming Around Again" is the first single released from Blue band-member Simon Webbe's second solo studio album, Grace. The single was released on October 30, 2006, performing the song live on BBC One's reality-dancing series Strictly Come Dancing the following week...
" by Simon Webbe
Simon Webbe
Simon Solomon Webbe is an English singer-songwriter, actor and music manager. He is best known as a member of the British boyband Blue.-2001–2005: Early Career And Blue:...
.
Elle N Elle
Elle N Elle are composed of Irish-French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rappers Tamara Opreri and Vilma Barbosa from the James Street
James Street
- People :* James Street , American football quarterback* James H. Street , American journalist, Baptist minister, and novelist* James Street , English cricketer and umpire- Places :...
area. The duo write their own hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
tracks and describe their songs as "accessible soft rap".
Genesis
Genesis are a ten-piece dance troupe from across the city. They range in age from twelve to seventeen and many have previously performed on The Late Late Toy Show
The Late Late Toy Show
The Late Late Toy Show—also known as The Toy Show— is an annual iconic and influential Irish institution, an edition of the world's longest-running chat show, The Late Late Show broadcast on RTÉ One in Ireland each Friday evening. The Toy Show, as it is referred to, is broadcast in late...
, The Den
The Den (television)
The Den was the brand of the children's television strand on Irish public broadcaster RTÉ Two. It first broadcast on 29 September 1986 on RTÉ One, before moving to RTÉ Two in September 1988. The strand began to diversify throughout the late 1990s and the 2000s...
and Kazoo
Kazoo
The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
. They dance using theatrical white masks.
Raw Edge Crew
Raw Edge Crew are a group of dance teachers from Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown is a large suburb of Dublin in the district of Fingal, Ireland. It is within the historical barony of Castleknock. It is located 10 km north-west of the city centre. The suburb is in the Dublin 15 postal area, the Dublin West electoral constituency, and Fingal County...
aged from twenty to twenty-three. At the auditions they performed a hip hop medley ending in a tribute to Riverdance
Riverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
. They have been together for seven years and have previously represented Ireland in dance competitions in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. They share their skills with children from difficult backgrounds. They exited the competition after missing out on being the wild-card entry in the first live final on 8 February 2009.
Week two (The West)
The second episode was broadcast on 11 January 2009. It featured auditions from the West which saw Daithí Ó Sé
Dáithí Ó Sé
Dáithí Ó Sé is a television presenter with TG4 in Ireland, where he presents the weather forecast and does continuity announcements. He has also presented various programmes on TG4, including travel programme Dáithí ar Route 66, about the U.S...
choose five acts to compete.
Rachel Goode
Rachel Goode is a 17-year-old who lives in Ballinasloe, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. She is a classical singer with an admiration for Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
.
Eva and Bernard Coyle
Eva and Bernard Coyle are a father and daughter act, who live in Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
. While Eva sings, her dad accompanies her on the guitar. Judge Daithí was worried that her dad would simply be an after thought, while live in-studio, with background music, but Daithí put them through as a duo.
Daithí Ó Drónaí
Daithí Ó Drónaí is an 18-year-old, who lives in GalwayGalway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. He plays the electric fiddle, and performed his own piece in the auditions called, "Daithí Embraces the Night". Ó Drónaí qualified for the final in week six.
Lilac Blues
Lilac Blues are a four-piece original band from the Midlands, Kathleen and Laura are on vocals singing in melodic harmonies, Emmett on drums, and Alan on guitar. they will sing an original song for the semi finals.
The Mullkerrins
The Mulkerrins are a traditional group. They comprise of three brothers from the Aran Islands
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
off the west coast of the mainland. 14-year-old Padraig plays the accordion, 11-year-old Eamonn plays the fiddle, and 9-year-old Séan is a sean nós dancer. Their younger (fourth) brother cheers them on from the sidelines. The brothers progressed to the series finale and won the series on 15 March 2009.
Week three (The North)
The third episode was broadcast on 18 January 2009. It featured auditions from the North which saw Dana Rosemary Scallon
Dana Rosemary Scallon
Dana Rosemary Scallon , known in her singing career simply as Dana, is an Irish singer and former Member of the European Parliament ....
choose five acts to compete.
Niamh McGlinchey
Niamh McGlinchey is 17-year-old from Count Derry. She is a singer and the current winner of The All Ireland Scór na nÓg Singing Contest. She is currently doing her alevels at Saint Patrick's Maghera.
Rapture
Rapture are a hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
dance crew from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. They have ten members, all of whom are under eighteen years of age. They recently appeared on Britain's Got Talent
Donegal Tenors
Donegal Tenors are a four-piece group from County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. None of the members sing professionally but they do sing as a hobby. They exited in week six.
Clíona Hagan
Clíona Hagan is a 19-year-old opera singer from County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
. If she wins she intends to spend the money helping her Granny, who cares for a relative.
The Rooneys
The Rooneys are a family traditional group from County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two years. They have performed in the past, in front of 4,000 people, in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Week four (The East)
The fourth episode was broadcast on 25 January 2009. It featured auditions from the East which saw Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is an Irish TV presenter, Gaeilgeoir and all-round personality. She has presented Echo Island, The Afternoon Show and Charity ICA Bootcamp. She was a judge in The All Ireland Talent Show and participated in Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Career:Ní Chofaigh is an accomplished...
choose five acts to compete.
Holly Ann Traynor
Holly Ann Traynor is a 20-year-old poet from County LouthCounty Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
. She writes her own poetry which she then acts out in various accents.
Lauren Murtagh
Lauren Murtagh is a 7-year-old singer. She sang The Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
song "Valerie
Valerie (The Zutons song)
"Valerie" is a song by the English indie rock band The Zutons from the band's second studio album, Tired of Hanging Around . Released as the album's second single on 19 June 2006 in the United Kingdom, along with their previous single "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?", it gave The Zutons their...
" at the auditions. She is from Navan Co. Meath. She narrowly missed out on the final in the live shows, coming 3rd.
Donna Marie Sludds
Donna Marie Sludds
Donna Marie is a mum of 3, who gigs as a singer full time. She started out singing years ago alongside her mum and dad. She is the most polished talent from Bláthnaid final 5, but Blathnaid feels her story will be accessible to loads of other working mums out there. She came second in the first live show, with a wildcard. She sparked controversy as she made it through to the final, as the rumored reason to be is, that Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is an Irish TV presenter, Gaeilgeoir and all-round personality. She has presented Echo Island, The Afternoon Show and Charity ICA Bootcamp. She was a judge in The All Ireland Talent Show and participated in Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Career:Ní Chofaigh is an accomplished...
didn't have an act in the final already.
Lauren Boylan
Lauren Boylan
Lauren is 17. She sang 'Falling' by Glen Hansard from the film 'Once'. All of the panel agreed that the purity of her voice was a rarity. They also loved her modesty and humility. She couldn't believe that she had made it through to the final 5 and had convinced herself that another contestant had got through. Blathnaid wants to make sure that her natural talent isn't over produced. She just missed out on a place in the final, coming 3rd in the live shows.
3rd World Records
3rd World Records
2 rappers, one from Lagos and one from Limerick. Their rap is 'soft rap' and wants to embrace all ages. They were neighbours who bumped into each other in the street, said hello and took their talent from there. Advisor, Cormac Battle, couldn't believe that such a professional rap duo had walked into their audition room. These guys are also a bit of a gamble for Blathnaid, as she's worried the older generation might not get them. They came 5th in the series, thus leaving the competition.
Week five (The South)
The fifth episode was broadcast on 1 February 2009. It featured auditions from the South which saw John CreedonJohn Creedon
John Creedon, also known as "Creedo", is an Irish language enthusiast and veteran broadcaster with RTÉ Radio. Host of The John Creedon Show, evenings on RTÉ Radio 1, he has also filled in for Dave Fanning on The Dave Fanning Show....
choose five acts to compete.
Barry Walsh
Barry Walsh' is a 19-year-old experimental guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist from mallow County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He began to teach himself how to play at the age of 13 and entered the show following his first public performance at his Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
ceremony.
Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch, also known as B Boy Six, is a 6-year-old hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and freestyle dance
Street dance
Street dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
r from County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
. He trains each day after school and all day Saturday and Sunday. Lynch placed second in the All-Ireland Hip Hop Championships this year.
Moneeka Murkerjee
Moneeka Murkerjee is a 13-year-old performer from Newmarket, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. She performed a mix of contemporary dance and contortion at her audition. Murkegee attends classes twice a week in Tralee, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
.
Toby Bedell
Toby Bedell is a 37-year-old sales supply manager from County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, who has recently been made redundant
Layoff
Layoff , also called redundancy in the UK, is the temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of an employee or a group of employees for business reasons, such as when certain positions are no longer necessary or when a business slow-down occurs...
. He said losing his job had forced him to reasess his life and claimed he would not have entered the show if still employed. Bedell played "Last Request
Last Request
"Last Request" is a song by Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini, and his first single from his debut album These Streets. The song was released on 3 July 2006, and peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart and #15 on Italian Singles Chart The song's lyrics describe a person who knows his...
" by Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini
Paolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations....
at his audition.
Vlada Fitzgerald
Vlada Fitzgerald is a 10-year-old pian
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
ist from County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. She has been playing piano since the age of four. She performed "La Poupee De Marcella" by Jennifer Linn. Fitzgerald says she is passionate about piano and music in general. She exited in week six.
Week six
The electric fiddler Daithí Ó Dronaí won the first live final in week six, airing on 8 February 2009. Donna Marie Sludds from the East was selected as the judges' wildcard entry after beating the Dublin dance act Raw Edge Crew. The other two acts to perform and exit were the Donegal Tenors and Vlada Fitzgerald.| North | South | East | West | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donegal Tenors | Vlada Fitzgerald | Donna Marie Sludds | Daithí Ó Dronaí | Raw Edge Crew |
Week seven
In week seven, the Mullkerrins got first spot while Moneeka Murkurjee got the judges wild card over Niamh McGlinchey. Elle n Elle came fourth and Holly Ann Traynor came third, despite praise from all judges.| North | South | East | West | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niamh McGlinchey | Moneeka Murkerjee | Holly Ann Traynor | The Mulkerrin Brothers | Elle N Elle |
Week eight
Dublin twins Bert & Victor O' Brien progressed from week eight, broadcast on 22 February 2009. They sang Iris" on their guitars. Lauren Murtagh performed a cover of The ZutonsThe Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
song "Valerie". Week eight's Wildcard entry was granted to operatic singer, Rachel Goode, whom Dana used her casting vote to send through instead of Murtagh.
| North | East | Dublin | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapture | Lauren Murtagh | Bert & Victor | Barry Walsh | Rachel Goode |
Week nine
Jack Lynch was the winner, while The Rooneys won the wildcard over Lauren Boyhan.| North | East | Dublin | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rooneys | Lauren Boyhan | Angela Mykolyuk | Jack Lynch a.k.a. B Boy 6 | Lilac Blues |
Week ten
Cliona Hagan, an opera singer representing the North, won week ten. Toby Bedell secured the Wildcard place after overcoming the father and daughter duo of Bernard and Eva Coyle. The dance group Genesis and rap act 3rd World Records were also losers.| North | East | Dublin | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cliona Hagan | 3rd World Records | Genesis | Toby Bedell | Eva and Bernard Coyle |
Final
The final took place on 15 March 2009. Celebrities to publicly wish the finalists well included ICE presenter Rob Ross and RTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
DJ Cormac Battle
Cormac Battle
Cormac Battle is an Irish musician and radio presenter/producer. He is the vocalist and lead guitarist with the bands, Kerbdog and Wilt as well as the current presenter of RTÉ 2fm's alternative music programme, The Battle Axe . The show airs each Sunday night from 19:00 - 22:00...
. Ross said: "Good luck to everyone who is taking part in The All-Ireland Talent Show. You are all very talented so just your respective counties, your respective provinces proud." Battle advised: "This is it. It's not a dress rehearsal anymore. You've only got one chance to make a lasting impression and this is it, so go for it." Others interviewed for their thoughts on the final included ICE presenter Sinéad Kennedy and presenter of The Afternoon Show
The Afternoon Show
The Afternoon Show was Raidió Teilifís Éireann's live flagship daytime show. It ran from 2004 until May 2010. The programme was dropped by RTÉ as part of its new season of television in 2010, to be replaced by two afternoon programmes 4 Daily presented by Maura Derrane and The Daily Show hosted by...
, Trevor Keegan. Shane Lynch's fellow members of Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
were present to support his act Bert & Victor, aside from Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
who was abstaining due to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
for Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
. The Mulkerrin Brothers
Mulkerrin Brothers
The Mulkerrin Brothers are a trio of traditional Irish musicians and performers. The three are brothers, Pádraig Mulkerrin) , Éamonn Mulkerrin and Seán Mulkerrin, who come from the Aran Islands....
, mentored by Daithí Ó Sé of the West, won the series.
| Dublin | North | West | East | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bert & Victor (performing "The Man Who Can't Be Moved The Man Who Can't Be Moved "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is the second single from Irish band The Script from their album The Script. The song was released on July 25, 2008. The song has been used heavily for the CBS show Ghost Whisperer during its fourth season. This song served as their radio promotional single in the... ") |
Clíona Hagan (performing "You'll Never Walk Alone You'll Never Walk Alone (song) "You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.In the musical, in the second act, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan, sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband, Billy Bigelow, the... ") |
Daithí O Dronaí | Donna Marie Sludds (chosen wildcard) |
Jack Lynch a.k.a. B Boy Six | The Mulkerrin Brothers |
Viewing figures
It was claimed that over 500,000 people viewed the first episode which aired on 4 January 2009. The second show had over 600,000 viewers.Reaction
John Boland of the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
pointed out that judge Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
loved almost everything he saw and heard but suspected that the producers had "simply gone out into the street and rounded up the first 30 people they came across". He was also intrigued that many of the chosen contestants were either black or East European.
Also DJ Jockey Joe Collins claimed that Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh's
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is an Irish TV presenter, Gaeilgeoir and all-round personality. She has presented Echo Island, The Afternoon Show and Charity ICA Bootcamp. She was a judge in The All Ireland Talent Show and participated in Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Career:Ní Chofaigh is an accomplished...
judging skills were very poor. He pointed out that after sending an eleven-year-old home, why would she let through a seven-year-old?
External links
- Official site
- Category at RTÉ Entertainment
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBUfBxydUXA
- John Creedon's rap