2fm’s Paddy McKenna (2nd from left, pictured with his band Storyfold) is back judging Beo in Letterkenny.
THE national final of Beo will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre tonight (Friday), and it promises to be a great night of high jinx for the six finalists who are in with a chance to win €10,000 worth of prizes.
Beo is a school talent competition created by TY students at Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny, to help promote the Irish language through music and the competition has gone from strength to strength over the past two years.
The finalists are from St. Columba’s College in Stranorlar, Pobalscoil na Rossan, Dungloe, Coláiste na Carraige, Carrick, Co. Donegal, Scoil Phól, Limerick, Coláiste Trócaire, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, and the Patrician College, Finglas, Co, Dublin.
Since November, these schools and others around the country have been organising Beo events in their schools and communities to promote the cúpla focal and to give students the chance to experience some great music in a fun environment. The calibre of this year’s entries was superb.
These six finalists were chosen from the array of entries received by Beo and will battle it out in front of judges of national renown – Paddy McKenna of 2fm and Storyfold fame, Jackie Hayden who discovered U2, Cian McCarthy from Radió na Lífe, Mary O’ Hagan, Senior Producer from the Matt Cooper show, and Caitlín Coughlan, Cultural Officer with the County Council.
While judging takes place, students will have the opportunity to take part in a good old ceilí, at which the traditional musicians from Coláiste Ailigh will perform, and we have it on good authority that Paddy McKenna has a mean set of dancing shoes packed for his excursion to hills of Donegal.
The high point of the night will undoubtedly be performances by two great bands, the Derry brother sister duo WonderVillains and Overhead, the Albatross from Dublin.
Beo would be possible without the support of Donegal County Council, Donegal VEC and Foras na Gaeilge and Letterkenny Town Mayor, Cllr Dessie Larkin.