Pan Celtic Song Contest winners Áine Durkin and Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh with Daithí Ó Sé.
A MULTI-TALENTED Donegal duo who’ve already won individual acclaim as authors, song-writers, poets, musicians, and bloggers have been selected to represent Ireland in the Pan Celtic International Song Contest in Carlow in early April.
Áine Durkin and Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, based in Buncrana, beat off stiff competition to book their place in the prestigious song contest which runs during the 42nd annual International Pan Celtic Festival in Carlow from April 2-7.
Over 50 Irish-language entries were received for the National Pan Celtic Song Contest. 20 performers were short-listed for the final hosted in Carlow by RTE’s Daithí Ó Sé. The winning song ‘Le do Thaobh’ was jointly composed by the duo and sung by Seoirse.
The competition is the Eurovision of the Pan Celtic world, and the international final will feature songs from the 6 Pan Celtic competing countries – Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall and Isle of Man who have all selected their own entries for the grand final.
Any one of at least eight entries could have won the contest and scooped the IMRO-sponsored €1,000 prize in the competition– such was the quality of songs, according to Cathaoirleach of the organising committee Bríde de Róiste.
“The winning Irish entry is very different to last year when we were represented by a band.
“This year the judges were blown away by this amazing performance by Seoirse who captivated his audience with his silky voice and some fine guitar playing,” she said.