Cllr. Kieran McCarthy's Community Talent Competition

cork | arts and media | press release Thursday April 17, 2014 14:20 by Yvonne Coughlan - RSVP rsvpireland at gmail dot com 6 Meadowlands, Featherbed Lane, Kinsale. 353851798695

A panel of professionals in the arts make this an enriching and rewarding experience for the children involved.

Children’s talent competition sponsored by Cllr. Kieran McCarthy. A panel of professionals in the arts make this an enriching and rewarding experience for the children involved. RSVP produce this non-profit event; ‘We believe that growth and transformation in society is affected positively by respecting our young people’s creative skills in this way, our vision for the event is one of encouraging our young people to be the best that they can be.’ €6 entry fee.

PRESS RELEASE

6th annual Cllr. Kieran McCarthy’s Community Talent Competition produced by RSVP (Red Sandstone Varied Productions.)
The Firkin Crane. Sat 10 May, 7-10pm.
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This is the Sixth year of Cllr Kieran McCarthy’s Community Talent Competition. The auditions for this FREE ENTRY arts participation event take place Sunday 27th April 2011, 10am-6pm in the Lifetime Lab, Lee Road. This Cork project for young people has no entry fees and all talents are valid for consideration. The final takes place at The Firkin Crane on Saturday 10th May, 7pm. The final is open to the public; Tickets €6.

This is a not-for-profit community project, and we promise you that supporting this project will also support your community’s young people, and give you a great night’s entertainment. In the line up each year there are some seriously shiny stars, some adorable raw talent, and some endearing stories of the 'act.' It’s all gold, and the Firkin Crane on the 10th will be massive fun. There are two categories, with 12 acts in the primary school children’s category and 12 acts in the secondary school student’s category. Winners will be awarded a perpetual trophy and prize money of €150 (two by €150). The project is founded and funded by Cllr Kieran McCarthy in association with RSVP (Red Sandstone Varied Productions). Blue Shed productions, courtesy of Maurice Supple, capture the event each year with a short video. Dennis Collins, Aisling Bent, Shirley Deane, Barbara and Noel Dunne are part of the RSVP team working diligently behind the scenes on the project, as well as Shannon White, Orla Myers and Livy Riordan, who will act as mentors to the young contestants.

The acts, which make it through to the final, attend a performance bootcamp, facilitated by the judges, each of whom will coach a team of contestants at The Firkin Crane on Thursday 8th May, 4.30pm-8.30pm. Each year we have dancers, vocalists, rap artists, bands, duets, magicians and theatre in the line up. One year we had a young contestant performing speed cups; all talents are valid, and you just never know what form it might take. On the night of the final the RSVP mentors make sure all the young contestants are relaxed, warmed up for performance, and ready for a great night. The 2013 winners will give special guest performances before presenting the trophies to their successors; in the Primary section, girl band ‘Lyrical’ made up of Mia Dorney, Kaitlin O Regan, Ciara Coughlan and Faye Mullane all from Scoil Olibheir in Ballyvolane; in the secondary school section, singer Shauna Nolan from Carrigaline, who sang her own composition in last year’s competition. Since winning in 2013, Shauna Nolan has continued with her music, and is currently singing with The Academy of Popular Music Super Band. She has also recorded two original songs with a new emerging producer Erik Gulikson. Shauna is also a finalist in this year’s Teenstars Ireland at the Westgrove Hotel on the 20th April. We hope she will bring the title to Munster.

Cllr. McCarthy began the talent competition as a community initiative, he believes, ‘It encourages all young people to develop their talents and creative skills, to push forward with their lives, and to embrace their community positively.’ The judges offer positive feedback and advice at every stage. Returning to the judging panel again this year are Mary Hegarty opera singer; Sharon Crosbie jazz singer; Ann Marie Lewis, comedienne, radio presenter and Dramarama coach; Simon Thompson actor, director, producer with Orchard Theatre Company, Limerick; Colum McCormack Crowe entertainment correspondent; Yvonne Coughlan producer/director RSVP; and joining us this year as a new panellist is Shane Ryan of Crux Entertainment. The talent, like the judges, is always diverse, entertaining and fun. There was even a concert and set dancing going on in the reception last year, as entrants queued for their turn at audition. So far, so great!
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‘Many of our contestants are performing in public for the first time, as this free entry event gives everyone an equal opportunity to engage with it. The most important thing for the producers is to make certain that every child, who has made the effort to be there for an audition, feels like they have made a positive step towards their future. That is why previous winners had come back for a second go. We give encouragement and advice to allay any feeling of failure, as we strive to teach children to recognise opportunity. We believe in empowering a generation of open minded, inspiring individuals, some of whom, like our sponsor independent councillor, Kieran McCarthy will always love performance art, but will work in areas that change policy and support community.’ Yvonne Coughlan, producer.

Ryan Coleman, winner 2010 in a group, and, 2012 as a solo artist, says, ‘I would highly recommend entering. Even if you don’t win, it is sure to be great craic.’

‘I love this competition, and I love the producers, I’m coming back every year!’ Shannon White, member of the RSVP mentor team, and talent show winner 2011.

‘McCarthy’s Community Talent Competition was a wonderful opportunity. It gave me tremendous encouragement and belief in my talent. I will always look back on my time in the competition with great fondness.’ Shauna Nolan, winner 2013.

AUDITIONS McCarthy’s Community Talent Competition.
Venue: Lifetime Lab, Lee Road. DATE: Sunday 27th April. Time: 10am-6pm. FREE ENTRY!

For further information or images contact Yvonne: 0851798695, rsvpireland@gmail.com

Caption: Video Id: QYx-QGHYC3A Type: Youtube Video
2013 winner Shauna Nolan