TIME FOR THE GRAND FINAL!

HAVING seen some memorable performances already, the stage is well and truly set for the grand final of Wexford Has Talent. Now a much anticipated fixture on the annual calendar, the event seems to grow every year with all manner of colourful performers taking to the stage in a bid to be crowned champion and walk away with a €2,000 cash prize!

Following on from the auditions back in January, over 30 acts took part in the semi-finals of the competition, hoping to impress the judges and book a place in this week’s grand final. While it was a difficult task, the acts were eventually whittled down to 16 finalists who will now do battle in front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday night.

Anticipation has been building and supporters of each of the acts have been scrambling to get tickets for the big night. Such was the demand that there is currently a waiting list of people who missed out on securing a seat for the hottest show in town.

With two categories, solo singer and variety, two prizes of €500 will be given out in each category, with one act eventually being upgraded to overall winner and walking away with €2,000 in prize money.

‘We’ve had an amazing reaction again,’ said Sarsfields Chairman Enda Whelan. ‘Obviously this is the main fundraiser of the year for the club and it seems to have really taken off. The final was completely sold out before it even went on general sale.’

Among the judges casting an expert eye over this year’s finalists will be Corner Boy’s Mick D’arcy who has just returned from New Orleans where he performed a number of shows with the band. He will be joined by Eric Hayes, Catherine ‘Biddy’ Walsh and Richard Murphy. Also returning as a special guest on the night will be last year’s winner Luke Spellacy Shaw.

Performing on the night in the solo singer category will be: Gwenaelle Noval from Kildare; 13 year-old Leah Gammell from Gorey; 15 year-old Evan Roche from Taghmon; 18 yearold Jack Gladney from St Mullins; 17 year-old Jenny Murphy from Enniscorthy; 15 year-old Ciara Doherty from Wexford town; 11 year-old Eabha Keane from Murrintown and 10 year-old Sarah Deevy from Tagoat.

In the variety section, we have: 18 year-old dancer Alex Saunders; the Presentation School Choir; Bannow trad group Tulua; 12 year-old harpist

Úna Walsh from

Barntown; the Sheila Grace Dance Academy; the Sullivan School of Dance from Murrintown and Castlebridge; 17 year-old dancer Corey Lacey from Barntown and Enniscorthy based band Trademark.

1: Sullivan School of Irish Dancers sponsored by Whelan Cleaning Systems 2: Presentation School Choir sponsored by Boggan Motors 3: Gwennelle Nouvall sponsored by Clayton Whites Hotel 4: Eabha Keane sponsored by Wexford Credit Union 5: Ciara Doherty sponsored by Philip Murphy Electrical 6: TradeMark sponsored by Enniscorty Guardian 7: Alex Saunders sponsored by Sinnotts Bar 8: Leah Gammell sponsored by Gorey Guardian 9: Evan Roche sponsored by New Ross Standard 10: Jack Gladney sponsored by Gateway Consulting 11: Una Walsh sponsored by Mooney Furniture 12: Sarah Deevy sponsored by Kearney’s Undertakers 13: Tulua sponsored by Hanrahan’s Londis 14: Corey Lacey sponsored by Wexford People 15: Sheila Grace Dance Group sponsored by Bugler Doyle’s 16: Jenny Murphy sponsored by Paul Harrington Physical Therapist

Michael D’arcy of Corner Boy.