The 64th Singing Pubs is in full swing

THE 64TH ANNUAL Guinness Singing and Swinging Pubs Competition is well under way, having launched last Friday night with rousing performances in the Farmer’s Kitchen and the Sailing Cot.

A total of 10 pubs from this year’s 28-strong list of entries have already sung and swung their hearts out for the judges: the Farmer’s Kitchen, the Sailing Cot, Kelly’s of King Street, Kelly’s of The Faythe, the Porter House in Castlebridge, Mary’s Bar, McGee’s, The Pike, Culleton’s of Whitemill and the John Barry.

The competition resumes this Thursday, October 27 and will continue until Thursday, November 3.

This year’s adjudicator is Paul Kavanagh from Waterford, an accomplished musician and actor with over 35 years experience and many recording credits to his name. A respected actor in his home town of Waterford, he has played lead roles in musical society shows around Ireland and sang in a production of ‘Cabaret’ which toured the US.

The Singing and Swinging Pubs is as old as the festival itself, having proudly endured for more than six decades. The success lies in its interactive entertainment factor and wide appeal with a cast of hundreds taking part and eager audiences packing out licensed premises to watch regulars showcase their hidden talents.

The adjudicator visitis each of the participating pubs to judge their performances for 30 minutes. Following tradition, a Diageo Ireland representative will post the results in the Bullring around 11.45pm on Thursday, November 3.

Prizes will be presented over the weekend of Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, with the winning pubs organising a re-run of their shows on those nights. The Singing and Swinging Pubs Trail: Thursday, October 27: 8.45pm The Crown Bar; 10.30pm, Ferrycarrig Hotel; 10.15pm The Loch and Quay; 10.55pm The Maldron Hotel

Friday, October 28: 10.30pm Gaynors; 11.15pm The Foggy Dew

Sunday, October 30: 9.35pm Coopers Inn; 10.35 pm Mary Joes; 11.15pm Wexford Arms; Midnight Brownes Monday, October 31: 10pm The Gaelic Bar Tuesday, November 1: 9.50pm Jack Bailey’s; 10.35pm The Mocking Monck

Wednesday, November 2: 9.30pm Mackens; 10.20pm T. Morris; 11.10pm The Merry Elf

Thursday, November 3: 9.15pm The Sky and the Ground; 9.50pm The Talbot Hotel