Olohan on jury for world song contest
WICKLOW town man Sean Olohan has just returned from a trip of a lifetime in Krakow, Poland, where he was among the judges at the Lions World Song Contest for visually impaired singers.
‘Sounds from the Heart’ promotes awareness of the difficulties and needs of those with their sight impaired. The contest is intended for talented vocalists struggling with sight problems, whether they are blind or partially sighted, who are not professional musicians.
For Mr Olohan, a member of Wicklow and District Lions Club, it was the second time he sat on the international jury of the competition, which runs every two years.
The contest was set up by the Polish Lions Clubs, supported by various Lions clubs throughout the world.
Mr Olohan brought a special prize from Wicklow Lions Club which was presented to a vocalist from Gambia.
The soon to be elected President of Lions International, Godrun Bjort Yngvadottir from Iceland, was also in attendance all weekend and spoke to Mr Olohan about her interest in Lions activities in Ireland.
The Wicklow-man explained the various fundraising activities carried out by the Wicklow Lions, with the annual pub quizzes impressing her in particular. He also made a small presentation from Ireland to the incoming President.
‘Overall it was one of the highlights of my musical career to date and I was extremely proud to represent Ireland, and in particular Wicklow and District Lions, on an international stage,’ said Mr Olohan.