€5,000 reward for new talent in county

COME on, give it your best shot. You could be Clare’s next big entertainment act.
Just in case you’re shy about going on stage, there’s the matter of a €5,000 prize for the winner of Clare’s Got Talent 2012, which has been put up by St Francis Credit Union in Ennis.
Presented by Clare FM, the competition will culminate with the finalists performing in Glór on March 24.
Clare FM general manager Susan Murphy said everybody needs something to give them a lift at the start of the new year.
“Following the success of Clare’s Got Talent in 2010, we are delighted to bring the competition back. It will definitely provide the county with the perfect feel-good tonic. It is the only event in the county that provides a platform for new and often unseen talent to shine.
“We were genuinely amazed at the quality of the talent we saw in 2010, so we cannot wait to see the up-and-coming performers this year. As always, each of our judges will be looking for something special and entertaining.”
Application forms and full details of the competition are available on www.claresgottalent.net or www.clare.fm. Forms can also be collected at Clare FM reception or at St Francis Credit Union reception.
Any act that is not professional is eligible to enter and there is no age limit. The auditions will be held on February 3, 4 and 5 in Glór Theatre and the only people who will see the auditions are the judges.
The director of Clare’s Got Talent, John Drummey, said, “Each of our judges will offer positive and constructive feedback to each act that performs in the auditions, which is very important for the onward development of any person’s talent.
“Over 300 acts took part in the auditions in 2010 and we are encouraging those who were not successful then to come back and have another try.
“In many cases, the people involved have had an opportunity to improve and should be in a better position to proceed to the semi-finals.”
The semi-finals in Glór will be bigger this year as 48 acts, eight more than 2010, will be called back from the auditions.
The audience will have a vote in each semi-final, which will add to the drama of the occasion.
The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday, January 27 and everyone who submits an entry form will receive an invitation to audition.