All Ireland Active Age Talent Showcase

After a tour of the 32 counties of Ireland for the most talented person over 60 Kevin Hough brought to the National Concert Hall, Dublin  all the acts for a two night final. 

Click here to see pictures from the final

ALL IRELAND ACTIVE AGE TALENT SHOWCASE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The grand final of the RTÉ Radio 1 All Ireland Active Age Talent Showcase took place last night in the National Concert Hall. Michael Blair of Antrim took the winning prize of €1,000 and a Dublin Crystal trophy for his rendition of Every Day Is Ladies Day With Me. Kevin O'Connor from Kerry who sang Nessum Dorma and Tom Fitzsimons of Meath who performed The Old Man were the two runners up.

Over the past two nights contestants from all over Ireland took to the stage to represent their county. (See list of 32 county finalists below). Gay Byrne hosted the event and entertainment was provided by Sonny Knowles on Wednesday evening and by Red Hurley on Thursday evening.

Last autumn, RTÉ Radio 1 began the search to find Ireland's most gifted entertainer over the age of 60. From October 2004 - February 2005, The All Ireland Active Age Talent Showcase travelled the length and breadth of the country auditioning contestants and selecting one from each county.

Over the last five months, director Kevin Hough, musical director Andy O'Callaghan and co-ordinator Geralyn Aspill travelled to every single county in Ireland in search of the new Maureen Potter or Daniel O'Donnell! One finalist/ group from every county participated in the overall final. Thirty-two finalists from all over Ireland sang, played an instrument, acted and entertained us in a bid to win the title.

Issued by RTÉ Radio
Date: 1 April 2005

Finalists

Click here for a full list of the finalists 

Find out more about the Showcase

Click on the link above to find out more about the All Ireland Active Age Talent Showcase.

Learn more about your host, Kevin Hough

Click on the link above to find out more about the host of the Showcase, Kevin Hough.