Fair City Actors' Fantastic Success in Hollywood

Niamh Quirke, better known to Fair City viewers as Rachel Brennan, and Susie Power, who plays Eleanor Daly, flew off to Hollywood, Los Angeles, a couple of weeks ago. There they joined 5,000 contestants from over 50 countries taking part in the World Championships of Performing Arts.

And they have come back with bagfuls of medals!

Niamh Quirke, aged 12, won 5 medals, including 3 gold. She out-acted contestants from all over the world to win 2 Overall Awards in the Junior age category for Acting Dramatic and Acting Classical. Niamh told the Fair City Website that it was really exciting, but she was actually surprised that she wasn't nervous! (Those plaques she's holding say "Champion of the World")

Susie Power, at 5 years of age one of the youngest competitors, won no less than 8 medals in all for vocal, drama and dance competitions!

When Susie spoke to the Fair City Website she said she is "really happy" about the medals and she had a brilliant time.

We in Fair City know just how talented the two girls are and how lucky we are to have them as members of the cast.

The 85 members of Team Ireland, who range in age from 5 to 33, did extremely well overall this year, winning numerous scholarships, trophies, awards and medals (including 16 gold). Team member Seana Kerslake (18) won a €10,000 scholarship to the New York Conservatory of Drama and Lorna Dempsey (22) has been signed by Leaf Record Company as part of a new girl band.

Maureen Ward, National Director of Team Ireland for WCOPA 2009, said she was absolutely thrilled about the success of the team. "For such a small population, we conquered the world with our Irish talent! I am so proud of everybody's achievements. We won so many awards and are still celebrating!" But Maureen must be especially proud of Susie, who is her daughter. And she should take a bow herself for winning the award for Best National Director!

The young actors' great successes were reported by Lorna Nolan in the Herald newspaper last Thursday.
www.herald.ie/national-news/hollywood-bowled-over-by-our-young-performers-1836626.html

You can see the names of this year's gold medal winners listed by the country they were representing on the WCOPA website, at http://www.wcopa.com/site2010/index.php?pid=114