The live final of the eight annual IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition takes place on Saturday, 3rd November at The Ashe Hotel, Tralee, with a special guest performance on the night to be announced. Ten finalists have been selected from over 250 entries from across Ireland and beyond to perform their original song in front of a live audience and panel of expert judges. The winning songwriter will be presented with a cheque for €1,000, courtesy of CARA Credit Union with a runner up prize of €300.
Christie Hennessy: A Celebration will open on Friday 2nd November with The Troubadour Club, a showcase featuring some of the finest of Ireland’s contemporary songwriters.
The IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition takes place as a tribute to the life and music of one of Tralee’s most famous sons. Now in its eighth year, the competition has grown in stature over the years to become one of Ireland’s leading song competitions and continues to attract a high calibre of songwriters from Ireland and overseas, covering a broad range of musical genres. Previous winners have included Paul McDonnell, Dave Molloy, Alan Kavanagh, Enda Reilly/Christine Deady, Míde Houlihan, Katie O’Connor and Curtis Walsh.
The ten finalists in the 2018 IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition are:
1. Niamh Keane | ‘Lonely Sea’
2. Paddy Dennehy | ‘Strange Wings’
3. Heather McGrath | ‘Intoxicate Me’
4. ELKAE | ‘Sold’
5. Allen Monaghan | ‘Bird’
6. Gemma Bradley | ‘Beserk’
7. Leila Jane | ‘Look Away From Our Creation’
8. Emma Langford | ‘The Belle And The Ruin’
9. Ciara Sidine | ‘Finest Flower’
10. Liam O’Shea and The Grunts | ‘Everytime (We Kiss Goodbye)’
Special guest performer on the night will be award winning international singer-songwriter Don Mescall. Don’s songs have now been recorded a huge number of artists, including Rascal Flatts, The Backstreet Boys, Lonestar, Geri Halliwell, Ronan Keating, Sir Cliff Richard, Nathan Carter, Mackenzie Porter, triple platinum French artist Marina Kaye, Sharon Corr, Aslan, American Idol’s Clay Aiken, Boyzone, Canadian Idol Winner Theo Thams, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Lulu, Kirsty, The New Cities, French Canadian artist Garou, Woodstock’s legendary Richie Havens, US Country star Neal McCoy, Brian Kennedy, Luke Dickens, Jaydee Bixby, The High Kings, Frances Black, Grant & Forysth and many, many more. Don’s new studio album, ‘Lighthouse Keeper’ will be the first studio album in twelve years, following his debut album ‘Innocent Run’. The new album will be released both digitally and in hard copy on 2nd November and features lead single ‘Love Me Right Now’, a collaboration with Nashville legend Stella Parton.
Entry to the live final is free of charge. For further details about the event, contact IMRO at events@nullimro.ie or 01 661 4844.
The IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition is supported by The Troubadour Club, CARA Credit Union, The Ashe Hotel, Radio Kerry and Tralee Chamber Alliance.
LIVE FINAL AT THE ASHE HOTEL, TRALEE | SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER | 8:30PM
