THE LIMERICK singer who was to perform in the now cancelled All-Ireland Music Competition has learned he will be offered a record deal by the company behind the venture. Kevin McCarthy from Foynes, told the Limerick Post that he was “very disappointed” that the final and semi-final of the contest had been cancelled but said that he has been invited to Dublin to be offered a recording contract. “I’m considering the option. I’ve a lot of bookings already for the coming year,” he said.
The competition was to take place in the West County Hotel lin Ennis over two days last weekend and was to be televised. An impressive array of 16 talented acts were to compete before judges, Mercury Music Winner Gemma Hayes and Eurovision winner, Paul Harrington.
But the contest was cancelled at the eleventh hour, with the organisers citing poor ticket sales as the reason.
Shadowhawk Entertainment, the company behind the talent search, which had been supported by both Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, has since ceased operations.
The show was being hosted by Talent Management International, and it is through this company that contracts are now being offered to some of the competitors.
A spokesperson for Shannon Development confirmed that there was some financial support given to the event.
“Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau are disappointed that the All Ireland Music Competition will not be going ahead. As an event, it would have generated significant visitors and bed nights for Ennis in the winter season with the opportunity to become an annual legacy event for the town. In addition the show had the potential to expose the town to a wider TV audience both nationally and internationally”, the spokesperson explained.
