by Aoife McLoughlin
TWO of this year’s Limerick contestants on The Voice of Ireland have secured places at the live rounds of the RTÉ television talent competition.
19-year-old Laura Enright (Team Bressie) and 22-year-old Niall O’Halloran (Team Una) sang their way to victory last Sunday night in the penultimate battle round of the show.
Creative songstress Laura was pitched against mother-of-two Catherine Hughes, who was forced to leave the battles last year as she went into labour with her second child . Taking on Blur’s hit single ‘Universal’, the pair created some controversy among the coaches over the key of the song and the energy of the performance.
But despite negative comments from his fellow judges, Bressie said: “They’re far better singers than most here tonight. I thought both of ye were brilliant, you did it justice.” But it was local girl Laura who the former Blizzards frontman felt could “bring more to the live shows”.
But for Limerick’s Cristin Nolan and Stuart Bond, it was the end of their Voice of Ireland journey, despite receiving positive comments from the coaches.
The final battle of the night brought actor and singer Niall O’Halloran and Kayleigh Cullinan together to sing ‘I’ll be there’ by The Jackson five. Staying true to the title of the song, mentor Una Foden proved she would be there for Niall as she chose him to go through to live rounds beginning on March 22.
Limerick’s fifth and final contestant on the show, Evan Cotter, will face the battles this Sunday on RTE1 at 6.30pm.
