Bláthnaid judges All-Ireland search for stars of tomorrow

Last Sunday evening saw what"s described as Ireland"s biggest ever nationwide talent contest, RTÉ"s All Ireland Talent Show, hit the television screens. The five celebrity judges include Rath Cairn"s Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh. Presented by Gráinne Seoige, the series will showcase the most engaging, exciting, impressive and entertaining talents this country has to offer in a competition which has galvanised each county to audition in their droves at regional auditions across the country in the hope of starring in the 11-part primetime television series and winning the €50,000 prize. In a competition which pits region against region, as well as act against act, it"s more than personal pride at stake - it"s the pride of place that"s paramount. And the power to select which act will represent which of the designated five regions resides with its respective judge. The judges with that onerous task are Boyzone star and Dublin-born Shane Lynch (Dublin), The Afternoon Show"s incomparable Meath-native Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh (The East), Galway resident weatherman Daithi ' Se (West), Eurovision winner ex-MEP and Derry-native, Dana (North), and Cork"s RTÉ Radio broadcaster and Fáilte Towers winner, John Creedon (The South). The first five programmes in the 11-part series feature the agony and the ecstasy of the auditioning process across each of the regions - one programme per region - as the judges wrestle with the responsibility of deciding which five acts from the region are to be put through to the semi-finals. The talent and age range is wide and the enthusiasm tear-inducing. From a six year-old, decked head to toe in pink, belting out her best High School Musical rendition and melting the heart of died-in-the-wool Dub tough guy Shane Lynch in the process; to a 90-year-old saxophonist with aspirations of making the big time; to a 15-year-old escapologist who tips up in a strait jacket to impress Daithi ' Se; to a motley crew of a Martial arts group who screamed in the face of Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh. It"s a tough choice. To help with that task, each judge has two advisors with particular local knowledge and experience. 'The All Ireland Talent Show" is on at 6.30pm on RTE 1 on Sunday evenings.