'Get behind Lauren" call as Navan girl (7) aims for TV talent final

Seven-year-old Lauren Murtagh from Navan has secured a place in the semi-final of the All-Ireland Talent Show and will sing live on RTE Television on 22nd February. Little Lauren wowed judged with her performance of the Zuton"s song 'Valerie", made famous by Amy Winehouse, and was chosen as one of just five acts from the east who will battle it out for a place in the overall final. Lauren now needs the public"s votes to help her get all the way and her family and friends are calling for people from Meath to get behind Lauren and vote for her on the night. Lauren is a daughter of Linda and Darren Murtagh from Ferndale and granddaughter of Aidan and Anne O"Connor and Alan and Kathleen Murtagh, also from Navan. She is big sister to Emma Lynn, almost two. Lauren is a first class pupil in Scoil Naomh Eoin, Navan, and the staff and other pupils are all very excited that Lauren has got so far on the televised talent show. 'We are all delighted for Lauren and very proud of her. We wish her well and are encouraging people to vote for her,' said teacher, Ms Josephine Smyth. Lauren"s mum, Linda, said she loves singing and dancing and is a member of Sheila Garvey"s Academy of Performing Arts, which she attends every Saturday. She first began singing along with her dad, Darren, who saw the All-Ireland Talent Show advertised and decided to enter his daughter. She attended the auditions for the east area in Kilkenny and was called back for the second round the next day and was chosen to compete in the semi-finals of the show. The act chosen from each province will then battle it out in the final. While Lauren was accompanied by her dad on guitar for the auditions, she will be going it alone in the live semi-final on 22nd February. Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is her mentor and the act chosen to go through to the final will be based 50 per cent on judges and 50 per cent on votes. The other judges on the show are Shane Lynch, Dana, Daiti ' Sé and John Creedon. Lauren"s mother Linda said: 'She is loving it. She loves all the attention and is delighted to get through to the final. We are very proud of her.' Mrs Murtagh said the first talent show Lauren entered was at the Meath Cultural Festival last summer where she finished second and said she also got to the final of the Meath"s Got Talent competition in Ratoath last month. A group of about 50 family members and friends will be travelling to support Lauren at the live semi-finals of the All-Ireland Talent Show. Lauren will perform live on Sunday 22nd February between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Readers can also visit Lauren"s Bebo page where there are clips of her performances and where messages of support can be left. The address is www.bebo.com/laurenmurtagh.