Navan rooting for Lauren in TV talent show semi-final

Seven-year-old Lauren Murtagh from Navan will sing live in the 'All-Ireland Talent Show" on Sunday evening and is seeking the public"s votes to help get her through to the final of the competition. Little Lauren is fast winning over an army of fans in Meath and was entertaining shoppers in Navan Town Centre last Saturday afternoon and also sang at the interval during 'Snow White" in Navan"s Solstice Arts Centre on Friday night and during the matinee on Sunday. Lauren also performed at The Palace on Sunday night and her team of supporters have been busy putting up posters and spreading the word. There was a great turnout for Lauren"s performances and the little Navan girl got a great reception and lots of support from the crowds. Lauren is a daughter of Linda and Darren Murtagh from Ferndale and is a big sister to Emma Lynn (2). A first class pupil at Scoil Naomh Eoin in the town, she was chosen as just one of the five acts from the east who will battle it out for a place in the overall final on 15th March. Lauren performed 'Valerie", the song made famous by Amy Winehouse, and will sing the hit song again live on the show on Sunday evening, 22nd February. The numbers to vote for Lauren will be given out on the show. Lauren"s mum, Linda, said she is really excited and can"t wait to perform on Sunday. From Thursday, she will be busy at rehearsals. However, Linda said Lauren has a sore throat which she is hoping will be cleared up by Sunday night. She is hoping that people from Meath will get behind her and vote on the night. Lauren 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 Sunday. Rath Cairn"s 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. A group of 50 family and friends will be travelling to the studio to support Lauren on Sunday evening. Tune into to RTE 1 on Sunday at 6.30pm to see Lauren perform. 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.