The karaoke competition in aid of Ballycotton lifeboat moved to Whitegate last weekend when The Long Point Bar held their heat on 9 July.

Several customers suggested to organisers that staff member Laura Franks should sing a song but the shy bar worker was quite happy to support the other singers.  However, her friends had other ideas!  Laura was surprised when her name was called out.  Her rendition of “Summer of 69” proved a winner.  Kevin O’Neill sang a unique version of Unchained Melody to all the women present and was invited to perform it again during the interval at the Grand Final.  At the end of a very enjoyable evening the contestants for the Long Point Bar were announced as Laura Franks and Pat O’Sullivan.

The competition moves to Wallis’ Bar, Midleton, next Friday, 16 July.  This is the second and last visit to Midleton before the Grand Final.  Seamus is very keen that his pub will be well represented in Garryvoe Hotel on 30 July and was making his preparations for their heat a week in advance.  The following night, Saturday, 17 July, the competition visits Ballycotton again at The Schooner Bar.  Brid and Mike are lining up their singers and hope to throw down the gauntlet to the other businesses participating in the competition.

With only a few weeks to go there will be one last visit to Whitegate when the heat at the Schooner Bar takes place on Saturday 24 July.  On Sunday 25 July it will be back to the Inn by the Harbour, Ballycotton with the final heat of the competition taking place at the Blackbird, Ballycotton, on Thursday 29 July.

With a prize fund of €1,500 singers who have not yet succeeded in qualifying for the final are reminded that their opportunities are getting fewer.  Supporters of Ballycotton lifeboat and contestants already qualified are looking forward to the bank holiday weekend and Garryvoe Hotel on the Friday night in particular.