Sarsfield's Donal wins the Over-60s talent competition

Mon, 18 Jun, 2018 - 16:15

Darragh Bermingham

MORE than 1,000 people turned out at City Hall last night for the highly anticipated final of the Over-60s talent competition.

Sheila and Declan Carroll with Anthony Murphy from Fair Hill. Picture: Ger Bonus

Tánaiste Simon Coveney attended the event along with new Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn, and Bishop of Cork and Ross, John Buckley. The final was won by Donal O’Connell, representing Sarsfield GAA, who performed ‘Winter World of Love’, by Engelbert Humperdinck.

He celebrated the victory with his wife Eileen, children Jolene and Christopher as well as granddaughter Sally, who cheered him on last night.

Donal O'Connell, representing Sarsfields winner of the Over 60's talent competition final with his wife Eileen at the City Hall last night. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Organiser Paddy O’Brien said: “It was a wonderful night, one of the best finals we’ve ever had in 42 years.

“People were queuing at 5.30pm to get in and the atmosphere was amazing.

An Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney, TD; Eoghan Dinan, deputy editor Evening Echo; and Paddy O'Brien, organiser the Over 60's Talent Competition. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

“Donal said he was stunned when he won and he asked me to pinch him because he thought he was dreaming.

“He was fantastic and spoke after of his love of music.

“The Tánaiste asked me when I’d begin work on next year’s event and I said ‘today’,” added Mr O’Brien.

Kathleen Wolfe and Josie Buckley from Midleton with Muriel Lehane and Ita O'Mahony from Redmonds. Picture: Ger Bonus

Finalists in the Over-60s Talent Competition final included: Helen Forde, Jimmy Healy, Bernice Piggot, Mary Lavin, Donal O’Connell, Eileen Dennehy and Nora Mary O’Riordan, Pat Murphy, Declan Terry, Brendan O’Neill, Liam Lynch, Gerry Owens, Andy Jackson, Tony Blackshields and Ted Emery.

To date, the event has raised more than €500,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation.