Jessica is Westmeath's top talent

15-year-old Jessica Donnelly, a student of St Joseph's College, Summerhill, Athlone, was crowned the winner of the Westmeath Amateur Talent Contest, hosted by Temple Villa FC, on Saturday night in front of an almost full house at the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone. Over the last eight weeks over 70 contestants have performed in The Well, Moate, and The Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone and with the level of talent being of such a high standard, the judges had an almost impossible task to whittle down the competitors to the last 23 who competed in the final. The final, as with all other rounds of the competition, was filled with wonderful talent and all the contestants can be very proud of their performances with pop bands, rock bands, Irish dancers, solo singers, a rap artist, and an instrumentalist providing great entertainment for the large attendance. The judges were blown away at the level of talent on show and after long and difficult deliberations placed Jessica Donnelly from Athlone as the overall winner. Her announcement as winner by MC Tom Curtin was greeted with huge cheers from the audience. Jessica was a most deserving winner and along with a beautiful trophy wins the wonderful prize of a recording session in Sonas Recording studio in Killarney along with an overnight stay at The Killarney Valley Hotel, and the production of her own CD. Molly O'Meara from Mount Temple finished runner up and wins a recording session in Grouse Lodge recording studio with subsequent production of her own mini CD along with tickets to an O2 concert. Her choice of a John Lennon classic won the heart of the audience who would generally be surprised at that song choice from a sixteen year old. Little Ashley Tubridy, only nine years old from Mullingar, came third with a song she penned herself. Her prize is a recording session in Grouse Lodge recording studio, Rosemount with subsequent production of her own CD. In fourth place was Michaela Hogg from Mullingar, she will record her own CD in the Shed Studio, Athlone, Michaela is a traditional singer who is well known to those of who attend Scór events Irish dancers, "The Celtic Blondes" and Rosie and Daisy Carey from Tyrrellspass finished in fifth position and as their prize will perform as support to a main act at The Button Factory, Dublin. These all-action, energetic ladies entertained all with their modern take on traditional Irish dancing. There was also a prize for "The People's Choice" and this was won by "Hazy Thursdays" from Mullingar, consisting of Ray McDonnell, Nicola Lennon and Fergus McCormack. They will record their own mini CD at The ShedStudio, Athlone as their prize. All the prize-winners were presented with their trophies by Breffni Rowan to large applause from the audience and contestants alike. The remaining acts who performed on the night will have the opportunity to record at one of Roseland Studios Moate, Room with a View Productions, Kilteevan, Ray McLoughlin Studios Mullingar, to name a few, with the plan being to produce a WATC compilation CD. Finalists are already lined up to perform in a number of local venues. Look out for details of upcoming guest appearances at The Athlone Springs Hotel, The Sheraton Hotel, The Olive Grove Restaurant, The Radisson Blu Hotel and more Temple Villa AFC thanked all involved in making this contest such a success, the hosting venues, The Well, Moate, The Dean Crowe, Athlone, Grouse Lodge and all of the recording studios involved