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PROVINCIAL WINNERS NAMED IN THE NEWSTALK BEST LOCAL 2009

27-July-2009

Over the past two weeks, listeners around the country of the Sean Moncrieff Show on Newstalk 106-108 fm have been texting in the name and location of their favourite local pub and the four provincial winners have been named as:

• Newstalk Best Munster Local 2009 - The Boothouse Bar, Whites Cross, Co. Cork
• Newstalk Best Leinster Local 2009 - Kavanaghs, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
• Newstalk Best Connaught Local 2009 - Kellys Bar, Strandhill, Co. Sligo
• Newstalk Best Ulster Local 2009 - Glencar Inn, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

These four pubs will now battle it out in the final round for the overall title of Newstalk Best Local 2009. Voting lines have re-opened and over the next two weeks listeners are being asked to text in for their favourite pub.

Starting next Tuesday, 4th August and running each day that week the publican from each of the four provincial finalists will be interviewed live on air by Moncrieff's roving reporter for a final chance to convince the public why his/her pub should be named Newstalk Best Local 2009.

The overall winner will then be revealed live on air on Friday, 7th August. The winning pub will celebrate in style by playing host to a special live broadcast of Moncrieff to the nation on Friday, 14th August.

Sean Moncrieff said: "We knew how strongly people felt about their local pubs but we were still overwhelmed by the response. The competition was extremely close but unfortunately there could be only one winner from each province."

"We are now very excited to see how the final round of voting goes and who will take the overall title. Judging by the response in the first round, we are expecting it to go right down to the wire."

Val Hanley, President of the VFI, said: "The pub is at the very heart of the community and represents a vital point of social interaction for many people throughout the country, especially in rural Ireland."

"We are delighted to be teaming up with Newstalk to promote the virtues of the pub and we are eager to see who comes out on top."

How to take part:
• Pick your favourite pub from the four provincial finalists named
• Text LOCAL + name of the pub to 53106 (costs 30c)
• Stay tuned to Moncrieff, weekdays 2.00pm-4.30pm for further updates
• 7th August - the Newstalk Best Local 2009 is chosen
• 14th August - Moncrieff broadcasts from the winning Best Local
• Log onto www.newstalk.ie/bestlocal for further details

Congratulations to the following lucky customers who were drawn from all those who texted for their locals::
Overall Winner of Club Med Holiday to the value of €4,000: Ciaran McMahon, Middleton, Cork

Carlton Hotel Voucher Winners to the value of €500 each:
              • Keifer Craig, Charlestown, Co Mayo
              • Jimmy Hurley, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
              • Ciaran Welsh, Danesfort, Co Kilkenny
              • Michael Kiloran, Ballymoate, Co Sligo