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Kilkenny’s Shona Lanigan Wins VFI Stars of our Bars 2010

05-July-2010

The Vintners' Federation of Ireland ("VFI") Stars of our Bars National Final, in association with Smithwick's, was held on Saturday night and Shona Lanigan, representing The Kilford Arms, Kilkenny, was named the VFI Stars of our Bars Winner 2010, beating off 11 other acts to take the title. 

After a great night’s entertainment, Shona was awarded €7,500 after giving two show stopping performances with at the National Final on Saturday, 3 July 2010 at the Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. She first took to the stage with a great rendition of “Son of a Preacher” but stole the show in the second half of the show with “I Have Nothing”. Whitney Houston would have been proud! 

The results were actually a clean sweep for Leinster as The Nooks, representing PJ O Hare’s Anchor Bar, Carlingford, Co. Louth came second and took home €3,000 while Veronica Moran, representing Nally’s Pub, Ballymahon, Co. Longford came third and won €1,500. 

The eagerly anticipated National Final, which was hosted brilliantly by RTÉ’s Brian Ormond, was alive with excitement and support from a huge gathering of friends and family from all acts. In total nearly 650 packed out the Hazel Hotel and the 12 acts made sure they were rocked from start to finish! 

Each act performed twice with the support of the live band and gave the judges a very hard task. TV Director David Donaghy, former Rose of Tralee winner Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and TV3’s Elaine Crowley had the unenviable task of picking the winner and admitted as much after announcing the winner, “the standard here tonight is as good as I have seen in years and there was only 4 votes between the top six acts on the night”, said David Donaghy.

After being announced as the winner of Stars of our Bars 2010, Shona Lanigan said, “I am just shocked but delighted by this win. I can’t thank my family and friends enough for all their support and of course thanks to The Kilford Arms for giving me this chance.”

As for her winnings and her plans for same Shona was not short of ideas, “it will come in handy for college next year but some shopping will also be done!”

The first of its kind, the VFI Stars of our Bars’ pub talent competition began in January 2010 in over 400 pubs in 25 counties across the country.

Over 8,000 acts took part and pubs ran heats to whittle down the numbers. Finalists were then chosen from each participating county and were put forward to the Regional Finals in May. The lucky finalists who made it through the County and the Regional Finals, made up the final twelve acts for the Stars of our Bars National Final. 

President of the VFI, Gerry Mellett said afterwards, "It is hard to believe that five months have passed since we commenced with the first of our heats in pubs up and down the breadth of the country. Back then we were frozen or flooded, depending on which part of the country you were in, but now we are all thankfully enjoying the fine weather and have had a great night here in the Hazel Hotel.

"First of all I would like to extend my gratitude to Smithwick's for sponsoring this event. To have a brand like Smithwick's on board was hugely important and we thank them very much. We also wish Smithwick's a very happy birthday in this their 300th year!

"To the publicans who have backed this competition to the hilt in only its first year, thank you. Without your professionalism and application this would not have been possible. 

"Similarly a huge thank you to the regional coordinators and in particular to Ollie Hennessy, the national coordinator, a superb effort one and all. 

"I would also like to thank the contestants who entered in their thousands and who made it all possible. Finally to the twelve finalists, and of course to Shona Lanigan, thank you for making tonight such a success and the best of luck to you all in the future.”

Ciaran Budds, on behalf of Smithwick's commented, "Smithwick's is delighted to have been associated with the Stars of our Bars, a great initiative which brought excitement and entertainment to communities the length and breadth of this country. A huge congratulations to Shona Lanigan, but to all 12 finalists a huge thank you for making this such a great night and for making this a competition to remember.”

The twelve acts and the pubs they represented are as follows:-

• Rachel McCauley, Arena 7, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal 
• Fergal Harman, Dunnes Bar, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim
• The Antics, Havana Bar, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim
• Veronica Moran, Nallys Pub, Ballymahon, Co. Longford. 
• The Nooks, PJ O'Hare's Anchor Bar, Carlingford, Co. Louth 
• Louise Fahy, Jayz Bar, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan 
• The Whisht, Corrigan's - – The Corner House, Banagher, Co. Offaly 
• Shona Lanigan, The Kilford Arms, Kilkenny 
• Helena Bates, The Wicked Swan, Wexford 
• Sarah Lovett & Conor Fahy, McGrath’s Pub, Pucane, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
• Christin Keane, Imperial Bar, Limerick
• Edel Hogan, Jerry Flannery’s Bar, Limerick
• Sarah Lovett & Conor Fahy, McGrath’s Pub, Pucane, Co. Tipperary
• Christin Keane, Imperial Bar, Limerick City
• Edel Hogan, Jerry Flannery’s Bar, Limerick City