Drumming-Duo Top of Class Acts

January 24th in An Tain theatre Dundalk was an unforgettable night for the audience who enjoyed the terrific talents of De La Salle College's finest. The best things in life are worth waiting for and this year's 'Class Acts' were testament to this. Following a 5 week delay due to the arctic freeze that paralysed our country the much anticipated show finally took place.
Class Act 2010-11 brought some 15 of the college's supreme singers, dancers, drummers and musicians to the stage of the town hall in Dundalk. This year's show, organised by Mr. Kieran Gallagher, Ms. Jennifer Egan, Mr. Daragh Mc Keon and Ms.Pamela Campbell featured a talented variety of vocalists, instrumentalists and dancers.
The evening began with pianist Padraig Healy who enthralled the sell out crowd with his beautiful renditions of Lady Gaga's 'Paparazzi' and Guns 'n' Roses classic 'Sweet Child of Mine'. Class Act Veteran and former winner Francis Watters followed with an assured performance of 'Four Chords of the Apocolypse' by Julian Casablancas and an outstanding original entitled 'Reassure Yourself'. Punk band 'One way system' (Fiachra Meek, Conor McAuley, Matthew Meehan, Darren McNally, Alex Fagan) wowed the packed crowd with Vampire Weekend's 'A Punk' and 'Something Good Can Work' by Two Door Cinema Club.
The next student to grace the stage was sublimely talented fifth year student Eoghan Murphy who got toes tapping and hands clapping with his vivacious violin playing and feet of flames dance routine. Next Cathal Grennan, Isaac Olubiyi and Adams Omorede's (a.k.a. CIA) performance of 'Billionaire' by Bruno Mars captivated the packed crowd who sang along to the catchy number with great gusto. Drumming duo Gerard McQuillan and Daire Stanley followed with a 'bang'. Their energetic, original and vibrant piece enthralled and enlivened an already animated audience.
Next, Martina Crehan provided a beautiful and soothing contrast with her haunting renditions of Adele's 'Make You Feel My Love' and Celine Dion's 'The First Time'. The first half was brought to a thrilling climax by the brilliant Brandon McGee. The little man with the big voice entertained and engaged the audience with a pitch perfect performance of the Michael Jackson classic 'Ben' and the Bruno Mars smash hit 'Just The Way You Are'.
The second half was kicked off by the captivating 'Charlie and The Unicorns'. The fab-four (Charlie Abbot, Kieron Breagy, Matthew Meehan and Alex Kenny Fagan) brought the crowd back in time with their funked up version of 'Walking On Sunshine' by Catriona and The Waves. Sixth year pianist Ronan Kerr enchanted the audience with his beautiful arrangement of Linkin Park's 'In The End' and 'The River Flows' Yirma . Sixth year boy band B.R.A.P.P.S.( Barry Carr, Robert Wallace, Andrew Smyth, Padraig Healy, Sean Thornton, Stephen Hoey) version of Back Street Boys classic 'I want it that way' provided great entertainment to the swooning masses who jostled to get within touching distance of these 'golden voiced adonises' Next came the awe-inspiring Lauren Cotter. Her exuberant interpretation of Ceelo Green's 'Forget You' and smooth as velvet version of Etta James 'At Last' were without doubt unforgettable!
Next on stage were the enchanting 'Cinco' (Chris O'Hagan, Martina Crehan, Jack Gorman, Eoin Farrell, Stephen Hoey) The five piece captivated the audience with a melodious and technically brilliant performance of Glen Hansard's 'Falling Slowly' and Elbow's 'On A Day Like This'. Radio Play Time ( Francis Watters, Shane Gonnelly, Darren Hoey), the penultimate act to grace the stage, engaged the enthusiastic crowd with popular Biffy Clyro song 'Many Of Horror' and a rousing rendition of 'Kick Start' by Example. Finally, Van Trampoline Blowdown (Daire Stanley, Shane Byrne, Anthony Collins, Anthony Vize, Ronan Kerr), brought the outstanding show to a thrilling climax. Their versions of 'Californication' by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Blues Brother's classic 'Everybody Needs Somebody' had the sell-out crowd dancing in their seats.

As the judges deliberated back stage an air of tension and excitement built in the packed theatre. Class Act compére, Mr. Hugh Carr provided some much needed comic relief, entertaining the crowd with his natural wit and charm. The judges (Stewart Agnew, Monica Daly and Derek Eakins) faced the unenviable and difficult task of choosing their top three. Without doubt this year's entrants were the most talented and diverse since the show's inception. There was an audible hush in the packed Tain theatre as the judges emerged from behind the great curtains into the spotlight. Months of rehearsals and hard work had come down to this moment. Lauren Cotter and Five piece 'Cinco' took a well deserved joint third place. Second place went to the uplifting 3rd year vocalist Brandon Mc Gee. A rapturous applause reverberated around the Tain theatre as the highly talented drumming duo of Gerard McQuillan and Daire Stanley were announced as this year's deserved winners of the highly coveted 'Class Act' trophy.