The Young Voice of Laois Final took place in the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow in April 2012.
In its third year, the new Young Voice of Laois was found in 17 year old Abbeyleix singer, songwriter and guitarist Michael Kirkman.
The fifth year student of Heywood Community School at the time received a Voice Training Scholarship sponsored by the Laois School of Music.
He was presented with the Ronan Lawlor Memorial Perpetual Trophy, a special award sponsored by by the Lawlor family in Durrow in memory of their son, a talented musician who died tragically aged 28 while climbing in South America in 2007.
Highly commended on the night were Dearbhala Dunne, 16 from Mountmellick and Emma Conroy, 18 from Camross.
In third place was Bronwyn Dunne, 16, a fourth year student in Heywood CS at the time, and in second place was Sarah Luttrell, 16 from Ballybrittas.
Alf Harvey was there on the memorable night and he took some great pictures.
Check them out below:
Contestants at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. From left, back: Michael Kirkman, Rachel Byrne, Emma Conroy, Amie O’Reilly, Rachel Mathews, Ciara Finlay, Taylor Smith and Sarah Luttrell. Front: Dearbhla Dunne, Bronwyn Dunne, Hannah Stokes, Pippa Anderson, Lorna Campion and Ava Lalor. Picture: Alf Harvey.Vincent Wade and Karen Devaney with baby Evan Wade and Robert and Anne Marie Smith with baby Jason Smith at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Fiona Joyce and Chloe Scully at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Charlene Duff, Alison Carabio and Arianna Carabio at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Helen, Stephanie, Mary and Brendan Byrne at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Tanya Aylward, Kevin McDonnell and Aisling Kelly at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Niamh Clancy, Laura Conroy, Niamh Edwards, Emily Donohue and Aoife Phelan at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Sean Kavanagh, Darragh and Oisin Conroy and Bill Phelan at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Sophie Armstrong with her aunt Fiona Dunne at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Ellie Welstead, Sophie Sythes and Aaron Sythes at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.Fergal Hassett (MC) Oliver and Ethel Lawlor (with the Ronan Lawlor Young Voice of Laois Trophy) and Ethel’s brother Andy McEvoy at the Young Voice of Laois Grand Final in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow. Picture: Alf Harvey.
