The Ballinakill based boys performed ‘The Black Velvet Band’ for judge Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and her assistants 2fm DJ Cormac Battle and Fair City actor Pat Nolan, on the qualifers aired last Sunday night. The judges were impressed and put them through to the final eight contestants who will represent the East.

Na Fianna got together at the start of 2006 and the four piece have been playing gigs around the county ever since. The Walsh brothers, John and Damien, from Ballinakill make up one half of the group, while Lee Campion from Durrow and Kilkenny native Ross Hennessy complete the foursome. All band members sing and play multiple instruments, John Walsh plays guitar, his brother Damien plays bodhran, Lee plays bass and Ross plays mandolin and banjo.

While the group concentrates on traditional ballads from acts such as The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners and Luke Kelly, they like to listen to many different types of music.

The boys thought they should have entered last year but hesitated. As John explained: “Maybe we should have gone for it last year and there was no point in not doing it and then wondering ‘what if’, so we just went for it this year”.

The group were joined on the audition day by another popular trad group from Abbeyleix, Abbeyfolk, who got to the last 23 entrants of the competition but unfortunately didn’t make it into the top eight.

Fans can see Na Fianna when they perform on the live shows, beginning on New Year’s Eve. The live shows will run for a number of weeks when acts from all over the country battle it out for the winnning prize of n50,000. John and the boys are very much looking forward to the live shows.

“At the moment we’re not too nervous, it is still so far away. We just want to seize the moment and enjoy ourselves on stage. This is our chance to shine.”

To get a taste of what the group are about, visit www.bebo.com/nafiannaband.