THE Irish Karaoke Championships and the Magnet Festival will be in Portlaoise this August Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday July 29 to Monday August 2. Lots of activities are planned for the town for the weekend to suit young and old.
The launch of the Magnet Festival will be in Grellan Delaneys in Portlaoise this Friday night, with 80s style karaoke and music from DJ Noel Brennan.
Those who still wish to enter the Irish Karaoke Championships will have a chance to this Friday
as Carlow are looking for some able singers to represent them. Anyone over 18 can enter these auditions, including those who have already entered the competition. Those who do wish to enter can contact 085 1606 944 for more information.
Each county will be represented at the Irish Karaoke Championships by two male and two female singers.
Laois' representatives include Georgina Ireland from Delaneys in Portlaoise, Marie Delaney from the Meelick Inn in Mountmellick, Shane Treanor from the Barrow Lodge in Portarlington and Luke Dunne from Lennon's Bar in Durrow.
The winner of the Irish Karaoke Championships will go through to the World Karaoke Championships which this year will be held in Moscow.
But for those not interested in karaoke, there is plenty to keep everyone occupied with entertainment in the Plaza at County Hall.
Saturday will be a busy day with a flash mob organised for the Plaza from 2.30pm. This flash mob will see people dancing together to the one song - Mr Blue Sky - and raising funds for the charity To Russia With Love. All children are welcome to come along to the day and try out the steps.
Entertainment will begin from midday with stalls selling food and crafts, a karaoke stand for kids, and music from popular local bands Bebop and Rocksteady and The Real Deal for the afternoon.
The stalls and entertainment will be staying at the plaza for Sunday with music by Feedback and Abbaesque. Monday afternoon sees the Pig Race take to the town in order to raise funds for St Francis School in Portlaoise.
The races include The Booth Concrete Chase, The James G. O' Hanlon Accountants Challange, The Telfords Sprint, The Laois County Council Gold Cup, The Andrew Cremin / EBS Stakes and The Power House Crawl and betting will take place on the street.
The whole festival will be filmed by ABC America and by Live Stream New Mexico. For more information on any of the events taking place throughout the weekend, visit the Magnet Festival on Facebook.
