Laois school wins free concert by Irish pop star

A Laois school has won a special concert by a young Irish pop star, by winning a national radio competition.

Mountmellick Community School students are going to be treated to a performance by the talented singer songwriter Lea Heart.

Lea Heart, 22 from Kildare, has hits that include Happier, Older, I Don't Know Why and I'll Get Over It and is also a TikTok star. 

The school won the exciting event after teachers entered a competition for it on iRADIO some weeks ago.

English Teacher Martina Harding wrote the following lovely poem (below) which was read out by her colleague Mags McLoughlin, giving reasons why the school should be chosen. 

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"Our school is the heart of the town,

Full of smiling, resilient students who never frown, 

Despite all they have been through, 

These students give their hearts in all they do.

Covid put them to the test,

But still they continued to give their best.

Life got even tougher when they said goodbye to a close friend,

But they stuck together supporting each other to the end.

Recently they worked on the memorial garden and raising 15,000 euro for Lauralynn,

More than anything these students deserve to win.

They navigate obstacles and don't let challenges get in their way, 

They are a great bunch of students everyday. 

So come on iradio please pick us,

Of Lea Heart we'd make a big fuss.

I'd love to win this competition, 

And give Mountmellick Community School the recognition".

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Singer Lea Heart instantly got noticed when she started posting songs, both covers and originals, on TikTok during the Covid lockdown. She was snapped by music manager Brian Whitehead (Picture This/Ryan Sheridan). 

In a rapid rise she signed with Warner Music Ireland, becoming Irish radio’s most played female artist, touring the UK with Picture This, playing two headline shows in the Academy, releasing her debut EP, self-titled EP, playing festivals across the country and supported Sigrid in 3Arena. She has embarked on an Irish tour and gave a sold-out gig at The Olympia in April.