The crowds gathered in large numbers for the final of the CU-Factor Talent competition on saturday night last. 15 acts all deserving to win took their individual talents to the stage hoping to get to the Galway final on May the 8th next. Every act was a favourit to win and it was an almost impossible task for the independent judges to choose a winner and runner up for Galway.

After some time, and after Rhianna Flaherty (2010 winner) and her mother Martina entertained the audience with their talent of song and music, the judges emerged from the back room. A winner and runner up were declared.

Kayla O’ Connor a 14 year old student at Coláiste an Eachréidh, Athenry had won the competition singing her own song called The Turtle

11 year old Mark Holohan was chosen as the runner up and will also be representing NBCU in Galway. Mark - a Seanchaí - for his act had the audience in floods of laughter when he told the story about Rashers the dog.

All 15 acts were winners on the night and each individual act was presented with a beautiful plaque by Maire Doyle - Chairperson of NBCU to represent their talent.

The Raffle on the night raised €1,000 which was presented to the local St Vincent de Paul Society. The credit union would like to thank all who contributed to this raffle on the night. And a big THANK YOU for all the Spot Prizes donated by the local businesses for the raffle also. Without you - the people in the community, a night like this could not happen.

And a bucket of credit must be given out to the Youth Advisory Council members ONCE AGAIN who started working on the organisation of this event back in January of this year. Many of them had a very early start on saturday in the Temperance Hall with the behind the scenes work that needed to be done to produce a show like this. And I hope ye all liked the stage design. Well done to Karen Fahy - I think it was FANTASTIC.