Busking Competition - Easter Weekend

Matt Vaughan 2nd Place Winner at 2009 Busking Competition

Samhlaiocht today issued a call for entries for the Annual Busking and Street Entertainment Competition which will take place on Easter Saturday, April 3rd. All street entertainers and musicians are invited to take part in the festivities, everything from talented musicians, jugglers, singers, dancers, comedians, fire-eaters and street artists will be welcome. The competition will take place on Easter Saturday, April 3rd from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with registration taking place from 2pm in the Samhlaiocht office.

"Music and entertainment have always played a huge part in everything Samhlaiocht does," said Jason O' Mahony, the Director of Samhlaiocht. "This is the fourth year of the Busking and Street Entertainment competition and we're hoping to build on last year's competition that brought such fun and excitement to the streets of Tralee."

"We're really looking forward to the Easter weekend and we know that the Busking and Street Entertainment Competition will complement all the other free activities that we organise for Tralee," said Kieran Herlihy, co-ordinator of the competition. "The town will come alive with all kinds of wonderful entertainment. This will be the second year the Samhlaiocht Perpetual Shield will be up for grabs to the overall winners, kindly sponsored by Trophy World Tralee, The Shield will be on display in the Samhlaiocht offices and the winning act every year will have their names inscribed on the Shield. But there's also a trophy for the winners and a wee medal for all competitors - so everyone's a winner!"

The people of Kerry have proven to be very supportive of Samhlaiocht and of the Easter Festival as well as being enthusiastic supporters of the Artists and Entertainers that come to the County each Easter weekend. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and the Tralee Branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, as a show of appreciation, have offered to sponsor the Busking and Street Entertainment Competition.

"The support we receive from local business people quite literally keeps Samhlaiocht alive," added Jason O' Mahony. "We're indebted to them all and especially grateful to Comhaltas and the Vintners' Federation for supporting the Street Entertainment competition."

With artists from all over Ireland descending on Tralee over Easter, and the new Tir na nOg festival taking place from April 1st to April 11th, Tralee is sure to be a favourite bank holiday treat for lovers of the Arts, Culture and Craic!