Olwyn Murray one step away from RTÉ All-Ireland success

IRELAND'S CALL Olwyn Murray is pictured back stage before last Sunday night's semi final.

Olwyn one step away from All-Ireland fame


Michael Commins

HERE we go, here we go, here we go! Olwyn Murray from Ballyhaunis has made it through to the final of the All Ireland Talent Show. And already, the bookies have slashed the odds making her second favourite just behind fellow Connacht contenders, Emma O’Sullivan and John O’Halloran from Galway.
Last Sunday night, Olwyn once again came up trumps with the Leona Lewis song, A Moment Like This. Together with Chloe Coyle from Derry and Ben Escorcio, who resides in Clare, they took the three places on offer and now join the other three finalists, Emma O’Sullivan and John O’Halloran from Connemara, Na Fianna from Laois/Kilkenny and Michael Lawlor from down south.
In the betting stakes, Boylesports have followed this contest closely over the past number of weeks. “After last Sunday night, we have cut the odds from 7/2 to 12/5 after a number of substantial bets were placed on Olwyn to win.
“Little Chloe Coyle’s odds were also slashed from 12/1 to 15/2 when she gave a moving performance that wowed the judges. Also landing a place in the grand final was Ben Escorcio, whose odds were cut to 13/2. However, it’s Emma O’Sullivan and John O’Halloran who remain the ones to beat in the contest at 5/4. The grand final will be packed with talent and at the moment it’s really between two acts”, commented Nicola McGeady, Boylesports spokeswoman.
“Olwyn is hot on the heels of Emma and John and will have to sing her heart out next Sunday if she wants to follow in the footsteps of the Mulkerrin Brothers from the Aran islands who won last year”, she said.
The betting at Boylesports yesterday (Monday) was: 5/4 Emma O’Sullivan and John O’Halloran; 12/5 Olwyn Murray; 5/1 Michael Lawlor; 13/2 Ben Escorcio; 13/2 Na Fianna; 15/2 Chloe Coyle.
The Grand final takes place on Sunday night between 6.30 and 7.30pm and will be screened on RTE1. The final six acts will perform for their chance to win €50,000. Irish songstress Mary Black will be guest on the results show which is aired between 8.30 and 9pm.
Pat McHugh from Ballindine, who is principal of Ballyhaunis Community School where Olwyn is a Leaving Cert student, said the school was “on a high” yesterday (Monday). “There was great excitement today around the place. Everyone was on about the show. Olwyn is the calmest of all, very unassuming, and is always most comfortable when singing on stage.
“She has a unique talent and she has done us all proud, her family, her school and her community.
“Her mentors Anna Henry and Siobhan Devine from Ballyhaunis Community School have also worked very hard as have her parents Adrian and Breda and the wonderful team they have put together over the last few months. It truly is amazing. They have undertaken an amazing amount of work and promotion.
“We received many emails and phone calls from all over the region at the school today, all delighted for Olwyn and wishing her well in the final.
“We all hope she wins on Sunday night but we’ll celebrate one way or another. It has already been a magnificent achievement by Olwyn and we are all so proud of her here in the school.”