The Westmeath Bachelor Competition
The Westmeath Bachelor Competition returns for its second year on Saturday July 29th at 7.30pm.
The highly anticipated contest will take place once again in Mullingar Arts Centre the weekend before the biggest week of the year in Mullingar, Fleadh Cheoil.
This year 8 of Ireland’s most eligible bachelors will compete for the crown and the legendary title of Westmeath’s most eligible bachelor.
This year the judging panel will consist of returning judges Louis Walsh, Anne Doyle and newcomers, celebrity couple Pippa O’Connor Ormond and Brian Ormond.
Popular well known faces and rising stars Shane Barkey (Midlands 103, Competition Director) and Sarah Jane Foster (2FM, SJF Productions) will return as the hosts with the most!
Following the huge success of last years competition and music festival, this years show promises to be an even bigger spectacle with lots of surprises up the organisers sleeves to ensure The Westmeath Bachelor Competition will be a night to remember.
This is going to be the biggest entertainment event in Mullingar this summer, make sure you don’t miss out!
Tickets on sale now from Mullingar Arts Centre only priced €40
They can be purchased on www.mullingarartscentre.ie or 04493-47777
Please be advised only a limited amount of tickets have being released to the general public so make sure to book quickly in order to avoid disappointment.
The Judges
The Hosts
Shane Barkey
Shane is a Director and Presenter of The Westmeath Bachelor Competition.
Shane is a well known personality in Mullingar and an aspiring television and radio presenter who is currently a broadcaster for Midlands 103 and rapidly becoming a rising star on TikTok thanks to his now viral Fleadh videos and more.
Shane is the owner of his own company ‘SB Media’ which specialises in live entertainment. Shane has big plans for his company and aspires for it to be the leading media entertainment company in Ireland in the next ten years.
Shane was the Marketing Manager for Mullingar Arts Centre and still collaborates with them on various projects. Shane is also a performer and a regular in the annual Christmas pantomime.
Shane was the youngest person ever to be nominated for ‘Person of the Year’ at the Westmeath County Council Cathaoirleach Awards in 2018 for his commitment and contribution to the community.
Sarah Jane Foster
Experienced presenter and female entrepreneur, Sarah Jane is taking both the business and entertainment world by storm.
With her diverse presenting experience, Sarah Jane is quickly becoming a household name as Midlands Correspondent for RTÉ 2FM. She’s also presented The Westmeath Bachelor Competition in 2022.
Having achieved her degree in Television & Filmmaking at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Sarah Jane’s passion for presenting was set.
She quickly landed a role as a presenter for Irish TV in 2014. It was here that she gained the experience of all aspects of online media production.
Inspired, Sarah Jane set out as a leading female entrepreneur through her own filmmaking company – SJF Productions. Specialising in booming online media, Sarah Jane is at the forefront of her industry.
Today, as a rising star and entrepreneur, Sarah Jane knows the media industry inside and out. She’s experienced first-hand the importance of hard work, dedication – and a great sense of humour!
The Bachelors
Ciaran Clarke
Ciaran Clarke is 29 and from Rosemount, County Westmeath.
“I am currently studying to be a solicitor and I’m hoping to land my training contract soon. In the meantime, I’m working in Dublin in a legal costs firm. I entered The Westmeath Bachelor for the craic, but it’s been quite the adventure so far and I’ve met a truly great bunch of lads in the process.”
“I have many hobbies and talents, but my overall ambition in life is to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. This year, I have achieved amazing things and I fully intend to use this momentum to become 2023’s Westmeath Bachelor!”
Steven Colvert
Steven Colvert is 32, from Mullingar but based in Dublin and works in Finance.
Former International Athlete and National Champion.
“I was raised in Mullingar and have strong local roots. A bit of a nerd at heart. An avid gamer and cat dad. I decided to enter the Westmeath Batchelor Competition when I heard that there was an opportunity to raise some money as the winner for a charity of choice and have a bit of fun along the way.”
John Carroll
John Carroll, 37, is from Tralee in Co Kerry and has entered hoping that he can keep the title of Westmeath Bachelor in the kingdom!
“I am involved in a lot of fundraising for local charities and organising fun events such as the annual 5k fun run for Kerry cancer support group, climbing Carrantuohill for Pieta house, Chairman of Causeway St Patrick’s Day Parade (helped to bring it back with friends couple years ago), registered with Volunteer Ireland (helping Ballyheigue Inshore sea rescue), annual speed dating event for Bru Columbanus charity and dressing up as Santa for the childcare Centre/senior citizens of causeway”
“I organise soccer every Friday night for young and old and I’m a member of Macra also! I was a COVID19 community coordinator for the rural link and wheel program and got a letter of appreciation from the President of Ireland.”
“I’m into cheesy pop music ( don’t know if this is a good or a bad thing) and I’m a lover of animals have three dogs, an insane cat, chickens and a rooster!”
As well as his extensive work for different charities John is also into exercise, park runs and has a black belt in taekwondo!
FABU D aka BLACKPADDY
Fabio David, 35, better known as Blackpaddy is a comedian, MC, entertainer and actor and based in Dublin, Ireland.
Born in Nigeria, Blackpaddy channels the African man in Europe and embraces the Irish culture throughout his live sets. He quickly made a name for himself while performing on the streets of Dublin and creating viral videos which have amassed over 150 millions views online.
He decided to follow his passion as a comedian and has been performing throughout Ireland. In his spare time, he host occasional weddings and has made appearances in TV shows and music videos. He has featured on The Lad Bible, The Wall of Comedy, Unilad, World Star Hip-Hop and more.
John Coady
John Coady, 31, is from North Kilkenny, near a town called Castlecomer.
“I am the youngest in my family, my parents had five children under five at one stage! I have an Ag Science degree from Waterford IT, I work on a farm, for a funeral director and as a bookkeeper as well! Recently, I joined a modelling agency as a commercial model and I am looking forward to that role also.”
“I applied to the Westmeath Bachelor Competition to meet new people, gain more confidence in myself and to have the craic also. I like helping people and I have done a lot of charity work for charities in Kilkenny. My great grandmother was originally from Mullingar, her name was Margaret Lestrange and she used to work as a cook in Wilson’s hospital school (in Multyfarnham) before she came to Three Castles in Kilkenny and married a Michael Doheny.”
“I would love to find out more about her and to see if there are any more of my relatives still living around Mullingar!”
“I am looking forward to the competition on the 29th July in the Arts Centre and getting to know more about the other bachelors and having a good time. They seem to be a really nice, down to earth bunch of lads and I am a big fan of one of the judges, Pippa O’Connor Ormond!”
James Doyle
James Doyle, 21, is originally from Killucan, County Westmeath but has since relocated to Leitrim.
James is a social media star with over fifty million likes on TikTok thanks to his now viral and famous ‘protein bor’ catchphrase.
“I just graduated from communications in DCU and have a brother (13) and a sister (10). I grew up playing the football and eventually started at the rugby which I was fairly deadly at but battled with EDs in my teens which killed my passion for sports, I then found the gym which saved me and got me to where I am today.
“My dream job is just how I’m living life at the moment doing social media but my major plan is to become a household name as a presenter on telly!”
“Some random facts about me; after pints of Guinness, Tequila is my go to drink! 2 years ago I wasn’t in the best shape playing Call of Duty till 6am, a year on from that I’m now a MyProtein athlete and have a massive social media founded on the basis of the gym.
“I said I’d do the competition because I had nothing planned for the date and said the session after it would be worth making a laugh of myself singing on stage, I’m really looking forward to the night and plan to take the crown!’
