Coláiste Eoin bands battle is booming

SOME of the best budding musicians from the Northside took to the stage at Coláiste Eoin earlier this month for the school’s brilliant Battle of the Bands competition.

The event was first held last year as a response to the great success the school had with the Colaiste Eoin Rappers, who made several appearances on RTE music shows and were shortlisted for Song for Ireland to commemorate the 1916 Rising.

The initial competition was hosted last year by Jim McCabe of Classic Hits 4FM, who is also a past pupil, and had nine acts representing Northside schools. 

This year’s battle was even bigger, and 22 schools were shortlisted including: Colaiste Dualaig, Coolock; St Michael’s Holy Faith, Finglas; St Mary’s Cabra; St Aidan’s Glasnevin; Manor House, Raheny; St Mary’s Holy Faith Glasnevin; and of course Colaiste Eoin itself.

Judges included Lisa Lambe of Celtic Woman fame and Liam O’Maonlai of Hothouse Flowers and the event was hyped up nicely by Spin 103 FM who interviewed the acts and offered €100 worth of cinema tickets to the best supporters on the night.

Preparations are already underway for next year’s Battle of the Bands and it has already attracted so many entries from across the city that elimination heats will be needed to filter out the best acts to take part.