West Cork kids get starring role on tonight’s Late Late Toy Show

Some of West Cork’s most talented musicians will feature in tonight’s much-anticipated Late Late Toy Show which will see over 1.2m viewers tuning in.

The Wispas, a chamber group made up of four girls from Macroom and Kinsale, will perform on the programme which officially marks the start of Christmas for many families. Siún Ní Dhuinnín (10) from Clondrohid; Gracie Barlow (12) from Kinsale; Méabh Fitzgibbon (10), Macroom  and Gráinne Crowley (11) from Kinsale make up the foursome which they named after their favourite chocolate bar.

Gracie plays cello and the other three play violin. Gracie and Gráinne attend Gael Scoil Chionn tSáile and Siún and Méabh attend Clondrohid National School Gráinne’s mum Grace said the girls were beyond excited and had been working hard rehearsing all week.

The Wispas, above, with Ryan Tubridy.

Also taking centre stage will be 12-year-old Paddy White from Clonakilty. The sixth class student in Scoil na mBuachaillí plays the guitar and sings and is a regular sight busking in his home town. His mum Joan said this was Paddy’s second time auditioning and he was really looking forward to the night.

‘It’s going to be a busy weekend for him as he’s also performing in Teen Idol in the Rochestown Park Hotel on Sunday evening,’ she said.

Meanwhile, six-year-old Bandon boy Harry Ó Gáibhín will be part of the wheeled toys procession. Harry is hoping that he will get to ride a fire truck, because when he grows up he would love to be a fireman just like his grandad Noel Harrington was in Sneem Co Kerry.

He recently got to do a practice run in RTÉ with loads of different bikes and trikes: ‘I loved playing with all the different toys and my twin sister Millie got to play too. Ryan surprised all of us as well.

Paddy at the auditions for the Toy Show.

He was so much fun and said we’ll all be friends for life. I can’t wait for Friday night,’ said Harry. Principal of Gaelscoil Droichead Na Banndan, which Harry attends, Nioclás Ó Laoghaire said he was delighted that Harry would be taking part. ‘He’s a natural performer and we’re all thrilled that he’s representing, not only Bandon, but Gaelscoil Dhroichead na Banndan.’

• The Late Late Toy Show is on tonight at 9:35pm on RTÉ One.