Bantry pays more than lip service to two local charities

THE upcoming Lip Sync Battle in aid of Bantry Hospice and Cork ARC Cancer Support House, which takes place on September 21st and 22nd 2018 in the Maritime Hotel, Bantry, was launched last Thursday night. 

The launch was officiated by county mayor Patrick Gerard Murphy and the eleven competing teams made a rather extravagant entrance that offered a promise of more to come.

The contestants have been busy perfecting their routines throughout the summer, and have been engaged in a demanding training schedule with dance instructor Jenny O’Gorman of Ultra-Flex School of Dance in Cork and Galway.

Audiences will be treated to a wide range of acts from Abba to Beyoncé and many more over the two-night event, including group routines and team acts.

Jenny O’Gorman told The Southern Star: ‘I’m really enjoying working with the Bantry group, they are so eager to learn and have made great progress so quickly. I have seen them make many new friends, have a lot of fun and am confident they will deliver a spectacular show over the two nights.’

Such is the likely demand for tickets, the eleven teams will be taking to the stage on both the Friday and Saturday night, and the overall winner will be announced at the end of Saturday’s show.

Audience members can support their favourite team by buying votes on the show nights. The team with the most votes, combined with judges’ scores, will be declared the Lip Sync Battle Bantry. 

A limited number of tickets for the event, which is not all-seated, go on sale at Maritime Hotel, Bantry on Tuesday, September 4th from 6pm – 9pm. The tickets are priced at €25 per show. 

Claire Hayden of Bantry Hospice and an enthusiastic member of the organising committee said: ‘This is the first time that a Lip Sync Battle will be performed in Bantry and I’m delighted to be involved in this fundraiser. 

‘All participants must be commended for participating and giving up their time to raise funds for Bantry Hospice and Cork ARC Cancer Support House. 

‘It is great to see such comradery and friendship between all the participants across all the teams.’

Cecil Carter, the event co-ordinators with Lip Sync Battles Ireland, said: ‘Lip Sync fever has certainly taken over Bantry and the response we have received for this event has been amazing. The teams involved form part of a really fantastic line up and the show promises to delight audiences with lifts, tricks, glitz and glamour.’

Comedian and presenter Alan Shortt will be the MC, and the judges will include  RTE’s Dancing with the Stars 2018 winner, Jake Carter – brother of Nathan – dance choreographer Orna Phelan, Elma Walsh from the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation, Independent TD Michael Healy Rae, local businessman Richard Harrington, and Brenda Dennehy, Red FM producer.

Local Cork ARC Cancer Support House volunteer Michael Healy stressed the importance of this event for both charities by saying: ‘All funds raised from this joint fundraising event will continue to benefit the ongoing delivery of vital cancer care services in West Cork and South Kerry, which means so much to many families in the region and which are provided free of charge.’ 

Cork ARC Cancer Support House and Bantry Hospice would like to thank all the participants, their supporters and the hard working organising committee for their time and commitment and also to the many businesses who have supported this fundraiser. 

They also offered special thanks to the main sponsors, Keohane’s of Bantry, acknowledged the support of Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation and the Maritime Hotel for all the staff’s assistance, as well as the Boys Club and Bantry Bay Hotel for allowing the use of their facilities for rehearsals.

The organisations also thanked Brendan Hayes for doing some terrific video footage outlining the work of both charities, which will be shown on both nights.