Success for Leona depends on U
October 27, 2009
By Brónagh Murphy
Next week a young Cullyhanna singer will perform on a Fermanagh stage in the hope of reaching the grand final of a province-wide competition.
Eighteen-year-old Leona Hoey has sung her way through the qualifying heats to be awarded a place in the Fermanagh county final of the Sunday World competition, U Factor.
The competition is being held throughout Northern Ireland with heats taking place in the six counties and in Belfast. Leona entered the contest through the Fermanagh heats as, due to prior commitments, she missed the entry date for the Down heats which were held in Newry.
On her way to the final, Leona received highly complimentary comments from the judges. And in the semi-final, her captivating renditions of Alexandra Burke’s ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Run’ by Leona Lewis prompted a standing ovation from the four judges, one of whom exclaimed: “I’m speechless.”
The talented songstress is no stranger to singing competitions having won the Keady Y Factor contest earlier this year, and was a finalist in the Hospice X Factor and Newry’s Got Talent shows.
Her family is steeped in musical history and her parents, Edmund and Sheila, are renowned musicians in their own right, while her elder sister, Mary, recently released her own CD. Leona says it is her dream to pursue a singing career and she relishes every opportunity to perform in front of an audience.
Currently studying Communications and Counselling at University of Ulster Jordanstown, Leona is spending all her spare time rehearsing in the run-up to the final.
‘Hallelujah’ and Eva Cassidy’s ‘Songbird’ are the two songs she has chosen to perform on the night and she is hoping to replicate the response from the judges that she received in the semi-final.
Support
The county final on November 4th will be Leona’s toughest competition yet and the only barrier between her and ultimate success is the amount of votes she is able to generate at the event.
From a total of ten acts, the outright winner on the night will be decided by audience vote. It is in this area that Leona fears she may be at a disadvantage as the venue is so far from her home and her success depends solely on the amount of audience votes she receives.
In the hope of overcoming this obstacle and attracting a huge support from the south Armagh area to the event, a free bus will transport supporters from the local area to Enniskillen and back. Reduced price admission tickets are also available through the Hoey family at a cost of £7.00 – a significant reduction on the £12.50 admission fee at the venue – and an added incentive to anyone wishing to travel and support Leona.
Leona Hoey is a hugely talented and unique performer and progressing to the next stage of this competition relies solely on the local support she receives when she takes to the stage in the Killyhevlin Hotel on Wednesday November 4th.
Those wishing to get behind her and help her achieve her dream are urged to make the journey to Enniskillen and give her your vote.
For information on the free bus, admission tickets or the event itself, contact Edmund Hoey on 02830 860097.
