Photos from Dundalk school’s Fashionably Talented Show

There really was only one place be recently and that was the St. Vincents Fashionably Talented Show which took place in the Fairways Hotel on Friday January 20. This was the 15th year the event has been organised by the school’s Transition Year to showcase their recycled fashions (Junk Couture) and also provide a night of entertainment from the students from first year all the through to the TY’s.

I was only in the door when I met up with main organiser Ultan Henry who told me the event is completely the work of the TY’s who started preliminary work last October and is part of their enterprise project. He went on to say there is a huge amount of work in the organisation but was sure it was going to be a huge success for them.

After this I headed over for a chat with Nessa Toale from O’Hanlon Park who told me she was really looking forward to seeing her daughter Elizabeth who was part of one of the dance troupes taking part and was sure it was going to be a good show.

Next I got a word with Emma Fagan from Knockbridge who was there with parents Linda and Fra and sister Sarah who were all there to see Rose who is in 2 Niamh and was part of Class Act who were performing later and they couldn’t wait to see her on stage.

After this I headed over for a chat with Alain Pentony who was with wife Ann and kids Lola and Alexandra who were looking forward to seeing Isabella as Alice from Alice In Wonderland and said she’d also be singing solo too.

One lady who was extremely busy on the night was Deputy Principal Fiona Butler who helping to make sure the event ran smoothly and told me that this is the highlight of all the work put in by the TY’s during the year and was sure it was going to be a huge success. She also explained that the DkIT where the Fashionably Talented has always been held was unavailable this year and wanted to thank the Fairways Hotel for being able to facilitate them.

Next I caught up with another busy lady and this was Geraldine Conroy from Knockbridge whose daughter Grace was taking part in the show and her twin sister April had been part of the award winning group from the school in the recent Young Scientist competition. She went on to say she was delighted to be there since this was the first TY event held since 2019.

sAfter this I headed over for a quick word with John and Kathleen Eldershaw from Ardee with daughter Niamh who were there to see their other daughter Katie perform and were extremely proud of her.

I then caught up with Nicola Rogers from Seabank who was just after arriving with my neighbours Elaine Fergus and Ciaran Pepper from Parnell Park. They told me they were really looking forward to seeing the hard work on the monochrome dress made by Grace Rogers and Aoibhinn Pepper made up mostly from can tabs and black plastic bags. Ciaran and Elaine also wanted a big shout out for daughter Niamh who wasn’t feeling too well at home and had to miss the show.

After this I headed over for a word with Miriam and Sorcha Clarke from Blackrock who were with Claire and Niamh Bermingham from Carrickmacross who were really looking forward to the show and couldn’t wait to see Claire’s daughter Ciara who is a teacher in the school who would be taking part in a special teachers only section of the show.

Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Ray and Noeleen Sweeney from Ardee whose daughter Jessica was going to be dancing later on and they couldn’t wait to see her in action.

Not too far away I then got talking to Annmarie Finnegan from Kilkerley who was with daughters Saoirse and Annie who told me they were all there to see Ellie Mai perform and sure it was going to be a great night.

I then headed over for a quick word with Darren and Eva Watters from Fane View who were looking forward to the show with daughter Simone and her friend Marcelina Stramek who couldn’t wait to see Stella and her friends from 1 Joyce performing on the night.

After this I headed over for a chat with Emma and Martin Molloy from Kingswood who were there to see their daughter Abbie who was performing as Woody from Toy Story. They were also awaiting the arrival of their daughter Lucy who was taking part n the Louth Relays in Drogheda and would be heading for the Fairways directly afterwards.

One lady who certainly had her work cut out for her on the night was Bláthnaid McClean from Lis Na Dara who told me she was part of the judging panel and assured me it was going to be a very tough night for her

After this I got talking to Louise and Heidi Kehoe from Belfry Drive who said they would definitely be shouting the loudest when Heidi’s sister Mia was dancing on the stage and wanted to wish her all the best on her big night.

Making my way through the crowds I met up with Sharon Fennelly from Blackrock who told me she was there with Annabel and Brian to see Lily Mae who had the daunting task of being Harry Styles on stage later on.

One lady who was certainly looking forward to seeing her daughter modelling on the night was Amanda Cosgrove from Blackrock who said Aoife was taking part in the Junk Couture part of the show and was sure she was going to be fantastic.

Finally, before I departed I met up with Joe and Maureen Sherman from Castlebellingham who were looking forward to seeing granddaughter Ava McDevitt taking part and were sure it was going to be a lovely night.