Pat’s Factor Contestants – ‘in it to win it’!

Auditions have come and gone at St Patrick’s College Cavan and contestants have been whittled down to the final thirteen for this Friday’s Pat’s Factor.

The grand prize of €500 for the winner on the night, which was sponsored by local businesses, will be determined by an audience vote. With three other prizes up for grabs, the atmosphere at the school is a mixture of fierce competition and “great fun”.

“They are definitely in it to win it,” vice principal Gwen Brady confirms to the Celt.

Ms Brady is co-ordinating the event along with her colleagues Ciaran Tackney and Niall Monaghan in collaboration with the school council. She promises a night of the best musical talent the school has to offer, with solo acts, trad and rock bands, original compositions and a trip down memory lane with some tributes to past boy bands to be performed on the night.

The show comprises talent from students of all years in the school who, in a similar fashion to The X Factor, are currently going through mentorship sessions with nine teachers in preparation for Friday’s finale. Guest Judge Paul Cox will also cast his watchful eye over the acts on the night, however the “final decision” will be made by the audience who will vote on the night.

“On the vote card are all thirteen acts and at the end they’ll tick their favourite act,” Ms Brady explains.

The last such event in the school took place in 2018, which was an excellent success, and this year is expected to top the charts. The entire school community has pulled together to bring Pat’s Factor to Cavan. Everything the audience will see on stage on Friday night, except the sound and lighting, has been created by different departments within the school.

“People will come on Friday night and it’s one of the nights they’ll see St Pat’s at its very best,” the vice principal promises.

Tickets to the event cost €12 and can be purchased through the school office or at Maxol Cullies, with proceeds going towards the arts and extracurricular activities in the school. The show will take place at St Patrick’s College this Friday November 21 at 7:30pm.