You're a Star is a singing contest in Ireland, similar to The X Factor in the United Kingdom and American Idol in the USA. Created by Screentime ShinAwiL and Raidió Teilifís Éireann, it was shown weekly on RTÉ One over the winter months of each year. The show was broadcast live from The Helix theatre in Dublin City University. You're a Star was originally designed to select the Irish Eurovision Song Contest entrant, but this idea was abandoned in September 2005. The show was cancelled after the 2008 season.
Auditions #1- Dublin South
Nov 3, 2002
The first open audition for You're A Star took place at the Pavillion in Dun Laoghaire. There were those who were woefull but the following made a good impression and made it thorugh to the final of round one. Roisin Cooper from Co. Cavan aged 18 sang ""More Than a Woman"" by 911. Rosemarie Farrell from Co. Meath aged 17 who sang ""Angel"" by Sarah MacLoughlan. Azi Jegbefume from Tallaght in Dublin who is 18 and sang ""My Love Is Your Love"" By Whitney Houston. Niall Whelehan ages 17 from Co. Kildare sang ""In My Place"" by Coldplay. Alan Foran, aged 20 from Co. Louth sang ""Escape"" by Enrique. Dee Daly from Donnycarney in Dublin. Aged 21 and sang ""A Woman's Worth"" by Alicia Keyes, Joe Kiernan, 22 from Co.Wexford sang ""True Companion"" by Marc Cohen. Brian Pemberton, 18 from tallaght in Dublin sang ""Wonderful Tonight"" by Eric Clapton. Azi Jegbefume was voted by the public into the next round.
Auditions #2 - Belfast
Nov 10, 2002
The second round of audition took place in Belfast. There was those who were tone deaf but the ones that shone and made it through the the final of the first round were Rachel Hogg from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, aged 19 sang ""It Must Have Been Love"" by Roxette. Michelle Howard from Co. Derry, aged 16 sang ""What Can I Do"" by The Corrs. Paul Lau from Co. Antrim, aged 17 sang ""All I Want is You"" By U2. Chris Woods also from Co. Antrim, aged 19 sang ""Desperado"" by The Eagles. Jill & Dawn Petticrew from Belfast both aged 25 sang ""Take a Chance on Me"" by ABBA. Marion Kelly from Limerick, aged 18 sang ""Wind Beneath My Wings"" by Bette Midler. Michael Leonard from Co. Fermanagh aged 22 sang ""Knocking On Heavens Door"" by Guns N' Roses. Terry Keeley from Belfast aged 16 sang ""When You Say Nothing At All"" by Ronan Keating. Michael Leonard was put through on the public vote.
Auditions #3 - Dundalk
Nov 17, 2002
Dundalk was the where the next auditions were held. The best were Nicola Cassidy Co. Louth, 19 who sang ""River Deep, Mountain High"" by Tina Turner. Siobhan McDonnell also from Co. Louth, aged 16 sang ""Songbird"" by Eva Cassidy. Aoife Blake from Bray, Co. Wicklow sang ""Son of a Preacher Man"" by Dusty Springfield. Sharon O'Hanlon from Finglas, Co. Dublin aged 25 sang ""It's All Coming Back To Me Now"" by Celine Dion. Emma Jenkinson from Co. Armagh aged 17 sang ""Walking in Memphis"" by Marc Cohen. Heather Lynas from Belfast aged 16 sang ""Show Me Heaven"" by Maria McKee. Catherine Yore, 17 from Co. Meath sang ""Natural Woman"" By Aretha Franklin and finally Julie Cunnane from Co. Louth aged 17 sang ""Like A Prayer"" by Madonna. Catherine Yore won the public vote.
Auditions #4 - Cork
Nov 24, 2002
Serena Lee from Co. Cork aged 16 sang ""I Turn to You"" by Christina Aguilera. Colin Melsop from Co. Cork aged 20 sang ""I Can't Make you Love Me"" by George Michael. Sarah Brophy, 18 from Co. Cork sang ""Say A Little Prayer"" by Dionne Warick. Leonne Mulryan from Cork aged 17 sang ""Fields of Gold"" by Eva Cassidy. Greg Ryan from Co. Limerick aged 18 sang ""Flying Without Wings"" by Westlife. Donna Keohan from Co. Waterford aged 18 sang ""How Do I Live"" by Leanne Rimes. Rebecca O'Connor from Co. Cork, aged 27 sang ""Ain't No Sunshine"" by Bill Withers. Karl Fradgley from Co. Cork aged 25 sang ""I Can't Make You Love Me"" by Bonnie Rait. Sarah Brophy made it through, winning the public vote.
Auditions #5 - Killkenny
Dec 1, 2002
In Kilkenny, Natasha Croghan from Co. Roscommon aged 16 sang ""Get Here"" by Oleta Adams. Jason Paul Ryan from Liverpool aged 24 sang ""American Pie"" by Don McClean. Trevor O'Neill from Co. Kilkenny, aged 23 sang ""The First Time Ever"" by George Michael. Ellen Cosgrave from Donnybrook in Dublin aged 17 sang ""Aint No Sunshine"" by Bill Withers. Sharon Malloy from Co. Kilkenny aged 28 sang ""Over the Rainbow"" by Eva Cassidy. Chris Doran from Waterford aged 22 sang ""I'm Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"" by Tom Jones. Shauna and Coaimhe McElhinney from Co. Cork both aged 16 sang ""I Know Him So Well"" by Barbara Streisand & Elaine Page. Katrina Lee from Belfast aged 16 sang ""When I fall in Love"" by Nat King Cole. The McElhinney Sisters made it through this round.
Auditions #6 - Galway
Nov 8, 2002
Next came the Galway audition where Lisa Bresnan aged 22 from Limerick sang ""Thank You"" by Dido. Susan McGowan aged 19 from Co. Westmeath sang ""Hotstuff"" by Donna Summer. Frank Naughton from Galway City aged 30 sang ""This is the Moment"" from Jekyll and Hyde. Chris Farragher from Co.Mayo aged 22 sang ""Just Looking"" by The Stereophonics. Sandi McCash from Galway aged 23 sang ""Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"" by U2. Adrian Kenny from Co. Cork aged 23 sang ""Unchained Melody"" by The Righteous Brothers. Susan Sheahan from Co. Cork aged 18 sang ""I Hope You Dance"" by Lee Ann Womack. David Moore from Dublin aged 16 sang ""Dancing in the Moonlight"" by Toploader. Susan McGowan won the public vote.
Auditions #7 - Derry
Dec 15, 2002
Marie-Therese Martin from Derry City, aged 17 sang ""I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You"" by Tom Waits. Gavin Quinn from Co. Tyrone aged 21, sang ""The River"" by Garth Brooks. Leonna Lees from Co. Londonderry aged 24, sang ""Black is the Colour"" by Christy Moore. Mickey Harte from Derry aged 29. 4D's members: Paul Donaghy, Andrew Donaghy, Aidan Donaghy, Martin Delaney all from Co. Tyrone sang ""Full Force Gail"" by Elvis Costello. Eoin O'Callaghan, 23 from Derry City sang ""Let Be"" by The Beatles. Justin McGurk, 28 from Co. Tyrone sang ""Superman"" by Five for Fighting. Catroina Mac Ginty 26 from Strabane, Co. Tyrone sang ""Heartache Tonight"" by The Eagles. Mickey Harte was put through on the public vote.
Auditions #8 - Killarney
Dec 22, 2002
Una O'Riordan from Co. Cork aged 21 sang ""Love Me"" by Colin Ray. Rosaleen Herlihy also from Cork aged 25 sang ""Secret Love"" by Doris Day. Derek McMahon from Co. Clare aged 26, sang ""Endless Love"" by Lionel Ritchie. Catraione Hickey from Cork, 16 sang ""Falling"" by Alicia Keyes. Kelly Hunter, 18 from Co. Cork sang ""Any Man of Mine"" by Shania Twain. Fiona O'Neill, 18 from Co. Kerry sang ""Raise Me Up"" by Brian Kennedy. Joanne Fahy, 20 from Limerick sang ""Breathless"" by The Corrs. Steve Martynfrom Co. Meath aged 31 sang ""All Rise"" by Blue. Joanne Fahy was put through to Phase 2.
Auditions #9 - Dublin North
Dec 29, 2002
Sarah Corcoran from Galway aged 17 sang ""Lazing on A Sunny Afternoon"" by The Kink's. Cara McDowell from Co. Dublin aged 28 sang ""Baby Now That I've Found You"" by The Foundations. Brenda Dunican from Co. Offaly aged 23 sang ""No Frontiers"" by Mary Black. V-10's members Marc O'Neill and Shane Butler sang ""Heard it through the Grapevine"" by Marvin Gaye. Sinead Hand from Co. Dublin, aged 18 sang ""Mama Says"" by Metallica. Simon Casey 23 from Co. Offaly sang ""Right Here Waiting For You"" by Richard Marx. Brian Ormond also 23 from Dublin sang ""Many"" by Barry Manilow. Susan McFadden 19 from Dubln sang ""What A Feeling"" by Irene Cara. Simon Casey won the public vote.
The Story So Far
Jan 5, 2003
We are shown the best and the worst of all the five thousand entries to this years You're A Star. The nine finalists are Azi Jebefume (Dublin), Michael Leonard (Fermanagh), Catherine Yore (Meath), Sarah Brophy (Cork), Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney (Cork), Joanne Fahy (Limerick), Mickey Harte (Donegal), Simon Casey (Offaly)and Susan McGowan (Athlone). There is still a chance for those who did not make it as it is revieled that each of the four judges will choose a wildcard contestant to go through to Phase 2. Darren's Wildcard is Lisa Bresnan. Phil chose Catriona MacGinty. Kerry chose her sister in law Susan McFadden and Louis chose Brian Ormond. That makes 13 contestants to battle it out over the next ten weeks, to win the right to represent Ireland on the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest.
Live: Episode 1
Jan 12, 2003
In the first live episode of Phase 2, the first group of the finalists perform for the judges and the crowd. Azi Jebefume sang ""My Love Is Your Love"", Michael Leonard sang ""Knocking on Heaven's Door"". Catherine Yore sang ""Natural Woman"". Sarah Brophy sang ""I Say A Little Prayer"". Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney sang ""I Know Him So Well"". Catriona Mac Ginty sang ""Heartache Tonight"" and finally Lisa Bresnan sang ""Thank You"". The results of the vote were in this order: 1st - Lisa Bresnan 2nd - Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney 3rd - Michael Leonard 4th - Sarah Brophy 5th - Catherine Yore 6th - Azi Jebefume 7th - Catriona Mac Ginty Phil's Wildcard Catriona becomes the first person to exit the show with the least number of votes.
Live: Episode 2
Jan 19, 2003
This is the second live episode with the second group of contestants, Joanne Fahy sang ""Talking In Your Sleep"". Mickey Harte sang ""I Won't Back Down"". Simon Casey sang ""Right Here Waiting"". Susan McGowan sang ""Hot Stuff"". Susan McFadden sang ""What A Feeling"" and Brian Ormond sang ""Mandy"". The results of the vote were in this order: 1st - Brian Ormond 2nd - Simon Casey 3rd - Mickey Harte 4th - Susan McFadden 5th - Joanne Fahy 6th - Susan McGowan Susan McGowan recieved the least number of votes making her the second girl to exit the show.
Live: Episode 3
Jan 26, 2003
The third epsiode of Phase 2 sees two performers exit the show, but who? Azi Jebefume, Michael Leonard, Catherine Yore, Sarah Brophy, Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney, Catriona Mac Ginty, Joanne Fahy, Mickey Harte, Simon Casey, Susan McFadden and Brian Ormond perform for the judges. The perfomers with the least number of votes are Azi Jebefume and Catherine Yore.
Live: Episode 4
Feb 2, 2003
In episode number 4 of Phase 2 we see another hopeful exit the show. Michal Leonard, Sarah Brophy, Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney, Catriona Mac Ginty, Joanne Fahy, Mickey Harte, Simon Casey, Susan McFadden and Brian Ormond perform. The person with the least number of votes is Joanne Fahy.
Live: Episode 5
Feb 9, 2003
Halfway through the live Phase 2 episodes and another person will exit the show. Michal Leonard, Sarah Brophy, Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney, Catriona Mac Ginty, Mickey Harte, Simon Casey, Susan McFadden and Brian Ormond perform to their best. Kerry's Wildcard Susan leaves the show with the least number of votes.
Live: Episode 6
Feb 16, 2003
In the final run of Phase 2 epsiodes, things are definately hottig up for the contestants. Michael Leonard, Sarah Brophy, Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney, Catriona Mac Ginty, Mickey Harte, Simon Casey and Brian Ormond perform for the judges and Ireland. Sarah recieves the least number of votes and exits the show.
Live: Episode 7
Feb 23, 2003
Michael Leonard, Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney, Catriona Mac Ginty, Mickey Harte, Simon Casey and Brian Ormond perform but they don't know that TWO contestans will leave the show tonight. Leaving the show with the least number of votes are Brian Ormond and the twins Caoimhe & Shauna McElhinney.
Live: Episode 8
Mar 2, 2003
Its down to the final four: Mickey Harte sang first with his Eurovision song ""We've got the World Tonight"". Simon Casy was next with ""A Better Plan"", thirs was Michael Leonard with ""I Couldn't Love You More"" and finally Catriona Mac Ginty sang ""I'll Still Be Right Here"". They sing with all their might but one of them has to leave tonight. The four songwriters were also unveiled. As widely speculated former Boyzone member and now international star in his own right Ronan Keating (returning to Eurovision after hosting 1997) co-wrote a song with Brian Kennedy (the lead singer on the 1995 Eurovision interval ""Lumen""). The second songwriter was unknown to me at least; Louise Wallace. The third songwriters were Louth man Keith Molloy and Martin Branagan who although English born is now involved with Keith in a recording studio in Jonesboro in South Armagh. The fourth songwriter is the third member of the McFadden family to get involved in ""You're A Star"", Westlife member Bryan (husband of
Live: Episode 9
Mar 9, 2003
In the second last epsiode of this series we are down to the final three Michael Leonard, Mickey Harte and Simon Casey. They do their best but Michael gets the least number of votes.
The Final
Mar 16, 2003
After 20 weeks and over 5,000 contestants, we are down to the last two in the Final of You're A Star. Mickey Harte and Simon Casey. They sing their songs and the past singers perform a melody of songs. The winner is... Mickey Harte. He will represent Ireland in the Eurovision 2003.
