Meet the Host and Director: SHANE BARKEY

Shane currently works as the Head of Public Relations and Marketing in Mullingar Arts Centre and is also a fundraising event specialist. Shane has a wealth of experience on and off the stage; he is a member of Mullingar Pantomime Group where he will be playing Iago in this year's pantomime Aladdin, he will also be producing and hosting the upcoming revival of The Westmeath Bachelor Competition and Ball in Mullingar Park Hotel on March 13, 2020. He has played many roles on stage over the years including the loveable nerd Eugene in Mullingar Shamrocks 2016 production of ‘Grease!’.

Shane has successfully created, produced and hosted his own fundraising talent show ‘The G2T Factor’ over the last three years for local mental health organisation Good 2 Talk which took place in Mullingar Arts Centre. The show based on The X Factor format raised over €50,000 for the charity over the last three years and was regarded as one of the best night's of the year on the Mullingar entertainment calendar. Shane was nominated for Person of the Year by Westmeath County Council in the 2018 Cathaoirleach Awards for his charity endeavours.

Shane has directed and produced all seven mini-musicals for the show. Shane is also very excited to be the presenter for the show and wishes everyone involved tonight the very best of luck.

“Working on this project has been very rewarding and great fun, everyone has worked so hard, it has been great getting to know all the people here in Shamrocks, the talent and standard of performances is astonishing. I hope that everyone has fun up on that stage because at the end of the day that’s what it's all about! We have one incredible show to showcase! I also want to give a special mention and huge thanks to Greg and Siobhan, my two sidekicks on the production team during this whole process, I couldn’t have done it without them” says Shane.