Jemma and Matthew ...

Jemma McNamee and Matthew Ledwith will be Jivin to the Chuck Berry classic Johnny B Goode when they rock the stage in The Park Hotel on 12 May for The Fence sponsored Strictly Shamrocks.

Jemma is a veteran of the stage and her career began in 2004 with Mullingar Student Players and since then she has also been a member of the Rail Theatre Company, Mullingar Musical Society, and Mullingar Panto Group (her dance sponsor). Jemma has performed in venues from Letterkenny to Macroom and has also featured at the Electric Picnic Festival on several occasions. Jemma is a talented actress and her many roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Jill in Jack & the Beanstalk and Catherine in A View from the Bridge. Jemma’s talents extend to directing and her credits include Steel Magnolias and Why Not Stay for Breakfast; in 2016 Jemma directed her first musical, Grease which was a smash hit stage success and a brilliant fundraiser for Mullingar Shamrocks.    
Jemma has also been involved in several other fundraising activities for Mullingar Shamrocks in the past and has taken part in Stars in Your Eyes and her impressive career profile also includes two All-Ireland Scór titles won in the Ballad Group section  in Scór na nÓg (2006) and in the Novelty Act in senior Scór (2010).

Jemma’s dancing partner Matthew Ledwith will be making his stage debut in Strictly Shamrocks. Matthew, the proprietor of a plumbing and eco energy company, is a native of Churchtown, Emper and became involved in Mullingar Shamrocks when his son Fionn started to play.  Fionn wished to follow in his uncle’s footsteps (Eoin Kelly) and play for Mullingar Shamrocks. Matthew began to help with the training and was impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the club. Matthew when he manages to find some spare time likes to compete in adventure races and opted to take part in Strictly Shamrocks for the challenge involved and he wished to contribute to an  event that was to benefit the children of the club.