GAA Club's Lip Sync Challenge has €40,000 target

Alan McGuirk of SVEMS, with Killian Whelan who will be MC on the final night, project manager for the Club at the event Eamonn Wynne, and Kilcullen GAA chairman Des O'Brien.

Kilcullen GAA Club is hoping to raise €40,000 with a 'Lip Sync Challenge' that kicked off last night with an explainer session to potential team leaders, writes Brian Byrne.

Club chairman Des O'Brien said it was going to be a 'huge' undertaking for the Club. "We're aiming high with this, and everybody involved will have to sell it every day, at work, amongst their friends, wherever they are."

While the Club is 'doing very well' in all areas, he outlined some of the expenses occurring at the moment and in plans for its development. These include the cost of the new CCTV system, lights and resurfacing of the car park, a plan to put a roof on the stand, and other things.

"The Lip Sync will be a huge, huge task, but we have a wonderful committee," he said.

Alan McGuirk of event managers SVEMS, who run the Lip Sync events professionally, outlined the procedure. The actual show will be held in the 1,200-seat venue at Kilashee House Hotel on 29 October, with door tickets at €25. Around ten teams will be involved, each composed of about ten people, and there will be five weeks of rehearsals under the direction of coaches from his company.

The Lip Sync Challenge is run in a similar fashion to the 'Strictly Dancing' fundraising events, with 50pc of the votes on the night being given by a judging panel, the other half coming from public 'voting' both online and on the night, with every €1 raised counting as a vote. Sponsorship cards will also be given to contestants.

Alan McGuirk said the online facility will allow Kilcullen GAA supporters not in town or even outside the country to vote. He emphasised that it is a team effort for each entrant group, but that it would be very enjoyable for all concerned.

The Club is planning to have teams from within the playing membership at Senior, Junior, Women's, and Juvenile level, and also wants teams from local pubs and schools to take part.

The Club project manager for the Challenge is Eamonn Wynne.

Photos: Brian Byrne/Kilcullen Diary.