IMITATION is potent flattery. Night of Stars 2, the local celebrity talent show taking place on Thursday 28 for Special Olympics Ireland, is modelled on X Factor. As with Simon Cowell & Co, the judging panel’s of Celia Holman Lee, Garrett Gavin of host venue South Court Hotel, Linda Kennedy of Limerick Leader, cllr. Tom Shortt and this page’s Rose Rushe each have an act to mentor.
Limerick Post is backing Jeff Power (24), a plumber by day and a singer with a voice and charisma by night. At his class graduation from St Clement’s, he was the one who sang at the altar – “Redemption Song, a Bob Marley one” – and has done karaoke residencies, talent competitions and worked as a ‘jobbing’ singer around town.
Living in Roundwood with his parents, Junior and Phil Power, he’s up at 5.30am morning for the daily train to Portlaoise and work with HA O’Neill, mechanical engineers and contractors. He hits the gym several times a week and the high notes at gigs around town almost as often.
Blonde, fit, funny, Jeff has made the grade in national competitions with songs by Garth Brooks, Shaggie, Westlife, Ronan Keating and on the entertainment circus, does The Eagles, Elvis, Eric Clapton and….lots. His presence, self-possession and savvy connection with the panel as audience made him a winner at auditions.
“I took part in Stars in their Eyes a few years ago,” Jeff says, “and then won the Limerick leg of the national Karaoke championship based in Russells’. I sang in Dublin in the Irish finals. I was selected for Nollag No. 1 on TG4, the 2008 televised talent show, was in Limerick’s Got Talent! in August 2009 and have now got through the auditions for Night of the Stars 2”.
A €10 ticket to South Court Hotel for 7.30pm, Thursday January 28 will see Jeff Power compete against other ‘wild cards’ against Limerick celebs such as cllr Cormac hurley, soccer referee Jimmy Clancy, retired International boxer Tony deLoughrey and Spin South-West’s Michelle McMahon, who was spectacular winner of Limerick Does Strictly Come Dancing.
