It was an idea that started with the suggestion of holding a concert for transition year students in Letterkenny.
But yesterday at the Regional Cultural Centre, the monster that has become Beo broke out of its cage to become a national competition.
From its roots a couple of years ago in Colaiste Ailigh, Beo is now offering the chance for one lucky school in Ireland to win €5,000 of computer equipment for whichever puts on the best rock show in the country.
The competition was officially launched at the Regional Cultural Centre before a list of invited guests – and more than 200 pupils from Colaiste Ailigh, St Eunan’s Colege, Loreto Convent and Errigal College.
Cllr Dessie Larkin, who has backed the project from the start said he was delighted that a Donegal group was now leading the way in hosting such an impressive event.
Chairman of Donegal County Council, Cllr Noel McBride, said he was pleased to see so many young people getting involved in a voluntary capacity for something they were genuinely passionate about.
Organiser and teacher at Colaiste Ailigh, Joe McKelvey, encouraged all pupils at the launch event to go out and tell all their friends across the country about the competition and encourage them to enter.
The schedule for the competition is as follows:
• Applicants to be received by Feb 3rd via the website.
• Each school will prepare a 7 min video of their event to be forwarded to BEO by April 23rd.
• Six finalists will be announced on 27th April. All finalists will receive a grant of €500 to help cover their expenses on the day of the final.
• The final will be held on May 11th at the Regional Cultural Centre with each school having to present their entry to the judging panel. BEO’s first national champions will be announced at a special gig that evening and where winner will be presented with the amazing prize of €5,000 worth of computer equipment for their school.
And just to prove how exciting organising a rock concert can be, the Wonder Villains played the RCC to kick off the inaugural event.
And boy did they rock!
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