The third and final series of The All Ireland Talent Show was announced in August 2010. The first show was broadcast on 21 August 2010. The third series aired on RTÉ One, it was hosted by Gráinne Seoige. This series was produced by Tyrone Productions.
Once again prize money of €50,000 was awarded to the eventual winner of the show; who was Daniel Furlong, with Bláthnaid the winning judge. The result also marked the third time a child act won the show, following The Mulkerrin Brothers and Chloe Coyle in the previous two series'.
This was the final series. The All Ireland Talent Show was subsequently axed in July 2011, and replaced by The Voice of Ireland, a part of The Voice TV series, which began airing the following year in 2012.
Personnel Presenters Gráinne Seoige returned as presenter in her only role on the channel. Aidan Power & Dustin returned to present The All Ireland Talent Show Backstage on RTÉ Two
Judges Original Dublin judge, Shane Lynch announced his departure from the show. Amanda Brunker took his place. The other judges for this series remained: 1970 Eurovision Song Contest winner and conservative politician Dana (North), broadcaster John Creedon (South), television presenter and Irish language enthusiast Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh (East) and television personality and weather forecaster Dáithí Ó Sé (West). Backstage presenter Aidan Power filled in for Bláthnaid during the heat six results show as she was ill.
Auditions Audition City Date Venue Head Judge Advisors Dublin 21 August Griffith Conference Centre Amanda Brunker Shane Lynch & Larry Gogan Cork 28 August The Clarion Hotel John Creedon Emma O'Driscoll & Joe O'Shea Galway 4 September The Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Dáithí Ó Sé Síle Seoige & Pádraic Breathnach Derry 11 September The Everglades Hotel Dana Joe Lindsay & Majella O'Donnell Kilkenny 18 September The Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh Cormac Battle & Brenda Donahue
West Auditions
Head judge: Dáithí Ó Sé Assistant judges: Síle Seoige & Pádraic Breathnach Final eight: Aoife and Paul Moroney Karate Pencil Case Jacks Angels Sean Nós ar an tSionnan Cosa Beoga Richard Cunningham Politically Correct Don Stiffe
East Auditions
Head judge: Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh Assistant judges: Cormac Battle & Brenda Donahue Final eight: Jackson 3 Lil' Dukebox Daniel Furlong The Myth Claire Mulholland Arlene Caffrey Feverfelt Bernadette Spain
Dublin Auditions
Head judge: Amanda Brunker Assistant judges: Shane Lynch and Larry Gogan Final eight: Kyle Kennedy Anthony White Wallis Hamilton Dan Dennehy Owen Gerrard Shauna Buckingham Must Try D 'N' D Síle Keogh
South Auditions
Head judge:John CreedonAssistant judges:Emma O'Driscoll & Joe O'SheaFinal eight: Seamus & Tomas HaloJohnny MackMad 4 RoadDarragh MerritFitzy Chicks2 Day NationShane Doonan
North Auditions
Head judge:DanaAssistant judges:Joe Lindsay & Majella O'DonnellFinal eight:The Virginia Gospel ChoirÁine HassanFox 'N' CrewLouise FlorenceBrian SheerinThe Ward SistersMaggie FerrisJim Devine
Live Heats Each heat five contestants would take the stage. One representing each judge and region of Ireland. The judges would score an act after their performance and then the act with the highest score would gain 5 points and the second highest scoring act would gain 4 points etc. The same would be done with the public vote. The scores would then be added and the act with the most combined score would gain first place and advance to the semi-finals.(In the event of a tie the act with the most viewer votes would take higher ranking.) From the 2nd and 3rd placed acts the judges would choose an act to send through to the wildcard show.
Contestants Key Winner Runner-up Third Place Finalist Semi-finalist Wildcard Quarter-finalist (lost judges vote) Name of actMentorRegionHeatSemiPosition reached 2 Day Nation John Creedon South 8 2 Áine Hassan Dana North 5 N/A Anthony White Amanda Brunker Dublin 2 N/A Aoife and Paul Moroney Dáithí Ó Sé West 6 N/A Arlene Caffrey Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 1 N/A Bernadette Spain Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 2 N/A Brian Sheerin Dana North 4 1 Claire Mulholland Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 8 N/A Cosa Beoga Dáithí Ó Sé West 5 1 Daniel Dennehy Amanda Brunker Dublin 8 N/A Daniel Furlong Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 7 2 Darragh Merrit John Creedon South 4 N/A Don Stiffe Dáithí Ó Sé West 3 N/A Feverfelt Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 6 N/A Fitzy Chicks John Creedon South 2 1 Fox'N'Crew Dana North 6 N/A Halo John Creedon South 7 N/A Jack's Angels Dáithí Ó Sé West 4 N/A Jackson 3 Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 4 N/A Jim Devine Dana North 7 N/A Johnny Mack John Creedon South 1 N/A Karate Pencil Case Dáithí Ó Sé West 2 N/A Kyle Kennedy Amanda Brunker Dublin 5 N/A Lil' Dukebox Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 5 N/A Louise Florence Dana North 2 N/A Mad 4 Road John Creedon South 6 2 Maggie Ferris Dana North 8 N/A Must Try D'n'D Amanda Brunker Dublin 7 N/A The Myth Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh East 3 N/A Owen Gerrard Amanda Brunker Dublin 1 N/A Politically Correct Dáithí Ó Sé West 7 2 Richard Cunningham Dáithí Ó Sé West 8 N/A Seamus & Tomas John Creedon South 3 N/A Sean Nós ar an tSionann Dáithí Ó Sé West 1 2 Shane Doonan John Creedon South 5 N/A Shauna Buckingham Amanda Brunker Dublin 6 1 Síle Keogh Amanda Brunker Dublin 4 N/A Virginia Gospel Choir Dana North 1 N/A Wallis Amanda Brunker Dublin 3 N/A The Ward Sisters Dana North 3 N/A
Live Heats summary Key - Representing the North Mentored by Dana - Representing the South Mentored by John Creedon - Representing the West Mentored by Dáithí O'Sé - Representing Dublin Mentored by Amanda Brunker - Representing the East Mentored by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
Heat 1 (31 December) ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Virginia Gospel Choir 1 9 7 - 8 7 31 Joint 1st 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote Johnny Mack 2 8 - 7 9 7 31 Joint 1st 2nd/3rd:Lost judges wildcard vote Sean Nós ar an tSionann 3 6 6 7 - 9 28 3rd 1st:Through to semi-final Owen Gerrard 4 - 5 9 6 6 26 5th 4th:Eliminated Arlene Caffrey 5 5 8 6 8 - 27 4th 5th:Eliminated
Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Amanda Brunker: The Virginia Gospel Choir Dáithí Ó Sé: Johnny Mack Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh: Virginia Gospel Choir
The Virginia Gospel Choir were sent to the wildcard show with 2–1 majority.
Heat 2 (9 January) ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Bernadette Spain 1 8 8 8 9 - 33 Joint 1st 4th:Eliminated Anthony White 2 - 8 7 8 8 31 Joint 3rd 5th:Eliminated Karate Pencil Case 3 9 7 7 - 8 31 Joint 3rd 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote Louise Florence 4 7 8 - 9 7 31 Joint 3rd 2nd/3rd:Lost judges wildcard vote Fitzy Chicks 5 8 - 8 10 7 33 Joint 1st 1st:Through to semi-final
Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Amanda Brunker: Karate Pencil Case John Creedon: Louise Florence Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh: Karate Pencil Case
Karate Pencil Case were sent to the wildcard show with 2–1 majority.
Heat 3 (16 January) Guest Performer: Tommy Fleming ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Don Stiffe 1 8 9 9 - 7 33 Joint 2nd 1st:Through to semi-final Séamus & Tomás 2 7 - 7 7 8 29 4th 2nd/3rd:Lost judges wildcard vote The Ward Sisters 3 7 7 - 7 6 27 5th 5th:Eliminated Wallis Hamilton 4 - 8 8 8 9 33 Joint 2nd 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote The Myth 5 9 8 9 8 - 34 1st 4th:eliminated
Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh: Wallis Hamilton Dáithí Ó Sé: Wallis Hamilton Dana: was not required to vote as there was already a majority
Wallis Hamilton was sent to the wildcard show with 2–0 majority.
Heat 4 (23 January) Guest Performer: The High Kings ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Brian Sheerin 1 10 7 - 9 8 34 2nd 1st:Through to semi-final Jack's Angels 2 7 6 7 - 7 27 5th 2nd/3rd: Lost judges wildcard vote Jackson 3 3 8 7 7 7 - 29 4th 5th:Eliminated Síle Keogh 4 - 7 8 8 7 30 3rd 4th:Eliminated Darragh Merritt 5 9 - 10 9 9 37 1st 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote
Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Amanda Brunker: Darragh Merritt Dana: Darragh Merritt Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh: was not required to vote as there was already a majority
Darragh Merritt was sent to the wildcard show with 2–0 majority
Heat 5 (30 January) Guest Performer: Imelda May ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Kyle Kennedy 1 - 9 9 9 9 36 1st 4th:Eliminated Áine Hassin 2 9 8 - 8 10 35 Joint 2nd 2nd/3rd: Lost judges vote Cosa Beoga 3 7 9 10 - 8 34 4th 1st:Through to semi-final Shane Doonan 4 8 - 7 10 10 35 Joint 2nd 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote Lil' Dukebox 5 7 7 7 6 - 27 5th 5th:Eliminated
Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Amanda Brunker: Aine Hassin Dáithí Ó Sé: Shane Doonan Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh: Shane Doonan - initially refused to vote and wanted to revert to the public vote, as she had given both acts the same score. However she was told this was not an option and voted.
Shane Doonan was sent to the wildcard show with 2–1 majority.
Heat 6 (6 February) Guest Performer: Shayne Ward Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh was present for the first show but was not present for the results show as she was ill. Backstage presenter Aidan Power filled in for her. ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid (Power) Total Ranking Mad 4 Road1 9 - 8 10 8 35 Joint 1st 1st:Through to semi-final Shauna Buckingham 2 - 8 9 9 9 35 Joint 1st 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote Fever Felt 3 9 8 7 8 - 32 3rd 5th:Eliminated Fox 'N' Crew 4 8 7 - 8 7 30 4th 4th:Eliminated Aoife and Paul Moroney 5 7 8 7 - 7 29 5th 2nd/3rd: Lost judges wildcard vote Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show John Creedon:Shauna Buckingham Dana: Shauna Buckingham Aidan Power: was not required to vote as there was already a majority
Shauna Buckingham was sent to the wildcard show with 2–0 majority
Heat 7 (13 February) Guest Performer: Majella O'Donnell featuring Daniel O'Donnell ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Daniel Furlong 1 9 9 8 9 - 35 1st 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote Halo 2 8 - 7 8 7 30 5th 5th:Eliminated Politically Correct 3 8 9 9 - 8 34 2nd 1st:Through to semi-final Must Try D'n'D 4 - 8 9 8 8 33 3rd 4th:Eliminated Jim Devine 5 8 8 - 9 7 32 4th 2nd/3rd: Lost judges wildcard vote Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Amanda Brunker: Daniel Furlong John Creedon: Daniel Furlong Dáithí O'Sé : was not required to vote as there was already a majority
Daniel Furlong was sent to the wildcard show with 2–0 majority
Heat 8 (20 February) Guest Performer: Frankie Gavin with De Dannan ContestantsOrderJudges' scores Result Amanda John Dana Dáithí Bláthnaid Total Ranking Maggie Ferris 1 8 7 - 8 6 29 4th 4th:Eliminated 2 Day Nation 2 10 - 9 10 10 39 1st 1st:Through to semi-final Richard Cunningham 3 6 7 6 - 7 26 5th 2nd/3rd: Lost judges wildcard vote Daniel Dennehy 4 - 9 8 9 8 34 3rd 5th:Eliminated Claire Mulholland 5 9 9 8 9 - 35 2nd 2nd/3rd:Won judges wildcard vote Judges' votes to send through to the wildcard show Dana: Claire Mulholland Amanda Brunker: Claire Mulholland John Creedon:was not required to vote as there was already a majority
Claire Mulholland was sent to the wildcard show with 2–0 majority
2 Day Nation received the highest judges vote in the three-year history of the show.
Wildcard Heat (27 February) Guest Performer: Miracle Bell ContestantsOrder Result Daniel Furlong 1 Top 2: Through to semi-final Daragh Merritt 2 8th: Eliminated Wallis 3 7th: Eliminated Virginia Gospel Choir 4 3rd: Eliminated Karate Pencil Case 5 4th: Eliminated Claire Mulholland 6 5th: Eliminated Shane Doonan 7 6th: Eliminated Shauna Buckingham 8 Top 2: Through to semi-final
Semi-finals Semi-final 1 (6 March) Guest Performer: Sharon Shannon Order Contestant Act