Killarney

By Michelle Crean
<h3>Killarney&#8217;s Donal Lucey is &#8220;a real contender&#8221; to win &#8216;A New Local Hero&#8217; national award according Hot Press editor Niall Stokes.</h3>
The 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Muckross Road was first nominated by Radio Kerry and then made the shortlist after 125 artists nationwide were whittled down to 25 to win the award.
 Now, the judging will get even more intense as the 25 is reduced to five &ndash; who will play the Academy, in Dublin, on November 18 &ndash; on a showcase night, at which the recipient of the A New Local Hero 2021 award will be revealed.
 A New Local Hero is a feature of Irish Music Month which saw Hot Press join forces with 25 radio stations all over Ireland to support Irish music and Irish musicians.
 Donal, who is studying music full-time in the Cork School of Music, could win &euro;5,000 in cash, &euro;5,000 worth of gear from XMusic, see the release of a single through the renowned Rubyworks record label., get a guaranteed 30 plays on all 25 stations, adding up to a minimum of 750 in all, have national exposure via an interview in Hot Press and a full PR campaign around the release of the single.
 &ldquo;The calibre of the artists is brilliant,&rdquo; Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. &#8220;The 25 songs really enraptured everyone and Donal is a real contender for what is a fantastic overall prize, so the judges have a tough job on their hands to select Ireland&rsquo;s overall Local Hero!&#8221;
 The showcase event will be broadcast by all 25 stations, including Radio Kerry.

Donal could be named 'A New Local Hero'

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