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Hats off to Chris

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

A LOCAL musician is hoping to get the support of fellow Northsiders when he takes to the stage this weekend in a bid to scoop e50,000 in a nationwide talent show. Chris Geoghegan, a singer songwriter from Clontarf, is calling on viewers of RTE’s popular All Ireland Talent Show to give him their vote. The father-of-two, dubbed ‘The Man With The Hat’, has become something of an overnight success as a musician after taking a break from playing the guitar for a number of years to look after his daughters. Now he is back practicing every night and said he hopes to be able to build a future for himself as a musician following his success on the show. Some bookies are offering odds of 16/1 on the 28-year-old hopeful, but Chris is hoping that his odds will be slashed following his next appearance on the show this Sunday, February 21. “I’ve put a few quid on myself to win at those odds,” Chris told Northside People. “I was shocked and delighted to have gotten through; I really didn’t expect to get anywhere on the programme.” Chris said he only recently rediscovered his love for performing music. “I used to play guitar and started when I was in my early 20s but when I had my first daughter I put it away in the case,” he stated. “Then I started playing around with it again recently and went to the auditions for XFactor. “After that I found out about the All Ireland Talent Show auditions and decided to go on that but wasn’t expecting to get anywhere.” Chris’s influences include groups like Ocean Colour Scene, David Gray and the Kooks, as well as some of his Dad’s own favourites like Garth Brooks. “I’m into lots of different styles of music I would say,” he said. “I just like having a bit of fun and performing for people. I’ve started to do a few live gigs here and there for the practice. “My eldest daughter Jesse Jane (5) is coming to see me on the next show. She is very proud of her dad. “She even got to be on TV the last time and all the kids at school thought she was very cool.” While he is unemployed at the moment, Chris is considering a musical career if his success continues. “I might follow through with this,” he added.  “I took to it very quickly and it seems to be going well. “I hope people will call in and text when I am on this Sunday and get behind ‘The Man In The Hat’, and show a bit of support for a Northside local.” Chris Geoghegan will be performing this Sunday on RTE 1 at 6.30pm, and if he manages to impress the voting public, the panel of judges will have to take their hats off to him.