You're a Star (series 5)

21 Demands were an all-male band from Swords in Dublin.[15][16][17] They consisted of Stephen Garrigan, Conor Linnane, Mark Prendergast and Vinny May[16] and had been performing since 2005.[17] They finished the series as runners-up[2] after having a number two single in the Irish Singles Charts.[5]

Andy Bennett was a twenty-eight-year-old clinic secretary from Clontarf, County Dublin.[10][17] He worked in the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin's Holles Street.[17] Bennett had previously auditioned for the show on two occasions but believed the reason for his lack of progression until series five was "[wearing my] eyebrows down at my bottom".[17]

Brian Clarke was a nineteen-year-old from Monaghan.[11] He was a first year student of anthropology and geography in NUI Maynooth.[17] Clarke had two brothers, one sister, two parents and several pet cats, dogs and horses.[17] He enjoyed art, singing and riding horses.[17] He auditioned in Monaghan where he won the public vote.[14]

Shane Downey was an eighteen-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Galway.[18] He could play several instruments, including drums, guitar and piano[18] and had performed as part of the band Reload for several years.[17] Downey,[17] auditioned in Galway,[12] his third such audition for the show.[17] This was the first time he progressed past the first round.[17]

Andrew Grafton was a 21-year-old student from Dublin.[19] He was studying music at Dundalk Institute of Technology.[19] He auditioned in Dublin North.[13]

Alan Kavanagh was an eighteen-year-old Sixth Year student from Ashbourne, County Meath.[4][17] He had played guitar since he was nine years of age and performed in a rock band called Attica, whilst also operating as a guitar teacher.[17] He could play bass, piano and write songs too.[17] Kavanagh auditioned in Dublin North.[13]

Richie McCoy was a twenty-seven-year-old singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and account manager from Limerick.[16][17] He had been performing since he was thirteen years old[16] but began playing music at the age of seven in the Limerick School of Music.[17] He played flute, guitar, piano and four variations of recorders and had already recorded one EP prior to his audition, at which he sang "Just Be You", his own composition.[17] McCoy was also qualified to teach classical flute.[17]

David O'Connor was a twenty-six-year-old former racing jockey from Ferns, County Wexford.[2] He had an accident after twenty-five races and went on to represent Ireland in the 2004 Karaoke World Championships in Finland.[17] O'Connor auditioned in Monaghan where he sang "Two Outta Three Ain't Bad" by Meat Loaf and came second in the public vote.[14][20] He went on to win the series.[2]

Maeve O'Donovan was a sixteen-year-old Fifth Year schoolgirl when she competed in the fifth series of You're a Star.[15][17] She was from County Clare[16] and auditioned in Galway.[12] She could play piano and guitar, was inspired by José Feliciano and Loudon Wainwright and was able to write her own songs.[17] Her father was a member of the coaching staff in the Ireland national rugby union team.[17] O'Donovan exited the competition at the semi-final stage as the last female competitor of the series.[15]

Susan O'Neill was a sixteen-year-old student from Ennis, County Clare.[21] She intended to study music at university.[21]

Scuba Dice were a band from Kilkenny.[16] They consisted of Joe Grace, Padraig King, Owen Murphy and Sean Savage[16] and had been performing since 2003.[17] After auditioning for the fifth series, the band won the Kilkenny Battle of the Bands and supported The Frank and Walters in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.[17] They were the ninth act to be voted off the show.[22]

Ian White was a nineteen-year-old student from Killiney, County Dublin.[3] He was the first to be voted off during the live shows.[3]

Ian White was eliminated.[3] He sang a copy of the Paddy Casey song "Livin'".[3]

The live show began at 18:30.[3] Andrew Grafton was eliminated.[19] He sang the Stevie Wonder song Lately.

The live show began at 18:30.[19] Susan O'Neill as eliminated.[21]

The live show began at 18:30.[21] Richie McCoy was eliminated.[16] He sang the Bonnie Tyler song "Holding Out for a Hero".[16]

Shane Downey was eliminated.[18]

The live show began at 18:30, with the results show following at 20:30.[23] The performances in week six were based on a David Bowie and Elton John theme.[23] McFly performed "Star Girl", from their album Motion in the Ocean, during the results show.[23] 21 Demands and Andy Bennett were the bottom two acts to face the judges.[10] Thomas Black chose 21 Demands and Brendan O'Connor chose Bennett, with Linda Martin then choosing to remove Bennett from the competition.[10]

The live show began at 18:30.[10] Brian Clarke and Maeve O'Donovan were the bottom two acts to face the judges.[11] Thomas Black chose Clarke and Linda Martin chose O'Donovan, with Brendan O'Connor then choosing to remove Clarke from the competition.[11]

Alan Kavanagh and 21 Demands were the bottom two acts to face the judges.[4] Kavanagh was chosen to leave the show.[4]

The live show began at 18:30, lasting for one hour, with the results show following at 20:30.[24] Brian McFadden performed his single "Like Only a Woman Can".[24] Two songs were sung by each act, with one song being chosen by the judges and one song by the act themselves.[24] Scuba Dice were eliminated.[22]

The semi-final was held on 17 March 2007, with the main show beginning at 20:05 and the results show following at 21:25.[22] Each of the remaining three acts performed two songs, with one of the songs chosen by viewers online.[5] Maeve O'Donovan, the last remaining female, exited the show. She performed "Fake" and "You Belong to Me".[15] David O'Connor performed "Second Violin" and The Verve song "The Drugs Don't Work", whilst 21 Demands performed "I Will Follow" and "Footloose".[5]

The final was held at The Helix in Dublin on 18 March 2007, with the main show lasting for one hour and beginning at 18:30 and the results show following at 20:30.[2][22] Shayne Ward performed on the night.[5] David O'Connor defeated 21 Demands to win the final.[2] O'Connor's prizes included a recording contract, a publishing contract and musical equipment to the value of €10,000.[1] O'Connor performed "Love Grows" and "On Borrowed Wings", whilst 21 Demands performed "In The Morning" and "Courtesan".[25]