The second Semi-Final of the Mac's Factor took place last Friday nite and the fullhouse crowd were treated to an amazing show by all 8 contestants in the talent show to beat all talent shows!!!

One fantastic performance after another had the ecstatic crowd baying for more and the judgesd decision on the night was harder than ever.

First act announced as going through to the Final of Mac's Factor 2010 was local girl Roseena Raeh. With a huge support from Dungannon's lady footballers and under the tutorship of top-recording artist Tracey Brennan, Roseena thrilled everyone with her rendition of Tina Turner's classic 'Prowd Mary'.

Next through to the grand final was popular Coalisland girl Helen Sweeney who cast a spell on the crowd with her fantastic voice in singing a Sara McLaughlin song called 'Arms of an Angel'.

That left just one just one place in the final to be announced and after much deliberation judges on the night, Tomas Corr (Top local performer and recording star) and Sinead Taggert (Omagh based Country Star) gave the verdict to Dungannon girl Lisa Campbell. Lisa as in earlier rounds of the Mac's Factor dazzled the crowd with a solo acoustic of her own ogirinal number and now goes into the final as a live contender for the £1000 winner's cash prize!

The 3rd and final Semi-Final of Mac's Factor takes place this Friday night (30th), with 8 more fantastic acts due to perform.

The first Semi-Final of the Mac's Factor took place on Friday night past with 8 acts all competing to be one of only three to make it through to the Grand Final. To say that the night produced some fantastic performances was an understatement as contestants dramatically raised the bar in their hope in winning the £1000 Winners Prize.

The Full-House crowd were treated to some brilliant performances and the judges' decisions were very difficult.

After much deliberation the first acts announced to go through to the final was hugely popular local lad Conor McKillion.

His rendition of The Joyce Country Ceili Band had his army of Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club fans chanting his name even louder than they had done since their dramatic entrance earlier!

Travelling in style in their luxury coach on their long journey from the Newell Road they had made their voices heard loudly all night in their support of Conor, or as he is more affectionately known to his legions of supporters 'Charlie'!!!

Next through was equally popular Coalisland girl Colleen Skeffington who belted out the Kate Nash classic 'Foundations'. With Judges on the night, Tomas Corr and Angela Morgan complimenting her on her beautiful voice, Colleen can go into the final with great optimism.

The final act on the night to go through to the final would be decided by public vote and close winner was Brackaville lad Paddy 'Moon' Gervin, who thrilled the crowd with his firework performance of the Billy Ray Cyrus favourite 'Achy Breaky Heart'!

If Paddy's popularity is anything to go by he will also be a worthy contender in the eagerly anticipated final.

The rollercoaster ride continues this Friday when the Mac's Factor does it all again the 2nd Semi Final.

Sure to be another great night and another full house guaranteed, TPL D.J. of the Year Bosco McShane will be kicking proceedings off at 10pm, so get there early to support your favourite!!!!

After a short break for Easter the Mac's Factor returns this Friday night to McAleers with the first of 3 Semi-Finals.

Semi-Final Draws are as follows:

The format of the competition at this stage is as follows:

In each of the 3 Semi-Finals, 3 Acts will go through to the Grand Final. Two of these will be decided by the Judging Panel and One Act will go through by popular crowd vote.

So get along and support your favourite as they still need your votes!!!

McAleers was the place to be last Friday night as the Mac's Factor reached the conclusion of the heats stage.

A last chance for the very best in local talent to make it through to the semi-final stage and the 8 acts on show certainly didn't disappoint. The 3 acts to make it through can all look forward to a chance at winning the £1000 prize money and making a name for themselves on the entertainment circuit.

The first person to be announced, not in order of public preference, was Galbally girl Erin-Rose Arthurs who wowed the crowd with a fantastic vocal performance, unaccompanied by any music which made it all the more exceptional.

Next through was Edendork lad Niall McKearney who proved very popular with the crowd on the night singing a Garth Brooks number. The biggest roar of the night greeted another Edendork Football/Judo talent Daniel Grimley, who proved his versatility as a man of many talents after blasting out the party favourite 'Galway Girl'. If popularity is anything to go by this act can go a long way in Mac's Factor.

So the acts who got through this week were:

Erin-Rose Arthurs from Galbally
Niall McKIearney from Edendork
Daniel Grimley from Edendork

Semi-Final places now complete...watch this space for details.

The second last week of heats for Dungannon's Number 1 Talent Show, The Mac's Factor, took place in McAleers last Friday night. Again there were 8 fantastic acts on show with only 3 of them to make it through to the semi-final stage.

A huge crowd in attendance were thrilled by all contestants and a very close vote was recorded on the night. First through was Dungannon girl Roseena Reah, who gave a fantastic rendition of Leona Lewis's 'Run'. A great voice and sure to go far in this years Mac's Factor.

Next act through was Dungannon lad Padraig Corrigan, who worked the crowd over with Neil Diamond's classic 'Sweet Caroline'. Padraig has now emerged as a definite dark horse for this year's Mac's Factor.

The final act to make it through to the Semi-Finals was Edendork's finest footballer Bruce McCurry, who threw his hat into the ring after performing his own take on the Kings of Leon hit 'This Mac's Is On Fire'!!!

So the acts who got through this week were:

Roseena Reah from Dungannon
Padraig Corrigan from Dungannon
Bruce McCurry from Edendork

This Friday sees the final heat of Mac's Factor before the semi-finals and another top-class night is expected.

Come early and see what the next 'big thing' may be in local talent and support your favourite for the £1000 Cash Prize!

Week 6 of the Mac's Factor took place in McAleers last Friday night and the big crowd in attendance were thrilled to another superb night of local talent!

D.J. Bosco got the crowd warmed up and then the competition began in earnest with some fantastic acts on show!

First act through to the semi-finals was very talented Dungannon lad Peter McKernan, who sang a mixture of a few different songs in his own style whilst playing guitar.

Next to make it through were Gortin girls Eileen Brogan and Nicole Daly, who worked the crowd really well with an original up-beat number!

With 2 acts remaining and only one place left in the semi-finals, the tension mounted and a huge crowd greeted Stewartstown lads Fergal O'Neill and Mickey Devlin as their act was announced as the last one through.

So the acts who got through this week were:

Peter McKernam from Dungannon
Eileen Brogan and Nicole Daly from Gortin
Fergal O'Neill and Mickey Devlin from Stewartstown

With only 2 qualifying weeks left in Mac's Factor, places in the semi-finals are at a premium and this Friday promises to be another roller-coaster nite.

Come along and join in the search for Mid-Ulster's next big thing for yourself!!

The roller-coaster ride for local talent continued last Friday nite at McAleers, Dungannon, as The Mac's Factor entered week 5. Again there were some fantastic talent on show and the huge crowd in attendance were thoroughly entertained.

First act through to the semi-finals was Lisa Campbell from Dungannon, who thrilled the audience with an acoustic performance of a song she wrote herself. Next to make it through was Donaghmore's Patrick McCaughey, whose female fan-base were left hysterical after his rendition of Robbie William's classic 'Feel'.

With 2 places already through the final place was filled by Brackaville lad Paddy Gervin who sang 'Achy Breaky Heart', a Billy-Ray Cyrus favourite!

So the Semi-Finalists going through from this week are:

Lisa Campbell from Dungannon
Patrick McCaughey from Donaghmore
Paddy Gervin from Brackaville

Week 6 of the Mac's Factor will take place this coming Friday nite and again promises to be another memorable occasion. So join in the fun and come along and support the best local talent out there!

Some places are still available to anyone interested in participating. Click here for further info.

Friday nite 26th Feb was Week 4 of "The Mac's Factor" at McAleers, Dungannon. A huge crowd were entertained by another 8 fabulous acts, each hoping to capture the fantastic cash prize!

First act into the semi-final was Pomeroy lass Andrea Begley who gave a great vocal performance of 'Hero' by Mariah Carey. Next through was Kileshill lad Daniel McGurk singing Michael Buble's 'Just Haven't Met you Yet'.

As the remaining acts stood nervously on stage the final act to make it through was Coalisland girl Coleen Skeffington, blasting out 'Ironic' by Alanis Morisette.

All acts performed well on the night but as with any competition there have to be winners and losers, and for the 3 acts that made it through to the semi-finals McAleers Bar wish them luck in their search for the star Cash Prize!

So the Semi-Finalists going through from this week are:

Andrea Begley from Pomeroy
Daniel McGurk from Kileshill
Coleen Skeffington from Coalisland

Week 5 of Mac's Factor is this coming Friday in McAleers and it promises to be another great nite.

Some places are still available to anyone interested in participating. Click here for further info.

Friday nite 19th Feb was week 3 of "The Mac's Factor" at McAleers, Dungannon. A big crowd were entertained by another 8 fabulous acts and it turned out to be a nite to remember!

The first act to make it through to the Semi Finals was Lawrence Weir from Dungannon after a great Eminem! Next through was a fantastic double act in The Conway Sisters, Elaine and Laura, who brought the house down with their own unique version of Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'.

The crowd waited with baited breath the final act to go through was announced and rapturous celebrations greeted Conor McKillion who was elated after his fantastic version of 'Ruby' was enough to take him through to the Semi-Finals!!!

So the Semi-Finalists going through from this week are:

Lawrence Weir from Dungannon
The Conway Sisters (Elaine and Laura)
Conor McKillion

Week 4 of Mac's Factor is this coming Friday in McAleers and it promises to be another great nite.

Some places are still available to anyone interested in participating. Click here for further info.

Week 3 of the Mac's Factor will be this Friday, 19th February. There are still places available for anyone who wants to have a go so check out how to enter and get involved.

A huge crowd gatherel last Friday night for the second week of Mac's Factor, with all proceeds on the night going to the Haiti Appeal Fund, as co-ordinated by the publicans of Dungannon.

The standard on the night was again very high and the two acts who went through on the public vote were:

Peter McCann and Steven Daly from Eglish &
Thomas McCaughey from Donaghmore

The judges then had to decide on who would be the wild card and also proceed to the semi-finals. After much deliberation they decided the best of the rest on the night was:

Carol Doran from Lurgan

All 3 acts were delighted and we look forward to seeing them perform in the semi-finals.

See you all there this Friday with what promises to be another great night!!!

The Mac's Factor got off to a fantastic start on Friday night past with a huge crowd in attendance. There were 8 very impressive acts on show with a great standard of singing!

Only 2 acts could proceed to the semi-finals via the public vote and they were:

Joanne Fox (Aged 20) from Dungannon &
Helen Sweeney (Aged 19) from Coalisland

This left one wild card act to also be sent forward to the semi-finals and the judges on the night, after much deliberation, chose:

Naomi Steenson (Aged 19) from Bush, Dungannon

All 3 girls were delighted and we look forward to seeing them perform in the semi-finals.

Week 2 of the Mac's Factor will be this Friday, 12th February. There are still places available for anyone who wants to have a go so check out how to enter and get involved.

See you all there this Friday with what promises to be another great night!!!