Leitrim Tik Tok influencer makes it through to Westmeath Bachelor Final 2023

Westmeath Bachelor Festival 2023 announced the six finalists for this year's finals - James Doyle, a social media star based in Leitrim, has defeated hundreds of entries to reach the finals. 

James began working with social media in 2020 when he wanted to document his progress in the gym. With over 858,000 million followers, when he decided to do a little review of the bar on Tik Tok and his pronunciation of "protein bor", he went viral.

Westmeath Bachelor Competition returns for its second year on July 29, at 7.30pm, and will take place again in Mullingar Arts Cheoil. This year the judging panel will consist of returning judges Louis Walsh, Anne Doyle and newcomers, celebrity couple Pippa O'Connor Ormond and Brian Ormond. 

James said: "I said I would do the competition because I had nothing planned for the date and said the session after would be worth making a laugh of myself singing on stage; I am really looking forward to the night and plan to take the crown".

The Tik Tok hit influencer recently graduated from Communications at Dublin City University (DCU) and dreams of becoming a household name as a presenter on telly. 

James is from Dromod and says that the gym changed his life. 

"I grew up playing football and eventually started at rugby which I was fairly deadly at but battled with EDs in my teens, which killed my passion for sports and then found the gym, which saved me and got me to where I am today", he added.

Last year's Westmeath Bachelor of the Year was 25-year-old Kerry farmer and musician Bryan Murphy, who won over the judges with his charismatic personality and a captivating performance on the accordion. 

Among the finalists is Ciaran Clarke from Rosemount, who aims to become a solicitor; Fabio David, a comedian, MC, entertainer and actor who was born in Nigeria; Steven Colvert, originally from Mullingar, a former international athlete and national champion; John Coady, a farmer from a small town in Castlecomer North Kilkenny; John Carroll from Tralee who spend a huge amount of his time raising money for local charities. 

Along with the title of Westmeath Bachelor of the Year, the winner receives an all-inclusive holiday to Ibiza, a new wardrobe that would be the envy of James Bond himself and a cash donation to their chosen charity.

The Westmeath Bachelor Festival and the Lakeland Session have also announced the Biggest Disco will be coming to the Westmeath Bachelor Festival Dome on September 9, featuring 2Unlimited, Mark McCabe, Cappella, Rozalla, Urban Cookie Collective and Dario G.

Tickets are on sale from www.biggestdisco.com.