PICTURES: Una Healy and Garron Noone announced as two star judges for new bachelor contest

Pictured above: Westmeath Bachelor of the Year 2023 winner with judge, Louis Walsh

Two new judges have been announced for one of the newest and biggest bachelor contests: the annual Westmeath Bachelor Competition. 

Taking place on the August bank holiday weekend, the festival, which is often compared to the Rose of Tralee, will see 10 eligible bachelors compete for the crown and the title.

The weekend is set to be a showstopper as The Wolfe Tones have been announced as the headline act on the bank holiday Sunday, August 4 in The Big Top, Blackhall car park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. 

Entertainer, singer and former The Saturdays star, Una Healy and comedian, singer and social media personality, Garron Noone have been announced as the 2024 guest judges.

Una and Garron will join returning judges, the veteran of spotting talent Louis Walsh and the doyenne of Irish media, Anne Doyle.

With Louis Walsh currently holed up in the Big Brother House, he will have to wait to exit the household before he gets the news of his two new fellow judges!

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Una said she is very excited to get her judging hat on for the night and put the hopeful bachelors through their paces with the rest of the panel: "The Westmeath Bachelor Competition is going to be great fun! Can’t wait to team up with my fellow judges Louis, Anne and Garron - I am sure sparks will fly!"

Meanwhile, Garron is prepared to ask the tough questions!

"Dare I say I know a thing or two about being a bachelor, so I will know exactly what to look for and what to avoid!," he said.

"If you have pineapple on your pizza… immediate no. If you use your air fryer to make tea, also no. But if you appreciate the humble Twix bar as much as me, I think we are onto something. I’m really looking forward to working with Louis, Anne and Una too – they’re all legends."

It’s time for the single men of Ireland to step into the spotlight and show the nation they have what it takes to be the face of Ireland’s modern man! Applications are now open and age is not a barrier, once you are over 18. 

Last year’s bachelor winner was 29-year-old Ciaran Clarke from Rosemount, Westmeath, after impressing the judges and the audience with an original song, which he performed on guitar and harmonica.

Along with the title of Westmeath Bachelor and the ambassadorial role, the winner receives an all-inclusive holiday, a brand new wardrobe and a cash donation to their chosen charity.