Time running out to buy tickets for gala sports awards
The Westmeath Independent/Hodson Bay Hotel Sports Awards are edging ever closer - with time quickly running out to snap up tickets for Friday's gala event at the picturesque Hodson Bay Hotel. Tickets for the eagerly anticipated event are on sale in the Westmeath Independent offices, Sean Costello Street, Athlone - while voting lines for the coveted Readers' Choice Award remain open until midnight tomorrow (Thursday, February 7). Tickets will remain on sale at the Westmeath Independent offices until lunchtime on Friday, February 8. For more information in relation to tickets, please phone the Westmeath Independent offices (090 64 34300). A special offer is in place whereby people receive one free ticket if they purchase five tickets, and two free tickets for buying ten tickets (tickets are priced at €45). The LOLS - the hugely popular band from the Midlands - will be performing at the awards ceremony this Friday night, February 8. The LOLS consist of Derek Feery (lead singer), Eamon Cooke (lead guitar and vocals), Dave Healy (bass guitar and vocals) and William Burgoyne (on drums). The LOLS are also looking forward to their own awards night on February 18 in Clontarf Castle, where the Weddings Online Band of the Year will be announced as they are nominated in the last 10 out of 120 bands. This year's event will be hosted by MC for the night, RTE's Robbie Irwin, one of Ireland's best known broadcasters. Readers still have the chance to vote for the Readers' Choice award, which will be chosen from the twelve monthly award winners. Voting is via text message to this number: 57199. Each of the monthly award winners are assigned a number from 1 to 12, coinciding with the month in which they were chosen for an award. Voters text INDO followed by the nominee's number to 57199. For example, to vote for the January winner, readers will need to text INDO 1 to 57199. The Readers' Choice Award winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in the Hodson Bay Hotel. The overall winner in the 2012 Westmeath Independent/Hodson Bay Hotel Sports Awards will also be announced on the night. In the race for this year's Readers' Choice Award, two of the monthly winners have moved ahead of the field - but a handful of votes could still sway the verdict either way. Voting lines for the Readers' Choice Award close on Thursday, February 7, at midnight. Text line available in the Republic of Ireland only. Texts cost €1. January - Leon Brydone (Martial Arts) - Text INDO 1 to 57199 February - John Gaffey (Gaelic Football) - Text INDO 2 to 57199 March - Brian & Kevin Cooper (Rugby) - Text INDO 3 to 57199 April - Ronan Stack (Gaelic Football) - Text INDO 4 to 57199 May - Aaron O'Neill (Soccer) - Text INDO 5 to 57199 June - Jack Carty (Rugby) - Text INDO 6 to 57199 July - Sionann O'Reilly Collins (Modern Pentathlon) - Text INDO 7 to 57199 August - Jim O'Connor (Endurance Swimming) - Text INDO 8 to 57199 September - Mark Rohan (Paralympics - Handcycling) - Text INDO 9 to 57199 October - Jamie Madden (Gaelic Football) - Text INDO 10 to 57199 November - Frankie Dolan (Gaelic Football) - Text INDO 11 to 57199 December - Brendan Gibbons (Swimming) - Text INDO 12 to 57199