Mullingar teen to sing in Croke Park

A young Mullingar man is to sing the National Anthem - on his own - at Croke Park on Sunday before the two All-Ireland senior football finals.Emmet Cahill, who just completed his Leaving Certificate this year, will be effectively singing to the nation, as his voice will be heard by not just the approximately 70,000 people who will be in Croke Park - but also to the millions more who will watch the events on TV worldwide.But Emmet"s face is familiar to many in Mullingar, as he is a regular soloist at Masses at the Cathedral in town.Son of Martin and Carmel Cahill from Knockdrin, Emmet won a scholarship to the Schola Cantorum at St. Finian"s College, and is now going on to the NUIM, to study music. A talented violinist as well as a singer, Emmet comes from a family of musicians: his father teaches piano, while his mother is classically trained. Sister Laura is already studying music at NUIM, while younger brother Aaron is also a student at the Schola Cantorum.Emmet"s vocal abilities were first honed locally by singing teacher Dearbhla Maloney, and he has since moved on to study under Mary Brennan at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.Emmet"s other love is GAA, and both he and his brother play with St. Loman"s. He admits that life is busy, but he wouldn"t have it any other way. He points out that what makes Sunday extra special is the fact that he loves GAA so much, and in fact, his cousin is Barry Cahill, the Dublin All-Star footballer.His long-term ambition is to make his future in performance.'I want to do a degree in music for three years, and move into the Academy and pursue a Master"s in performance,' says Emmet, who has won prizes for his singing at the prestigious Feis Ceoil in Dublin.