Shimmer Boy has been announced as the overall winner of A New Local Hero 2026 at the  live finale last night. 

The event featured performances from all six of the national finalists.

The 2026 edition of A New Local Hero, a major nationwide talent search, culminated with a special live finale event in The Academy in Dublin  last night– with Shimmer Boy announced as the overall winner.

As part of the prize, Shimmer Boy, representing Cork's 96FM, will receive €5,000 in prize money; the opportunity to record a single at Camden Recording Studios in Dublin, with renowned producer Cian Boylan; have it mixed and mastered by the Grammy Award-winning Ruadhri Cushnan of Spéir Mix & Master; and release it through Rubyworks – the record label that discovered Hozier.

Over the course of the evening, fans, friends, family and representatives from across the Irish music world watched six of Ireland's most promising stars-in-the-making showcasing their talents – with performances from Groev (Galway Bay FM), Rebecca Lane (FM104), RuntheRed (LMFM), Shimmer Boy (Cork's 96FM), Sitting Room (KFM) and WineMom (Radio Nova).

The acts, who hail from right across the country, each brought their own unique sounds and styles to the show – resulting in a brilliantly diverse celebration of the best of emerging homegrown music.

Despite fantastic performances from all of the acts, there could only be one winner – with Shimmer Boy ultimately winning over the judging panel.

 

 

Shimmer Boy has been announced as the overall winner of A New Local Hero 2026 at the&nbsp; live finale last night.&nbsp;
The event featured performances from all six of the national finalists.
The 2026 edition of A New Local Hero, a major nationwide talent search, culminated with a special live finale event in The Academy in Dublin&nbsp; last night&ndash; with Shimmer Boy announced as the overall winner.
As part of the prize, Shimmer Boy, representing Cork's 96FM, will receive &euro;5,000 in prize money; the opportunity to record a single at Camden Recording Studios in Dublin, with renowned producer Cian Boylan; have it mixed and mastered by the Grammy Award-winning Ruadhri Cushnan of Sp&eacute;ir Mix &amp; Master; and release it through Rubyworks &ndash; the record label that discovered Hozier.
Over the course of the evening, fans, friends, family and representatives from across the Irish music world watched six of Ireland's most promising stars-in-the-making showcasing their talents &ndash; with performances from Groev (Galway Bay FM), Rebecca Lane (FM104), RuntheRed (LMFM), Shimmer Boy (Cork's 96FM), Sitting Room (KFM) and WineMom (Radio Nova).
The acts, who hail from right across the country, each brought their own unique sounds and styles to the show &ndash; resulting in a brilliantly diverse celebration of the best of emerging homegrown music.
Despite fantastic performances from all of the acts, there could only be one winner &ndash; with Shimmer Boy ultimately winning over the judging panel.
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Broadcasting to Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal.
North West Business Park, Collooney, Ireland
102.5-105FM

Text/WhatsApp us on 00353 83 3500 530 
Telephone 00353 818 365 500 / 00353 71 91 18100 (9am to 6pm Mon to Fri)

Ocean FM is a multi award winning local radio station that broadcasts to the Northwest of Ireland. The station covers the area of South County Donegal, North County Leitrim and County Sligo.

The current CEO of the station is Niall Delaney and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) lists their target audience as 'being all age, socio-economic and ethnic groups across the community'. The station currently employs 22 full-time and 30 part-time staff.

Ocean FM News Reports

Broadcasting to Sligo, North Leitrim and South Donegal.
North West Business Park, Collooney, Ireland
102.5-105FM

Text/WhatsApp us on 00353 83 3500 530 
Telephone 00353 818 365 500 / 00353 71 91 18100 (9am to 6pm Mon to Fri)

Ocean FM is a multi award winning local radio station that broadcasts to the Northwest of Ireland. The station covers the area of South County Donegal, North County Leitrim and County Sligo.

The current CEO of the station is Niall Delaney and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) lists their target audience as 'being all age, socio-economic and ethnic groups across the community'. The station currently employs 22 full-time and 30 part-time staff.