The Malahide Young Musician of the Year Competition (MYMY) took place on March 29/30th. Established in 1981, it has seen over 40 years of young musicians perform as soloists and groups. Many professional musicians have won the competition as youths, including Malahide-born Ailbhe McDonagh, who was invited to be this year’s adjudicator. Open to local young vocalists and piano, guitar, string and woodwind players, this year’s competition included a rock and pop section for Electric guitar. There were a record 74 hopefuls competing across the 12 categories. The overall competition was won by talented young Maeve Farrelly, a student in the Malahide School of Music who sang Almost Nearly Perfect from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical with aplomb. The main sponsors of this year’s competing were Evara and the Malahide Active Retirement Association (MARA). The chairperson of MARA, Marion Hayden-Doherty is a local music legend, her own children having participated in and won the MYMY in past years. She was central in championing the fundraising with MARA, and also in coordinating a special Prize-winners recital which took place in Malahide Library for MARA members on Saturday April 5th. It was truly wonderful to see the older generation supporting the local young talent, and the joy that music brought to all. A new trophy was required this year as the former one had been damaged beyond repair. Dedicated to Derek and Rhona Keogh, who founded the original competition in 1981, all names of previous winners have been engraved with plenty of space for the next 45 years for future winners.