Pittsfield to Welcome 'Irish Idol' Winner

Staff reportsiBerkshires
01:47PM / Tuesday, October 07, 2008Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD — A delegation from Pittsfield's Irish sister city Ballina arrives in the city today along with the winner of Ireland's own version of "American Idol" — Liam Geddes.

Pittsfield and Ballina, located in County Mayo, have been sending official delegations of civic leaders and residents for the past decade. In July, 41 area residents traveled to Ballina to celebrate the sister cities' 10th anniversary during the 10-day Ballina Street Festival.

The Pittsfield Irish Sister City Committee is hosting the visit by from Ballina's Councillor Mary Kelly and son, Jason Kelly; Matt Farrell, Sister City Committee member and chairman of both the Ballina Street Festival and the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festivities; and "Irish Idol" sensation and Ballina native Geddes and his parents, Deirdre and Liam Geddes Sr.

The public is invited to a reception at 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall by Mayor James M. Ruberto, the Pittsfield City Council, the Sister City Commission and the Irish Sister City Committee. The delegation will visit schools and area attractions.

Highlighting the week, Liam Geddes will make his American debut at Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10. Appearing with him will be the Pittsfield Sister City Jazz Ambassadors, guest vocalists Caroline Sinico, Vicky True and Daniel Alberts and the Stepdancers from the Michael Farrell School of Irish Dance.

The Colonial event will benefit the St. Joseph's High School boy's basketball Cultural Exchange Trip to Ballina in July 2009. St. Joseph's hosted 20 boys from the Ballina Brave's basketball team for a nine-day visit in November 2007. Tickets are available at the Colonial box office at 413-997-4444 or www.thecolonialtheatre.org.

The delegation will be welcomed tonight at the Crowne Plaza and will head to O'Laughlin's Restaurant and Pub.

Geddes will visit St. Joseph's High School on Wednesday morning at 10 and will be a guest on WBEC-1420 AM from 11 to 11:30 before attending the City Hall reception.

On Thursday, Geddes and his parents will appear on Taconic High School's radio station WTBR-87.9 FM from 8 to 8:30 a.m.; Geddes and the Sister City Music Ambassadors will appear on Channel 16's "Jerry's Place" from 7 to 8 p.m. on PCTV/Pittsfield Community TV.

Following Friday's show at the Colonial, there will be a meet and greet at Jae's Spice on North Street.

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Dalton Resident Ranks Third in National Snocross Race

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:18PM / Sunday, December 21, 2025

Sal LeBeau on his machine with his sister, Kenna, in the black hat, and friend Brandon and his sister Alea.

DALTON, Mass. — At just 16 years old, Salvatore LaBeau is already making avalanches in the national snocross racing scene.

Last weekend, LaBeau raced in the Mount Zion Snocross National race in Ironwood, Mich., the first of eight races in the national circuit series.

Competitions take place across national circuits, attracting racers from various regions and even internationally.

Labeau rides for CT Motorsports, a team based in Upstate New York, on a 2025 Polaris 600R.

This is LaBeau's first time competing on the CT Motorsports team. Years prior, he raced for a team owned by Bruce Gaspardi, owner of South Side Sales and Service in North Adams.

Despite a bad first day on Friday when he fell off his snowmobile and didn't make the final, LaBeau carried on with confidence and on Saturday obtained his first national podium, placing in third for the Sport Lite class.

"I'm feeling good. I'm gonna start training more when I come home, and go to the gym more. And I am really excited, because I'm in 11th right now," the Wahconah High student said.

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