WATCH: Waterford Dad gets Taylor Swift tattoo to win tickets for daughter
Beat 102 103 presenter Michelle Heffernan handing over Taylor Swift concert tickets as Kieran Walsh wins the competition by getting a Taylor Swift tattoo.
Waterford’s Kieran Walsh is the winner of Beat 102 103’s Tat for Taylor competition, which means he'll be taking his daughter to the Eras tour in Lyon, France, this June bank holiday weekend, after having Taylor Swift’s signature tattooed on his lower back.
Beat102103 launched its Tat for Taylor competition on Friday, May 10, offering the incredible prize of VIP tickets to Taylor Swift’s sold-out tour, with return flights to Lyon, and three nights’ accommodation included.
To win, entrants had to make the ultimate Swiftie sacrifice, and agree to have Taylor Swift’s signature tattooed on their body.
Entrants were narrowed down to five qualifiers: Danny Crotty in Tipperary, who said he’d get the tattoo on his bum to win tickets for his daughter, even though he’s not a fan of Taylor himself; Oriana Dooley in Kilkenny who said she’d get the tattoo on her chest. She’s a huge Taylor Swift fan and would bring her sister with her if she won.
Kieran Walsh get tattoed for his stepdaughter below.
Kieran Walsh in Waterford said he’d get a tattoo on his lower back for his stepdaughter as he says he’d do anything to make her happy. Marija Luize in Kilkenny said she’d get the back of her head tattooed, all for her sister who is a massive fan of Taylor, and Padraig Barrington in Tipperary said he’d get a tattoo on the back of his hand for his Swiftie daughter Lily.
Listeners across the South East voted in their thousands for their winner and all was revealed on Monday, May 20.
"I actually feel like crying, thank you so much,” said Kieran, when he was announced as winner of ‘Tat for Taylor’.
“This means everything, to be able to give this to her, and say ‘Daddy did this for you.’ I'm getting emotional," said Kieran, live on air.
The Taylor-themed tattoo was designed by High Society Tattoo Studio in Kilkenny.
On May 22, Kieran’s wife Shauna and daughter Lauren looked on as he had the huge signature permanently inked on his lower back.
“It’s really big, like really big,” said wife Shauna as she continued: “I am very proud of him doing this for her though, I wouldn’t have.”
13-year-old Lauren told Beat how much her father’s sacrifice means to her, especially as he is not her biological father: "It makes me very happy. Even though my dad technically isn’t my real Daddy, he’s always there for me, he’s always been there for me like my Daddy and it just goes to show he’ll do anything, he’ll go to the ends of the earth for me.
"I just love him so much,” she said.
The winning moment was broadcast on Bring The Beat with Michelle Heffernan, who understands herself just how much Taylor Swift means to fans as Michelle too is a very big fan of the singer-songwriter.
“Every Swiftie will tell you - it’s hard to put into words how Taylor’s music has helped you," said Michelle.
"When you discover her music, her gift for storytelling, you start to discover parts of yourself you didn’t before know or understand. I knew when we began the ‘Tat for Taylor’ promotion that Swifties would have no problem getting inked if it meant getting to see Taylor Swift live," she explained.
"I did not expect to discover that even her harshest critics would get a Taylor tattoo! Parents, partners, best pals of Swifties all offered to sacrifice their skin and endure the public shame of a Taylor Swift tattoo, if it meant their loved one got to see her live. To me, this just underlines even more that Taylor Swift is not just a singer, she is an incredible force of love," Michelle concluded.
According to Claire Rowe, Solutions Manager at Beat102103, the competition received immense interest: “This was such an exciting promotion. Not only was our winner getting tickets to see Taylor Swift, but also a break away to Lyon, France. All our qualifiers were willing to get the tattoo for a family member who was a massive Taylor Swift fan, which added such a feel-good factor to the competition."
Kieran and Lauren will see Taylor Swift live at the Eras Tour on June 2, in Lyon, France.
