A talented young schoolboy from Derrygonnelly, who enjoys performing, is to star on national TV after winning a UK-wide SpongeBob SquarePants competition.

It will be Shea Murphy’s fifth birthday next Wednesday, May 4, and the exciting development comes as the perfect birthday present for the P1 pupil at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Derrygonnelly. 

The Nickelodeon’s “Laugh Your Pants Off” competition, which Shea entered, saw children do their funniest impression of SpongeBob’s iconic laugh for a chance to be on TV and win SpongeBob prizes. 

A son of Barry and Maria Murphy, it was actually Shea’s father who recorded him on his mobile phone and sent in the clip, as well as filling out the entry form. 

SpongeBob fans from across the UK submitted videos online at nicktoons.co.uk/laugh and the winning 24 videos will air on Nicktoons over the Bank Holiday Weekend from Saturday, April 30 until Monday, May 2 from 11am to 2pm and again from 7pm to 10pm. 

“The four year old’s funny and enthusiastic impression of SpongeBob beat over 1,200 competition entries,” according to a representative for the event. 
There were over 1,200 entries and the competition ran from March 24 to April 22.

Barry mentioned that Shea was aware of the chance of winning a prize pack but did not realise that it would give him a chance to go on TV. He says Shea was delighted to hear of the success. “He was over the moon,” said Barry, who felt the youngster’s impression of SpongeBob’s laugh was “brilliant.” 

Describing Shea, he said he is the “life and soul of the party.” Also referring to him as “a lively boy,” he mentioned that Shea was the lead role in the school’s nativity at Christmas.

And now as the Derrygonnelly youngster looks forward to celebrating his fifth birthday at a party in Derrygonnelly this Sunday, it seems that his television debut will be the icing on the cake! In fact, his father Barry believes there could be no better present for Shea than to be on national TV.