Up to 10,000 young people will compete in the 27th annual Slogadh Gael Linn Naisiunta 97, which officially opens in Carlow tonight. A former Eurovision song contest presenter, Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, a native of Carlow town, will perform the opening in the Seven Oaks Hotel. This is the first time Carlow has hosted the event. Slogadh is Ireland's premier youth festival of the arts and its primary aim is the promotion of the Irish language.