Members of The Bubblewrap Sensatio on stage during the 2012 finals.

It’s that time of year again. It’s time for the Irish in and around Sydney and Australians of Irish heritage to dust off their bodhráns and tune up their fiddles, Gaels’ Got Talent is back.

The competition, now in its third year, is run annually by the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee as part of their preparations for the day itself.

The competition is held in two categories: best individual and best group, and will be judged by three music industry professionals.

There are two heats with the first in Scruffy Murphy’s on tomorrow and the second in The Gaelic Club on February 17.

The top three acts from heats in each category will face-off in a final to be held at Penrith Gaels Club on March 2.

The overall winners will perform in front of an expected audience of about 10,000 people during the Sydney St Patrick’s Day festival on March 17.

The idea behind the festival is to attract a different demographic to the celebrations in Hyde Park and to promote new talent.

Catherine Crosse of the Sydney St Patrick’s Day Committee says it’s a great opportunity for artists.

“We want to encourage up-and-coming performers, who would never usually get the opportunity to perform in front of so many people to enter,” she said.

Entry is free and while there is no upper age limit, the competition is restricted to non-professional performers.

“We want the acts to have an Irish flavour, so that either the performers are of Irish heritage or the music has an Irish influence, or both,” Ms Crosse, from Clare, said.

Despite having no cash prize, she is adamant that the chance to play in front of so many people during the St Patrick’s Day celebrations is something money cannot buy.

“It’s not a cash prize, but it’s worth a fortune,” she said.

Previous winners of the event include the four-piece jazz-funk band The Bubblewrap Sensation, 15-year-old Lucy Dalton, local favourites Castlecomer and David Wilson.