Jedward to appear at Cross Country Championships in Dublin

Eddie McDonagh, head coach for Dundrum South Dublin Athletics Club, said: "We would be delighted if John and Edward were able to come along to the European Cross Country to help support their team mates.

The club are very proud of what they have achieved and we gave them huge support all the way through their time on the show so hopefully they will give their team mates some support on December 13th."

McDonagh also had high hopes for John and Edward and believed they could be in a similar position to his nine athletes this year.

"John and Edward are very good athletes. They finished 1st and 2nd at the Dublin regional indoor finals earlier this year and then went on to the national finals in Thurles and finished 3rd and 4th over 1,500m. While this year may have been a bit too soon I certainly would have seen them on the Irish team for the European Cross Country Championships next year, although I think they may be on a different path now."

The duo, known as “Jedward”, were just as dedicated to their running as they were to their singing.

"The lads showed huge dedication to the sport. They would travel from Lucan to Dundrum five times a week to train with us and they were always there on time and eager to get out training."

Mr McDonagh spotted their real talent a couple of years ago on a Dundrum South Dublin trip to Cardiff.

"The club had travelled to Cardiff and we were on the way back to Ireland and were waiting in Cardiff train station. We were all standing around in the station when John and Edward began singing to keep everyone entertained and within no time there must have been 200 people crowded around them in the train station to listen to them so we knew at that stage that they were natural performers."

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships will take place in Ireland for the first time on December 13 in Santry Park, Dublin.