Chit chat are a 5 piece girl band. Sisters Ciara(16) and Cathy Newell(17), from Galway, Dubliner Tara Lee (17), Sligo girl Kelly Kilfeather (20) and Corkonian Paula O Neill make up the band. They have just supported Boyzone on their string of Irish dates in the Point Theatre, and were launched at the AIB awards on RTE tv on Jan. 15th. This was their first television appearance, and they made a fantastic job of the old Mary Black song, "No Frontiers".

Their image appears to be more grown up than other bands such as B*Witched, as the girls have been seen wearing pink sequined tops, and flowing pale pink skirts.

The girls have amazing voices, but claim they are not out to topple someone else's throne, lead singer Ciara was quoted as saying "We want to do out own thing and be different, - this is a really great opportunity, and we want to take it"

I have met a few of the girls, and they are extremely nice, so the mixture of their personalities and their talent is sure to secure them an amazing success!! WATCH OUT FOR THESE GIRLS IN Y2K!!!

Chit Chat are going to be the talk of the town, you're the person to read about them on Irish Pop Online!

Boyzone manager ditches `pop star' Paula By NIAMH HOOPER PAULA O'Neill's hopes of fame and fortune have been dashed.

But the fifth member of Louis Walsh's new girl band Chit Chat, dramatically ditched two days before their TV launch, has vowed to make it on her own.

Joint managers Walsh and John Reynolds are to meet Paula (20) to discuss her future career.

Walsh said last night: ``It's an amicable situation and she wants to concentrate on a solo career. We are meeting next week''.

But model Paula, who supported Boyzone for their nine-night run in Dublin's Point Depot, said she was ``absolutely shocked'' when she was dropped from the group - just 48 hours before Chit Chat's TV launch.

``John Reynolds called me down to the foyer of the Herbert Hotel in Ballsbridge where we were staying and told me I was no longer in the band,'' she said.

``He said that over the previous nine nights they had come to the conclusion it would be best if I went solo. He said when he saw the five of us, he saw four plus one and I was the `one'. They gave me no real reason but personally I think it's because I have a strong voice, am bubbly and that I know what I want.

``They are digesting the whole thing, I was told. I know Louis is really an honourable guy and John is loyal and I believe they will stand by me.

``I spoke to Louis yesterday - he didn't give me any confirmation he would stick by me but we will be meeting next weekend,'' she added.

After being successful at the auditions in July in which up to 600 hopefuls tried out, Paula - who is originally from Douglas in Co Cork and now lives with her parents in Banagher, Co Offaly - deferred a college science course for a year to concentrate on her singing career.

Following in the successful footsteps of boyband sensations Boyzone and Westlife, the girls are destined to be international stars. ``None of us had signed a contract. We got a payment before Christmas for all we had done since the beginning,'' she said.

On Saturday, Paula had to watch Kelly Kilfeather from Sligo, sisters Cathy and Ciara Newell from Galway and Dubliner Tara Lee on television from her sister's house in Tullamore when she should have been on stage with them in the Point.

``I was talking to the others and they are a bit shocked about the whole thing. I wish them well - they are lovely girls.''