X Factor judge Louis Walsh is to hold auditions to form a boy band to rival that of pop sensations, One Direction.

Auditions will be held in Ireland next weekend to find five male singers to become the next big thing.

He is asking male singers over the age of 16 and of any nationality to attend open auditions that will be held on May 19, 20 and 21 in Button Factory in Temple Bar, Dublin.

Louis Walsh has already been involved with the success of Westlife and Boyzone; and has revealed that he already has a record company and high profile partner prepared to help him launch the new group.

During the 1990s and throughout the 00’s, Boyzone and Westlife dominated the charts, selling millions of records and winning awards between them.

Louis Walsh is now hoping he can match his previous success stories and find a band that can contend against pop favourites, One Direction.

The auditions will be the first time the X Factor judge has looked to form a new boy band in 12 years.

The music manager was also the mentor of JLS on the X Factor in 2008, who released four studio albums and went on to achieve enormous success after the talent show had finished.

Louis Walsh, who is the only original judge remaining on the X Factor, will be returning to the tenth series of the X Factor later on this year.