by East Down Scór PRO Gareth McGreevy

The Ulster Semi Final of Scór na NÓg took place on Friday evening in Swatragh, Co. Derry with the Down Scór competitiors making a long journey. The East Down teams of Loughinisland Quiz Team, Saul Ballad Group, Castlewellan Instrumental Group and Castlewellan Recitation all travelled together on one bus to show their support for each other. What a night it was going to be for East Down and Down as a whole.

After an eventful journey with some practicing en route the groups arrived in Derry and got settled down with the first competition being that of Rince Foirne. Warrenpoint represented Down and danced a beautiful 'Lannigan's Ball' but were pipped to the post by Derry's Watty Graham's Team dancing ' The Three Tunes'. The next respective competition proved Down were definately in the running with a very strong Solo Singing competition with Anna Gonzalez (Warrenpoint) singing 'The Month of January' but the adjudicator's felt Niamh McGlinchey from the Lavey Club, Co. Derry should go through to the Ulster Final. The next competition was Instrumental music and Castlewellan shone beating off some stiff competition! They had the audience's feet tapping from the word go and were complimented with applause and cheers galore!

The Recitation competition was next with Down's Representative being Kirsty McAleese from Castlewellan reciting, ' Three Grains of Corn'. She performed very emotively and there was utter silence when she was doing so. In what was a very close competition Kirsty just missed the chance of performing at the Ulster Final by one placing. She represented the Red and Black very well and no doubt will grace the stage again next year.

The next competition before the break was the Ballad Group section and first up was the Lavey team from Derry who performed 'Spanish Lady' and 'Carrick-a-rede'. A young Antrim group followed and sang very well. The Down Representatives were Saul and performed a beautiful rendition of the famine song, 'Remember those that had to fly away' along with 'The Heron'. When the results were announced Saul claimed the honors and have claimed that place in the Ulster Final.

The Novelty act and Set Dancing sections had two acts in them both from Down and Derry with Down coming first in each competition. Rostrevor won the Novelty act with their tale of Boulavogue which was well executed and beat the Derry act which talked about the GPA and the latest controversy there. Warrenpoint set dancers also claimed honors in the Set Dancing with their energetic set.

The last competition was the Question time, with what could be described as a very difficult quiz with the top notch Loughinisland team from Co. Down coming to the fore! Well done lads!!

It is a credit to Co. Down that each of the clubs represented at the Ulster Semi Final each won one of their competitions.

The East Down Scór Board would like to wish Saul Ballad Group, Castlewellan Instrumental Group and Loughinisland Quiz team the best of luck in the Ulster final along with Rostrevor's Novelty Act and Warrenpoint's Set Dancers.
The Ulster Final will take place in Galbally, Co. Tyrone on Saturday 19th January starting at 7.30pm. The very best of luck to all of Down's Competitiors!