Claire Rooney, Down’s only Representative in All-Ireland Scór na nÓg Final

Claire Rooney Down only competitor in the All Ireland Scor na nOg final in Athlone on Saturday evening received her Ulster trophy from Rosina Jordan secretary of the Ulster Scor Committee and Willie Turner chairman.

A busload of well wishers will leave Mayobridge next Saturday morning destined for the centre of Ireland. They’ll be going in support of their own Claire Rooney, County Down’s only competitor at this year’s All-Ireland Scór na nÓg final in Athlone.

Claire will once again be reciting an updated version of the poem scripted by her mother Therese, which in one way or another, could be described as an abridged recent history of the wanderings in recent years of the famed Sam Maguire cup, the premier trophy in Irish sport

Having already represented her club and county in both singing and recitation, this will be the fourth time that Claire will have appeared on an All-Ireland Scór na nÓg stage, and up to now the success that she aimed for, has eluded her.

In 2003, Claire competed in recitation Athlone, representing Down and Ulster with the original version of ‘Sam’s Dream, then in 2006 she competed in both recitation and solo singing at the same venue.

Our hopes, our prayers and our best wishes go with Claire as she journeys to Athlone on Saturday next, and lets keep our fingers crossed that her well-deserved success will at last be hers.