Down County Scór na nÓg Final

Monday 28th November 2016

Down County Scór na nÓg Final

St Malachy's High School was the setting for the 2017 Down County Scór na nÓg Final on Sunday evening past. The hall was packed to capacity and the large audience was treated to a fantastic night’s entertainment from the representatives of the 16 participating clubs on the night. From the first competitors took the stage it was inevitable this was going to be one of the best Scór na nÓg finals in many years.

Darragh Cross, Mayobridge, Teconnaught, and Ballyholland competed in the Céilí Dancing Competition and all gave great performances.

Solo Singers were next up Clodagh Coulter Ballygalget, Cathleen Garland Dundrum, Niamh McDowell Glasdrumman and Eimear Magee Mayobridge competed in what was an excellent display of Singing and they were followed by the reciters from Rostrevor Oisin McClorey, Ballyholland Brenna McAloon , Ballycran Beibhinn Watson and Teconnaught Jude Quinn and this competition like the previous one was excellent. To finish a wonderful first half the audience were treated to four fantastic performances from Ballygalget, Mayobridge, Portaferry and Glasdrumman in the Ballad Group section to bring us to the end of the first half.

The second half was just as good as the first, as we got under way with Leiriú competition and there was a wide range of scripts being acted out to the very appreciative audience from Bryansford, Mayobridge, and Saul clubs. Next up was Instrumental Music by St Paul's, Clonduff, Saul and Cumann Pheadar Naofa who had the audience ready for dancing by the time they were finished.

Final competition was the Set Dancing with Clonduff, Drumaness, Castlewellan and Ballyholland with a variety of dances and some very nimble footwork.

The most difficult task of the night inevitably lay with the adjudicators who had the onerous task of choosing a County Champion in each of the competitions – the Down County Champions will represent Down in the Ulster Semi Finals in Swatragh (Co Derry) on Sunday 11th December against the Champions of Derry, Tyrone, Donegal and Cavan. Bean a Tí Ciara Pickering   announced  the results for the Down County Champions as follows:

Ceili Dancing: Ballyholland

Solo Singing: Niamh McDowell (Glasdrumman)

Recitation: Beibhinn Watson (Ballycran)

Ballad Group: Mayobridge

Léiruí(Stage Presentation) Saul

Instrumental Music: Cumann Pheadar Naofa (Warrenpoint)

Set Dancing: Ballyholland

In truth all the participants were winners so high was the level of competition – thanks to everybody who took part from the first rounds starting away back in mid October.

The County Cultural Committee wishes to convey its heartfelt thanks to the adjudicators, the organising committee members, the helpers on the night and particularly to St Malachy’s High School for the fabulous venue and take this opportunity of wishing our County Champions all the best in the Ulster semi finals in two weeks’ time.

Patrons are reminded that the County Scor na nÓg Table Quiz takes place in Drumaness Club on Friday 2nd December at 7.30pm. All clubs are invited to send along a team of up to four to have the chance of representing Down at the All Ireland finals in the Waterfront (Belfast) on 11th February 2017!

Down County Léiriú Champions Saul pictured with County Chairman Sean Rooney & County Cultural Officer William Smith

Beibhinn Watson Ballycran County Recitation champion pictured with County Chairman Sean Rooney & County Scór secretary Paula Magee

County Ballad Group Champions Mayobridge pictured with Down County Chairman Sean Rooney & County Scór Secretary Paula Magee

County Champions in Ceili and Set Dancing Ballyholland pictured with Down County Chairman Sean Rooney & Down Cultural Officer William Smith

County Champions in Instrumental Music Cumann Pheadar Naofa pictured with County Chairman and County Scór Secretary Paula Magee

Down County Solo Singing Champion Niamh McDowell from Glasdrumman pictured with County Chaiman Sean Rooney & County Cultural officer William Smith