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Down GAA Scór Sinsir 2018 County Final

Monday 26th February 2018

Down GAA Scór Sinsir 2018 County Final

The magnificent hall that is in St Teresa’s Parish Centre Banbridge was the setting for the Down County Scór Sinsir Finals on Sunday 25th February – the large crowd in attendance got great value for their entrance fee. The standard was high and each of the disciplines was keenly contested. The most difficult job on the night fell, as always, on the heads of the adjudicators.

Ban an Ti for the evening was Ciara Pickering from the Aughlisnafin Club and she kept the proceedings moving along smoothly after reigning County Scór na nÓg Solo Singing Champion Eimear Magee had sung Amhrán na bhFiann.

There were three teams in the first competition – Ceili Dancing – Clonduff Cumann Pheadar Naofa (Warrenpoint) and Mayobridge. The Warrenpoint side, as defending Ulster Champions once again came out on top.

In the Solo Singing Angela McGreevy (Saul), Jordan Lively (Mayobridge), Mary Catherine Murray (Clonduff) and Sarah McVeigh (Darragh Cross) provided the competition in what was one of the closest competitions of the night. It was the sweet dulcet tones of young Jordan, in his first year at senior level who took the honours.

The Recitation was another very tight competition with Declan McConaghy (Glenn), Kathleen Lucas (Dromara), Gillian Fitzpatrick (Mayobridge) and Sharlene Neeson (Darragh Cross) providing superb entertainment as well as the competition. Sharlene came out on top for the second year in a row.

Bringing us up to the interval was the Ballad Group competition with Mayobridge, Dundrum, Bryansford and Clann na Banna providing the opposition. It was the very youthful Mayobridge side who beat off the opposition.

Following the interval it was the turn of the actors to grace the stage in the Leíruí Staítse (Stage Presentation) – Drumaness, Rostrevor, Atticall and Darragh Cross staged a variety of two historical and two amusing current-themed presentations. It was the historical presentation by Darragh Cross that narrowly swayed the adjudicator.

There were three groups of Instrumental Musicians in that competition and again it was an extremely close affair between Ballyholland, Castlewellan and Mayobridge with Ballyholland particularly catching the ear of the adjudicator.

The final competition of the evening was Set Dancing – Cumann Pheadar Naofa had two teams and Clonduff provided the third team. It was the Clonduff side who have been out of competition since 2013 but re-entered again this year to mark the 25th anniversary of their Scór na nÓg dancers completing the Ceili and Set Dancing All Ireland double – five of those dancers from 1993 were on stage to collect the County Senior title on Sunday night!

The winners – Warrenpoint Ceili Dancers, Solo Singer Jordan Lively, Reciter Sharlene Neeson, Mayobridge Ballad Group, Darragh Cross Leíruí, Ballyholland Instrumental Musicians and Clonduff Set Dancers will compete in the Ulster Semi Final against the County Champions from Derry, Antrim, Monaghan and Fermanagh on Sunday 11th March in St Bride’s Hall, Malone Road, Belfast commencing at 5pm.

A massive thank you, not only to the County Finalist, but to all competitors from the various clubs that took part in the earlier rounds of Scór Sinsir ensuring the preservation and perpetuation of our very rich cultural heritage. Our ancestors would be proud to know it’s in safe hands!

A special word of thanks to all who helped in any way at the staging of the County Final, provided/made/served refreshments, provided prizes for the raffle, sold tickets, helped set up before and clear up after the event – without such a band of willing volunteers events such as this would be impossible to stage.

Other Scór dates for the diary:

  • South Down Table Quiz – Friday 2nd March in Clonduff Club @ 8.00pm
  • Ulster Irish Language Quiz – Friday 9th March in Cennarás Armagh @ 7.30pm
  • Ulster Scór Sinsir Semi Final – Down, Derry, Antrim, Monaghan, Fermanagh – Sunday 11th March in St Bride’s Hall Malone Road Belfast commencing 5pm
  • Down Scór Sinsir Table Quiz – Friday 23rd March – venue and time tbc
  • Ulster Scór Sinsir Final – Saturday 24th March in Silverbridge Club @ 5pm
  • All Ireland Scór Sinsir Final – Saturday 14th April in Sligo IT @ 3pm; Table Quiz @ 11am