County Scor na nOg final held in Castlewellan

County Scor na nOg final held in Castlewellan

13 December 2017

ST Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, was the setting for an outstanding county Scor na nOg final featuring the winners and runners-up from the East and South Down Board areas. 

Aughlisnafin GAC club member Ciara Pickering was theefficient bi-lingual Bean an Tí for the evening. Catherine Boyle from the Saul club led the singing of Amhrán na bhFiann. Go raibh míle maith agaibh to both.

The teams from Darragh Cross and Dromara performed superbly in the ceili dancing, although both lost out on the night. In the solo singing, Erin Sands (Saul) and Karen Gilmore (Ballygalget) took to the stage. Again, despite accomplished performances it was not enough to win on the night. 

In the recitation/storytelling competition Odhran Birt (Ballygalget) and Olan O’Regan (Drumaness) had the audience in stitches with their respective pieces, but it was young Birt from Ballygalget, telling the tale of how he scored the winning goal (but for the wrong team) that particularly caught the adjudicator’s eye and the county title. The first from East Down to win a title on the night. Ar fheabhas Odhran. 

Saul and Ballygalget were in the ballad group competition. They had to perform two contrasting songs each and despite their best efforts, neither were successful on this occasion. 

East Down had three teams showing off their acting skills in the 10-minute stage presentation (Leíruí Statise) depicting the history and/or culture of Ireland. Dundrum, Saul and Drumaness gave credible performances, but it was the Mayobridge club from South Down who clinched the title.

The instrumental musicians of St Paul’s and Castlewellan gave a brilliant exhibition of their musical talents and it was the Holywood club who were the winners on the night. Very well done to them.

East Down Scór committee member Patsy Russell was presented with a cake to mark his birthday celebrations.

The East Down winners, along with their South Down compatriots will go forward to take part in the Ulster semi-finals in Swatragh, Co Derry, against the county champions from Antrim, Derry, Fermanagh and Monaghan.