Local success in Scór na nÓg All-Ireland finals

pens to be Kerry’s first at this level also.

| By Jack Hennessey

GAA Counties from across the country descended upon the fantastic INEC on Saturday where the 2023 All Ireland Finals of Scór na nÓg took place. over 19 counties battled it out in the various categories hoping to bring All-Ireland glory to their respective clubs. Now in its 50th year for GAA members to gather and celebrate all that is good in our, music, song, dance, novelty and storytelling traditions.

There was great jubilation and celebrating as Kerry captured the Ballad Group and Set Dancing All Ireland Titles. The day began with a stirring rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann sang by Limerick man Micheal

O Riain who all of 50 years ago secured the first All-Ireland in Scór na nÓg in Amhránaíocht Aonair.

Both Caitriona Nic an tSaoir from the Chreagan in Antrim and our own Mairtin O Cathasaigh, from Lispole, were excellent in their Fear agus Bean A Ti duties and kept everything running smoothly. Figure Dancing got the ball rolling and from there to the final discipline of the evening in Set Dancing we were treated to a fantastic five hours of evening entertainment.

Kerry was involved in three of the onstage disciplines and first up in the fourth category of the first half were Glenflesk in the Ballad Group. Not alone was this the club’s first Scór na nÓg title but it so hap-

Homecoming for Glenflesk history makers

History was made in the INEC last Saturday when the Glenflesk Ballad group won the All Ireland Scor Na nOg final.

This was the first time a Kerry club won the final in the Ballad group discipline. The group consisting of Cliona Moynihan, Muireann Healy, Aoise O Donoghue, Abby Cronin and Patrick Mullane and super sub Sarah O Donoghue performed their two songs “The land of the Gael” and “Sailing off to the Yankee land” with grace and style and superb harmonies. Competition was of the highest level, but the group's teacher Rosie Healy had them well prepared and tutored to Rosie and the group on this outstanding achievement.

A huge crowd turned out to greet and welcome them back to Glenflesk Club House on Monday evening.

Excitement was definitely at fever pitch and a standing ovation was the order of the day as they gave another top class rendition of their two winning songs.

Chairman Jerry Mullane made a presentation to their teacher Rosie Healy and also to the hard working Scor Officer Allison O Sullivan.

They sang 'Land of the Gael'and 'Sailing off to the Yankee Land' getting a great response from the audience; an audience which clapped along with the latter song. So the history makers were; Aoise O’Donoghue, Muireann Healy, Abby Cronin, Cliona Moynihan and Sarah O’Donoghue.

Crotto O’Neills represented Kerry in Instrumental Music. A first for the club to reach the All-Ireland final having been knocking on the door for several years at District Board level.

The musicians; Conor Brennan, Thomas Breen, Sarah Murphy, Ellen Trant and Grace Hannon Linnane received fantastic rapture from the audience with some stirring music with; the ‘Banks of Newfoundland’ and ‘Andy McCans’ but unfor- tunately with stiff competition, not the judge’s choice this time round as Armagh lifted the title.

The Set Dancers from the Spa Club were going for their fifth National title in Scór na nÓg.

Dancing two parts of the ‘Lackyle Set’ in the final discipline of the evening and making it two-in-a-row they were simply unbeatable and were head-and-shoulders over their opponents on stage. The members of the victorious Set Dancing team were: Róisin O’Sullivan, Isabel, Waters, Grace O’Connor, Áine O’Sullivan, Ciara O’Donoghue, Dara Brosnan, Diarmuid O’Donovan, Colm O’Connor, OisÍn O’Sullivan.

The fourth Kerry club taking part was Tralee Parnell’s in the Trath Na gCeist. Labhras Mac Carthaigh, Uachtaran Chumann Lúthchleas Gael was on hand to present all the winners with their medals.

Full Results

Rince Fóirne Tipperary

Amhránaíocht Aonair Roscommon

Aithriseoireacht Tipperary

Bailéad Ghrúpa Glenflesk Kerry, Nuachleas Roscommon

Ceol Uirlise Armagh

Rince Set, Spa Kerry

Tráth na gCeist Longford