GAELS from across Down gathered in St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, on Saturday evening for the Scór Sinsir county final.
With all acts qualifying by topping their divisional finals, it was assumed standards would be high and the competitors didn’t disappoint.
The night opened with a beautiful rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann from Erin Sands, of Saul GAC, and then Ciara Pickering took charge, doing an excellent job as Ban a Ti.
The first category saw Clann na Banna and Cumann Pheadar Naofa compete in the ceili dancing. Both acts put on lively performances that were thoroughly enjoyed by the packed crowd, but Cumann Pheadar Naofa impressed the judges most with their eight-hand reel and were crowned champions.
Next up was solo the singing and the standards were outstandingly high. Ardglass, Mayobridge (camogie), Mayobridge (football) and Saul were all represented in the category and from an audience point of view it would seem an impossible job for the judges to separate the performances.
They did manage it though and Mayobridge’s Eimear Magee took the title with a beautiful performance of Orphan Girl.
The recitation category followed and the audience was treated to four heartfelt performances from Attical, Saul, Darragh Cross and Rostrevor.
Clare McCartan of Attical recited an extract from Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes ‘My First Holy Communion’ and the performance filled the audience with both laughter and nostalgia, which resulted in Clare being declared champion.
The audience were treated to four wonderful ballad performances from Ballymartin, Bryansford, Saul and Mayobridge.
Every performance was flawless and the talent on stage was outstanding, but it was the experienced Saul group who were awarded first placen with two wonderful performances — Leaving The Blaskett Islands and Homeland.
Before the interval Cumman Pheadar Naofa performed a set dance. Although they were the only performers in the category, they didn’t allow the standards to slip and their performance was enjoyed by all.
After the interval, Drumaness, Attical, Clann Na Bann and Bryansford had the audience laughing and giggling with their novelty acts.
There were male nuns on the run, an Irish wake with a difference and a club struggling to form a Scór quiz team, but it was Bryansford’s performance of ‘The Passport Office’ that won the title after showing the audience what life is like in an Irish passport office and what it takes to prove your Irishness.
The final category of the night was the instrumental music. Clann Na Banna, Attical, Cumann Pheadar Naofa and Mayobridge all competed and ended the show with a high.
Cumann Pheadar Naofa stole the show with beautiful performances of The Maid at the Spinning Wheel, Anderson’s Reel and The New Mown Meadows.
The standard of performances at Scór Sinsir this year has been exceptional and is a testimony to the vast amount of talented performers within Down and the time and dedication put in by GAA clubs at promoting and nurturing culture within the county.
Another massive thank you must go out to all the volunteers who help make Scór possible, from setting up the stage and sound, adjudicating, judging, doing Fir/Ban Na Ti, providing hospitality, selling tickets, doing the door and so on.
Finally, well done to all performers and good luck to all those who will compete in the Ulster Scór semi-final in Glenullin next week.