Some 300 people packed Breaffy GAA hall for the final of the Mayo Scór competitions at the weekend with clubs from all over the county going head to head in solo singing, music, dancing, quiz time, recitations, and acting.
2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Scór and going by the interest, standard, and eagerness to compete in Mayo the future looks bright for the GAA’s cultural competitions. To mark the 40th anniversary Mayo GAA have put a huge effort into promoting Scór activities this year. They are encouraging every club in the county to partake in one of the cultural events in Scór na bPáistí, Scór na nÓg, or Senior Scór this year. The Mayo GAA Scór committee will also be publishing a special commemorative publication to mark this milestone.
At a packed Breaffy GAA clubhouse at the weekend, the standard in every competition was high. The Rince Foirne competition was won by a very young and talented team from Shrule/Glencorrib GAA Club. The hugely popular singing competition went to Castlebar Mitchel’s GAA Club with Vickí Ní Dháibhis claiming the honours with a fabulous rendition of the sean nós song ‘Tá na Páipéir Dhá Saighneáil’. The music group competition was won by Louisburgh GAA club for the second year in a row with Gillian agus Nicole Ní Mhaille joining Paul, John, agus Christine Ní Dhomhnaill on this occasion. The keenly contested recitation competition went to north Mayo with Knockmore GAA Club native Catherine McKenna reciting a Rita Ann Higgins number that went down extremely well with everyone. The Knockmore GAA club were also selected to represent Mayo in the ballad singing competition with Leanne Durcan, Aine Boland, Laura Bourke, Megan Hughes, and Danielle Walsh singing two beautiful Irish ballads.
Ballintubber GAA club took the Tráth na gCeist competition with Cillian Ó Concubhair, Keith Ó Colmain, agus Sean Ó Maoileoin excelling in general knowledge, Irish history, and GAA questions. The hugely popular novelty act section was one of the real Scór highlights this year with the Breaffy GAA club stealing the show with a hilarious act about ‘Richard, the Yank’ returning to Ireland to write a book. After three hours of great entertainment the curtain finally fell when the Burris Umhaill GAA club strolled home with the set dancing title after performing the Newport Set. Mayo GAA Oifigeach na Gaeilge Piaras Ó Raghallaigh thanked the competitors, clubs, teachers, and parents for showing such an interest in Scór and he wished everyone the best of luck in the Connaught Scór na nÓg final in Claremorris on January 17.
