Ballinagore awarded Eugene Doherty Trophy for Club of Year for third consecutive time
Scór Sinsir county final
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Hugo Slevin receiving a presentation from cathaoirleach Scór Iarmhí Olive Leonard for his role as Fear an Tí on Saturday, as well as in recognition for winning the All-Ireland Scór Sinsir recitation title last April.Image 2 of 10
Winners of the figure dancing competition, St Mary’s Rochfortbridge, receiving their medals from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and Scór Iarmhí chairperson Olive Leonard. The group also received the Rob Cornally Cup, presented by Patsy Rylands on behalf of the Cornally family.Image 3 of 10
Recitation/storytelling champion Pat Heduan from Milltown GAA receiving his medal from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and Scór Iarmhí chairperson Olive Leonard.Image 4 of 10
Ballinagore GAA ballad group champions, Shane Heraty, Shane King, Emma O’Brien, Jean Kelly, and Emma King, being presented with their medals from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and Scór Iarmhí chairperson Olive Leonard.Image 5 of 10
Hugo Slevin presenting the Hugh Slevin memorial cup, named in memory of his late father, to novelty act winner Shane Heraty of Ballinagore GAA.Image 6 of 10
Instrumental music champions, Rachel Maxwell, Shane King, Marie Claire Maxwell and Emma O’Brien, from Ballinagore GAA receiving their medals from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and Scór Iarmhí chairperson Olive Leonard.Image 7 of 10
Shane Heraty (Ballinagore GAA) accepting the Eugene Doherty trophy for ‘Club of the Year’ from members of the Doherty family, Catherine Daly, Patrick Doherty, and Olive Leonard.Image 8 of 10
Set dancing county champions The Downs receiving their medals from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and Scór Iarmhí chairperson Olive Leonard.Image 9 of 10
The Ballinagore novelty act team, Mark King, Shane Heraty, Aisling Heraty, Kevin Deegan, Vera Seery, Anna Heraty, Áine Maloney and Pauline Keegan, receiving their medals from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and chairperson of Scór Iarmhí Olive Leonard. Missing from the photo is Pius Kirby.Image 10 of 10
The Mullingar Shamrocks question time team of Tom Hunt, Richard and Conor McKenna and Davy Gavin receiving the Johnny Garvin cup from cathaoirleach Scór Iarmhí Olive Leonard.A large crowd packed into The Downs GAA Centre on Saturday night (March 7) for the county final of Scór Sinsir, as clubs from across Westmeath gathered to showcase the strong cultural side of the GAA. Like any good contest under lights, the evening unfolded with plenty of fine performances, as music, song, dance and storytelling took centre stage.
Proceedings began with the preliminary round of the Tráth na gCeist (question time), where 10 teams lined out in pursuit of the title.
Michael Gunn (Roscommon) took on the role of Máistir na gCeisteanna and challenged the competitors with a wide-ranging set of questions.
Mullingar Shamrocks held a slender lead going into the stage final, St Joseph’s and Ballycomoyle close on their heels. In a tight finish, and with just two marks separating the sides, Mullingar Shamrocks edged ahead of reigning champions St Joseph’s to claim the Johnny Garvin Cup.
Hugo Slevin of St Joseph’s acted as Fear an Tí and kept the evening moving at a lively pace, guiding the programme smoothly from one event to the next.
The stage competitions were thrown in with the figure dancing. The Downs and Bunbrosna both impressed with polished performances of the ‘Morris Reel’, but it was St Mary’s Rochfortbridge who ultimately had the edge. Their excellent display of ‘The Three Tunes’ earned them the Rob Cornally Cup.
The solo singing competition proved one of the standout contests of the night, and eight performers took to the stage in an event of exceptionally high standard. Several previous county and provincial champions were among the field, and it was young Grace Nic Domhnaill of the host club The Downs who struck the winning note, claiming the title with a beautifully delivered sean-nós song.
The recitation/storytelling competition also provided plenty of entertainment, as four competitors delivered strong performances. When the final scores were tallied, Pat Heduan of Milltown GAA, reciting ‘Mary Ann McGee’, emerged on top, earning the club its first Scór county title in a number of years.
Westmeath has long held a proud tradition in the ballad group competition, and that reputation was upheld on the night. Bunbrosna and St Mary’s Rochfortbridge both gave fine accounts of themselves, but Ballinagore emerged victorious on the day with lovely renditions of ‘The Hills of South Armagh’ and ‘Moll Dubh an Ghleanna’. They now go forward to represent the county at provincial level.
After the interval, the second half of the programme resumed with the novelty act competition. Four highly entertaining groups had the audience in stitches with their comic performances. With little separating the acts, Ballinagore again came out on top with their sketch ‘The Yank on the Train’, earning the Hugh Slevin Memorial Cup.
In the instrumental music competition, Ballinagore and Ballycomoyle went head-to-head in a lively contest that had toes tapping throughout the hall. The young Ballinagore ensemble ultimately retained their title, securing another county crown and booking their place in the Leinster semi-final.
As the evening approached the final whistle, the host club The Downs brought proceedings to a fitting close in the set dancing competition. As the sole competitors, they delivered an energetic and rousing performance of the ‘Plain Set’ and will now march on to the next round.
Ballinagore, having the largest number of entries on the night and multiple wins, were awarded the Eugene Doherty Trophy for Club of the Year for the third consecutive year. Members of the Doherty family were on hand to present the trophy.
The county champions received their medals from Westmeath GAA chairperson Paddy Wallace and Scór Iarmhí cathaoirleach Olive Leonard.
Attention now turns to the Leinster semi-final, in Wilkinstown Hall, County Meath, on Sunday March 22 at 2pm, where the Westmeath winners will once again take to the stage and represent the county with pride.
Results
Rince Foirne: St Mary’s Rochfortbridge
Amhránaíocht Aonair: Grace Nic Domhnaill (The Downs)
Aithriseoireacht/Scéalaíocht: Pat Heduan (Milltown)
Bailéad Ghrúpa: Ballinagore
Tráth na gCeist: Mullingar Shamrocks
Nuachleas: Ballinagore
Ceol Uirlise: Ballinagore
Rince Seit: The Downs
Club na mBliana: Ballinagore