All Ireland Scór Finals 2022
Kerry GAA added two further All Ireland Titles to its honours list on Saturday last 12th November following outstanding performances from its representatives in All Ireland senior Scór Finals at packed Travellers Friend Royal Theatre in Castlebar Co. Mayo. It was a particularly proud, exciting, historic and memorable day for Gneeveguilla club when their competing members clinched two national Scór titles in very competitive and tense environment in the presence of a large excitable jubilant band of their traveling club supporters waving aloft the green and gold colours with some little pride.
Mark O Leary was crowned national Scór solo singing (Amhráinaíocht Aonair) champion in addition to his Munster and Kerry titles, following his wonderful and sweet rendition of Gary McMahon’s song “The Hills around Listowel” while their fleet footed members danced the Caledonian Set to graceful perfection with energy and style to also claimed an All Ireland title, dancing members were Joan Brosnan, Kellie O Sullivan, Rachel and Aisling McGilliuddy, Chas Collins, Conor Crowley, Kieran Browne and Pat Murphy adding to their Kerry and Munster titles. This was a wonderful and memorable achievement for the proud rural club of Gníomh Go Leith.
Remarkably Gneeveguilla become the fourth Kerry club to win All Ireland Set Dancing titles, following the footsteps of Kilcummin in 2014, Glenflesk in 2003 and 2012 plus Spa’s five in a row titles of 2004 to 2008 inclusive.
Interestingly also is that Mark O Leary joins an illustrious group of Kerry all Ireland Scór solo singing / Amhráinaíocht Aonair champions Kilcummin’s Mairéad Healy (2003) and Patrice O Connor (2000), Spa’s Siobhán O Brien (1990) and Paula O Carroll of Ballymacelligott in 1987.
Churchills’ Trath na gCeist team comprising of Mikey Moriarty, Micheal Gaynor, Paul Culloty and Tommie O Donnell as per usual performed very well in a competitive quiz competition finishing in fourth place being pipped by a single mark for the playoff stage.
One of Kerry’s and Spa’s active members Ann Mangan was bestowed with a National Award by Tomás O Muirí, Chairperson of Coiste Scór Naisúinta in recognition of her long dedicated services to Scór and promotion of Cultural Activities. Anne has been synonymous with much of Spa’s cultural achievements as illustrated by impressive list of successes over the years in addition to her Kerry and Munster achievements.
On an exciting weekend for Kerry GAA cultural activities, huge credit and congratulations is merited to all who represented Kerry with such pride and distinction in National Scór finals over the weekend in Castlebar. Gneeveguilla’s dream of winning an Ireland Scór title was fulfilled, their journey over past two months has been remarkable one, commencing at their own local GAA club premises, winning County titles at Currow Community Centre in early October followed by claiming Munster titles at Cappamore on the way to the national stage in Castlebar last weekend.
Many positive reasons for Gneeveguilla club and its members to celebrate their outstanding achievements and an example for other clubs to follow in their Scór footsteps. Coiste Scór Ciarraí offer its sincere Comhgairdeas to Gneeveguilla’s Mark O Leary, their Set Dancers, Anne Mangan of Spa and Churchill’s quiz team on their noteworthy achievements when representing their club and Ciarraí with pride and distinction. Ciarraí Abú.
