Mayo Represented in the All Ireland Scór Final this Weekend
Two Mayo GAA clubs will be flying the flag for the County and the Provence at the GAA All-Ireland Senior Scór final this weekend in Killarney. *
CLA Acla’s Leah McNamara is competing in the solo singing with Kilfian GAA represented hoping to bring national honours home in the Novelty Act competition.
Leah, who is currently studying Irish and Music in the University of Limerick, first competed in Scór in 2014 in the Scór na bPáistí section when she was in 3rd class in Dooagh NS, Achill. She has continued this involvement right the way up through Scór na nÓg and Senior Scór. Leah has competed in Recitation/Storytelling, Novelty Act, Ballad Group and Solo Singing over the years. She has also competed in the Ceol Uirlise section and was a member of the instrumental music group that progressed to a Scór na nÓg All Ireland Final in 2018.
Always a willing volunteer, she has earned great praise for her renditions of Amhrán na bhFiann at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. A multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, accordion, concertina, fiddle and tin whistle, Leah is also a drummer with her local pipe band in Dooagh, Achill. She has competed in Siansa and will leave Killarney immediately after the All Ireland Final to compete in the 2024 Mayo Fleadh Cheoil in Westport also this weekend. The Kilfian GAA Novelty Act is called “Sticks for the Reek”. It is a story about a man selling climbing aids at the foot of Croagh Patrick while maximising his profit margin.
The cast of Julie McDonnell, Ailish McDonnell, Tom Roche, John Golden and JP Walsh have put in a huge effort over the last couple of weeks. Kilfian GAA are only the 3rd Mayo GAA club ever to reach the All-Ireland Novelty Act final. Moygownagh GAA reached the final in 1983 with CLG Acla getting to the final in 1991. The All-Ireland Novelty Act has never been won by a Mayo GAA Club.
Kilfian did win the final with a novelty act in Scor na nÓg.
Wishing both clubs well Mayo GAA Cathaoirleach Seamus Tuohy said it was a huge achievement to reach the All-Ireland final. “On behalf of Mayo GAA and all the clubs in the county I want to wish both clubs all the best this weekend. When you reach an All-Ireland final you are up against the best in the country and I am sure Leah and Kilfian GAA will put their best foot forward. Mayo GAA has a long and proud association with Scór over many years and huge credit is due to all the volunteers who represent their clubs in every corner of the county each year. Everyone in the county will be watch and wishing both clubs the very best of luck this weekend in Kerry. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leo”, commented Seamus Tuohy.
Scór Sinsear – Kilfian GAA
Although it a small, rural club, Kilfian is a club that is steeped in Scór and the enjoyment it brings.
The mammoth effort put in on an annual basis has finally (and deservedly so) been hugely rewarded, with a trip south to Killarney to contest an All Ireland Final in the Novelty Act section (Play composed by Noel Kelly). This is the first time since Achill GAA in 1991 that a Mayo club has advanced from Connacht in the Novelty Act category. What this means and the joy it has brought to Kilfian GAA is difficult to put into words.
Scór Sinsear – CLG Acla (Achill GAA)
Mayo’s second All Ireland contender in 2024 is Leah McNamara, who will compete in the Solo Singing Category. Leah is no stranger to Scór, having competed almost every year since her first appearance in Scór na bPáistí way back in 2014 as a 9 year old in Rang a 3. Leah has competed in Recitation, Solo Singing, Novelty Act, Grúpa Ceoil, and Ballad Group. She has made previous All Ireland Final appearances in 3 out of these 5 disciplines. Wishing Leah all the best for Saturday.
Tickets are now on sale for the All-Ireland Scór Sinsir Final which takes place in the INEC Arena, Killarney on Saturday 11th May.
It is also Live on TG4 YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/live/s2md6H3PPTI?si=aRJHZq2mQTUIhFmZ
