Sligo will be hosting the All Ireland Scór na nÓg and Scór Sinsir finals in 2018.
The cultural event is the showpiece of the GAA’s commitment to promotion of the Irish language and other cultural activities off the football and hurling pitch.
Speaking after the announcement Sligo GAA’s Irish & Cultural Officer Keith Henry said “It’s a huge honor for the very hard working Scór Committee and indeed all involved in the GAA. Over 2,000 people will be visiting and staying in Sligo Town on both weekends and it will be a boost to local business undoubtedly.”
The Knocknarea Arena in IT Sligo was selected as the venue for the competition and it’s not its first All Ireland having hosted the All Ireland Senior Ceili Band finals when the Fleadh Cheoil visited Sligo in 2014 and 2015.
Scór is a competition made up of different eight different disciplines; figure dancing, set dancing, instrumental music group, solo singing, ballad group, recitation/storytelling, stage presentation and a table quiz. Competitors represent their clubs and compete in a County Final first before progressing to a provincial final, bar the table quiz where the county champion goes straight to the All Ireland. The four provincial winners then compete for All Ireland honors.
“Scór is stronger in some counties in comparison to other particularly in Ulster where several hundred people would compete within one county alone. In Sligo we’ve pushed hard to increase participation among clubs and it’s a difficult challenge as many don’t give it the same regard as other codes within the GAA. Yet, the All Ireland medal presented is the very same as for winning Sam or Liam and is every bit as hard earned.” Keith said.
Sligo hasn’t been without its successes either with several winners going on to make names for themselves in music such as Niamh Farrell and Colm O’Donnell among some of the All Ireland winners. Most recently the young musicians of Easkey competed for three years in a row at All Ireland level and had the honor of entertaining the crowds at Croke Park in 2015.
“Scór offers a great opportunity for clubs to involve people who may not be playing football or hurling as well as keep people involved during the winter months. In addition to the work the Scór committee will undertake in hosting the All Ireland’s we’ll of course be helping and encouraging clubs to participate in Sligo to give us the best chance of having a home participant.” he concluded.
The Scór na nÓg All Ireland final (U 17 years) will be held on February 17th and Scór Sinsir (Over 17 years) on April 14th with the county finals taking place about 3 months in advance.
For more info contact Scór Committee Members: Keith Henry, Sean Kilgannon, Catherine Gallagher, Hugh Gallagher, Tom Haran, Michelle Kilrehill, Seamus Kilrehill, Gerry O’Connor, Peter Farrell.
