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LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVE - APRIL 2005
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Local News Page]
Last Sunday week, 17th April, was a proud day for Cornafean as the locality was represented on the double
as it were in the All Ireland Scór Finals which were held in the Gleneagle National Exhibition Centre, Killarney.
The Cornafean representatives were Michael McGibney in recitation and Brian Doyle, Michael Dinneny and
Tommy McGibney in the Question Time. Unfortunately there were no national titles for Cavan or Cornafean
on this occasion but each of the four local competitors can take great heart from their respective displays
and from their achievement in reaching the All Ireland finals.
Cornafean’s first representative on stage was Michael McGibney who was the first of four recitation acts to
entertain the near-capacity attendance. Michael won over the hearts of the audience, in his third appearance
in a national Scór final, with a magnificent recitation of the Brendan Kennelly poem ‘Moloney and the Dust’.
His opposition hailed from counties Mayo, Longford and Limerick respectively and by the conclusion of the
recitiation event, it was generally felt that Michael was in pole position to take the All Ireland title, due to the
excellent clarity, depth and humour of his recitation. However when the results were announced at the end of
the night there was surprise and indeed a sense of disbelief among the Cornafean and Cavan supporters, and
indeed many neutrals, when Michael was overlooked for the title. Later that evening as local supporters gathered
with Scór followers from all corners of Ireland for a relaxing evening of informal music and song in the Gleneagle,
the general consensus amongst most informed commentators was that the margin of Michael’s defeat must have
been very narrow indeed.
The margin separating victory from defeat was much clearer in the Question Time as Cornafean’s experienced
team of Brian Doyle, Michael Dinneny and Tommy McGibney finished twelve marks short of the winners from
Clan na Gael, Co. Roscommon. Cornafean got off to a bad start when they missed a number of questions in the
individual rounds and were a dozen marks short of the pace at the half-time break. The local lads battled hard to
get back into contention in the four rounds of challenging six-mark team questions but the going was heavy as they
say in racing circles and the Cornafean boys were still twelve marks adrift at the finish. The standard of competition in the quiz was exceptional with reigning All Ireland champions from Monaleen, Co. Limerick and the experienced Kildare representatives Allenwood also in contention. In that context Clan na Gael’s decisive victory was a special one in itself but the remarkable nature of their win was underlined by the fact that this was their first All Ireland title after losing out in no less than six previous national deciders.
One disappointing aspect of the quiz was the fact that it was held in a near-empty auditorium, as the vast majority
of the near-capacity audience chose to prolong their interval tea-break rather than bother to attend the quiz.
Ever since the new written format quiz was introduced in Scór last autumn, there has been widespread unease in
Scór circles that the previously popular quiz event has lost much of its appeal and entertainment value for spectators.
The ‘ghost town’ atmosphere that prevailed during the All Ireland quiz in the Gleneagle was an embarrassing one
for all concerned and hopefully the debacle will now prompt the national Scór authorities to urgently reconsider
the changes made last Autumn with a view to restoring the quiz to its former glories for the 2005/06 season.
The four Cornafean participants, Michael, Brian, Michael and Tommy heartily thank all the loyal Cornafean and
Cavan supporters who made the long trip to Killarney to support them in the finals, and those who supported them in the earlier rounds in Cavan and Ulster, and hopefully it will not be long again before Cornafean are among the honours on All Ireland day in Scór .
The Cornafean senior and junior footballers started their Division 3 and 3a campaigns on Sunday last with a double
fixture against hosts Munterconnaught in St Bartholomew’s Park Ryefield. The senior game was a tight but sporting
affair with a second-half goal for the home side proving decisive at the finish as Munterconnaught won out by 1-9
to 0-9. The talented Cornafean junior side had the better of the exchanges for most of their game and ended up
winning well.
END
There is much excitement and interest in
the locality ahead of the All Ireland Scór Finals which take place in Killarney
on Sunday next, 17th April. Cornafean will be represented in the show in the
famed Gleneagle National Exhibition Centre by Michael McGibney in recitation and
by Brian Doyle, Michael Dinneny and Tommy McGibney in the Question Time.
This is the second year in succession,
and only the second time ever, for Cornafean to be represented in two
competitions in an All Ireland Scór final at senior level. Both acts came
tantalisingly close to winning All Ireland titles at last year’s finals in
Castlebar and earned their respective places in this year’s decider by winning
the recent Ulster finals in Silverbridge, Co. Armagh.
Next Sunday will be Michael McGibney’s
third appearance in a national Scór decider, following his previous appearances
in the 2002 final in Killarney as well as last year’s final. He will face
tough opposition from the representatives of the other three provinces in the
Recitation and Storytelling competition but if he gets the rub of the green on
Sunday, he is well capable of winning a national title.
The Quiz team will be making their sixth
appearance at this level, having already contested the 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999
and 2004 finals, while Michael Dinneny was a member of the Cornafean team
alongside Bernard Martin and Martin Maguire who contested the 1981 final. The
current team have already won All Ireland titles in 1993 and 1997. They will
face a tough task in repeating this success on Sunday as they face opposition
from last year’s champions from Monaleen, Co. Limerick, from Clanna Gael,
Roscommon, also finalists last year and also from the experienced Kildare
champions Allenwood. Interestingly the Cornafean, Clanna Gael and Allenwood
teams also featured in the famous 1993 All Ireland final in Millstreet, which
was held in the famous Co. Cork equestrian centre a week after the Eurovision
Song Contest was hosted in the same venue.
The show starts in Killarney at 1.00pm
on the day and although the timing of the event on Sunday afternoon is not an
ideal one for supporters wishing to travel the long distance to Kerry, a number
of committed followers have already ordered tickets for the event. It is
understood that there should be no problems in sourcing tickets at the door on
the day itself.
The local Scór group will mark the
occasion by hosting an Irish Night in McSeains on next Friday week, 15th April.
On the eve of the big event in Killarney, this promises to be a unique occasion
and one not to be missed.
Congratulations to Niall Corcoran and
John Martin, both of Coronea National School, and Caoimhe McDermott,
representing Corlis NS, who were successful at the recent Community Games Art
competitions. We wish each of them every success and good luck in the County
Finals of the competition which will be held in Bailieboro Community School on
May 14th
The AGM of Cornafean Active Age will be
held in the Community Centre on next Tuesday night 19 April at 9.30pm. All
members please attend and new members are welcome. A bus leaves McSeains on this
Thursday night, 14th April at 7.30pm to travel to the Awards Ceremony in the
Lavey Inn.
Three of the most prominent figures in
traditional music and culture in the locality were honoured recently when they
were presented with special awards at the Nyah Sessions Festival in Cavan. Paddy
and Carmel Dermott and Sean Masterson were among a select number of award
recipients selected for these awards. The presentation was made by the RTE Ceili
House presenter Kieran Hanrahan. Paddy, Carmel and Sean are each renowned far
and wide for their talents in the areas of traditional music and song and also
for the massive contributions they have made in promotion traditional music and
culture over the years.
While Paddy and Carmel enjoy nationwide
renown both as performers of Irish music and song respectively, the strength of
Sean’s remarkable popularity as a writer, singer and recitation artiste was
evidenced recently at the All Ireland Scór na nOg finals when young Josh
Ronayne from the Davitts club in Co. Mayo won the All Ireland title in the
Recitation section by reciting one of Sean’s own compositions. Sean’s
hilarious story recounts the comical misfortunes that befall a young farm
labourer who is unlucky enough to work for one of the stingiest farmers
imaginable. Many of the Cornafean people attending the event were pleasantly
surprised to hear Sean’s story, that the Arva Road man himself popularised
over the years, being recited by the young Mayo representative and there was
little surprise at the end of the evening when he was deemed the winner of the
competition.
Deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs
Kathleen Armstrong, Corr on the death of her brother, James McKinley whose
funeral took place in Kilglass, Co. Sligo on Monday of last week.
The Corn Mill Theature group’s
production of the play “Stolen Child” has played to full houses in the
Carrigallen venue over the Easter period. It has already attracted widespread
public praise and has earned the group a place in the forthcoming All Ireland
Drama Finals in Athlone. The play is about the terrible fire in the Poor Clares
Industrial School in Cavan town in 1943 in which 35 children and one adult were
burned to death. While the play is based on this tragic event it still has lots
of humour and comedy. Because of unprecedented demand, the play will be staged
once again on this Friday and Saturday 15th & 16th April and again on Friday
and Saturday 22nd and 23rd April. Booking on 049 4339612 at the Corn Mill
Theatre, Carrigallen.
A meeting of Cornafean Community
Development Association will be held in McSeains on Tuesday 26th April at
9.00pm. All members are requested to attend.
Congratulations to Niall Corcoran and John Martin, both of Coronea National School, and Caoimhe McDermott,
representing Corlis NS, who were successful at the recent Community Games Art competitions. We wish each
of them every success and good luck in the County Finals of the competition which will be held in Bailieboro
Community School on May 14th
Three of the most prominent figures in traditional music and culture in the locality were honoured recently when
they were presented with special awards at the Nyah Sessions Festival in Cavan. Paddy and Carmel Dermott
and Sean Masterson were among a select number of award recipients selected for these awards. The presentation
was made by the RTE Ceili House presenter Kieran Hanrahan. Paddy, Carmel and Sean are each renowned far
and wide for their talents in the areas of traditional music and song and also for the massive contributions they
have made in promotion traditional music and culture over the years.
While Paddy and Carmel enjoy nationwide renown both as performers of Irish music and song respectively,
the strength of Sean’s remarkable popularity as a writer, singer and recitation artiste was evidenced recently
at the All Ireland Scor na nOg finals when young Josh Ronayne from the Davitts club in Co. Mayo won the
All Ireland title in the Recitation section by reciting one of Sean’s own compositions. Sean’s hilarious story
recounts the comical misfortunes that befall a young farm labourer who is unlucky enough to work for one of
the stingiest farmers imaginable. Many of the Cornafean people attending the event were pleasantly surprised
to hear Sean’s story, that the Arva Road man himself popularised over the years, being recited by the young
Mayo representative and there was little surprise at the end of the evening when he was deemed the winner
of the competition.
Cornafean’s football season for 2005 commences this Saturday evening, 9th April when the local junior side
entertain visitors Killinkere in round 1 of the Division 3A reserve league. This game will no doubt refresh
some memories of the decisive league and championship clashes between these two clubs towards the
end of last year, both of which were won by Killinkere and ultimately condemned Cornafean to relegation in
both competitions. The throw-in at Pairc Naoimh Fionnain is at 6.00pm. The senior team have been awarded
a bye in Round 1of the Division 3 league which commences on Sunday for the other clubs in their division.
Meanwhile there were mixed fortunes for the followers of the Cavan Under-21 and Senior footballers at the
weekend with the under-21s’ fantastic victory over All Ireland champions Armagh at Kingspan Breffni Park
on Saturday being followed by the seniors’ narrow defeat to Meath in their crucial Allianz League fixture in
Navan on Sunday. Even in defeat, Cavan can take heart from a gutsy display against a Royal side that still
seems to have plenty of fuel left in the tank and between now and the end of May, Eamon Coleman’s men
will be hoping to build up a full head of steam for their Ulster Championship tussle with visitors Antrim
on May 29th.
Incidentally Cavan’s defeat on Sunday could have an attractive silver lining for the GAA in the county if Kingspan
Breffni Park is selected as the venue for the forthcoming Division 2 League semi-finals. With Derry in action
against Monaghan in one semi-final, and Meath facing their old foes Fermanagh in the other, the rejuvenated
Breffni arena is the ideal setting for a double-bill, and indeed probably the only neutral venue in the region
capable of comfortably accommodating the large crowd that would inevitably be attracted to these games.
Deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs Kathleen Armstrong, Corr on the death of her brother, James McKinley
whose funeral took place in Kilglass, Co. Sligo on Monday last.
Interest is building in the locality ahead of the forthcoming All Ireland Scor Finals which will be held in Killarney
on next Sunday week, 17th April. Cornafean will be represented in the show in the famed Gleneagle National
Exhibition Centre by Michael McGibney in recitation and by Brian Doyle, Michael Dinneny and Tommy McGibney
in the Question Time. The show starts in Killarney at 1.00pm on the day and although the timing of the event on
Sunday afternoon is not an ideal one for supporters wishing to travel the long distance to Kerry, a number of
committed followers have already ordered tickets for the event. Further applications for tickets should be
made as soon as possible to Scor County Secretary Geraldine Duggan or to any other Scor committee member.
The local Scor group will mark the occasion by hosting an Irish Night in McSeains on next Friday week,
15th April. On the eve of the big event in Killarney, this promises to be a unique occasion and one not to be missed.
END