To mark the 40th anniversary of Scór, President McAleese hosted musicians, singers, reciters, dancers and officials from Co Down at Áras an Uachtarán on Thursday 19th February 2009 – the 40th anniversary coinciding with the GAA’s 125th anniversary .
Scór is the GAA’s principal cultural competition, which celebrates and promotes Irish traditional music, dance, poetry and drama through its club and county structures. Each year it attracts thousands of young and not so young who compete in eight categories from local county semi finals through to the All-Ireland finals.
President McAleese welcomed the group at 11.00am and was entertained by the Ballad Group from Saul, who went on to lift the All-Ireland Scór na nÓg title the following Saturday (21st February) in Athlone.
The winning groups were accompanied by club officers, Scór and GAA officials from the county.
Down’s GAA Cultural Officer and Scór chairman John Devaney described the visit as “an important acknowledgment of the work that continues in promoting Irish culture through the clubs in the county.”
John stated that “the high levels of participation and the high standards prove that Scór is the most important vehicle within the GAA for maintaining and expressing culture through music, song, dance, poetry and drama.”
“It has stood the test of time of 40 years, and despite the many competitive distractions, it is now stronger than it has been in years” he added.
Presentations were made to President McAleese on behalf of Down Scór by Anne Marie Mulholland (Rostrevor) and Declan Boyle (St Michael’s) the two solo winners in the 2009 Scór na nÓg competitions
Clonduff was represented by Scór Committee members Mary McGreevy, Cathy McPolin and Anita Brannigan. Seamus Parr, the Senior Football goalkeeper and member County Scór Sinsir Set Dancing team was the bus driver for the day.
