Saturday 22nd February 2014 was the date set for the revival of the the ‘Battle of the Townlands’ in Clonduff Parish after an absence of nearly 20 years! Clonduff GAA Club organised the event and divided the Parish into the five areas that existed when the competition last took place – The Village, Cabra, Rostrevor Road/Leitrim, Bryansford & Castlewellan Roads, Newry Road/Yellow Road/Rathfriland Road/Ballygorian/Leode. The proceeds of the highly entertaining and competitive evening were in aid of the Clonduff Lourdes Committee.
There were nine different competitions – Ceili Dancing, Solo Singing, Recitation/Story Telling, Instrumental Music, Jive, Novelty Act, Ballad Group, Set Dancing, Quiz. The top three in each section contributed to the awarding of the title ‘Parish Champions’. The entertainment was first class, the competition keen and the atmosphere was electric in the tightly-packed INF Hall. Ban an Ti, Mary Grant kept the proceeding moving in her own inimitable fashion and even took time out to to participate in her area’s Novelty Act!
Individual Competition winners were awarded certificates but as well as the winners those finishing in 2nd and 3rd Place contributed to their area’s overall points total in the search for the Parish Champions – Winners were awarded 3 points, 2nd Place 2 points and 3rd Place one point. Every area won at least one competition with Newry/Rathfriland Roads taking Instrumental Music, Ballad Group and Quiz; Cabra Won Ceili Dancing and Jive; Bryansford/Castlewellan Road won Solo Singing – Colleen Walls; The Village won Recitation with Eileen McCusker; Rostrevor Road/Leitrim won Novelty Act and Set Dancing and were placed 2nd in four other competitions and 3rd in one other thus amassing the highest marks total on the night and lift the brand new trophy which was presented by Club Secretary Anita Brannigan to PJ McGinn the area organiser.
