If Kerry are the kingpins of football and Kilkenny hurling royalty, then the Kilglass Gaels club from north Roscommon are truly the unprecedented aristocrats of Scór na nÓg Question Time. On Saturday last, February 16 th , in the Count John McCormack Hall, Athlone, the team of Cian Diffley, Karen Conboy and Damien Gearty claimed All-Ireland success for the fourth time in five years. Facing opposition from former champions, Aodh Rua Ballyshannon Co. Donegal and Ballymanus Co. Wicklow along with newcomers Dungourney Co. Cork, the Kilglass whiz kids yet again displayed a vast well of knowledge on route to garnering another national accolade. Yet this was undoubtedly one of the most hard-fought victories in recent years. Kilglass and Ballymanus could not be separated on 44 marks after all individual and team questions were asked. It took two sets of team tiebreaker questions for the Rossie side to pull away, and in the end it was the question ‘who played the part of Michael Collins in the Hollywood film?’ that clinched it. Scenes of great jubilation from the 60 strong Roscommon crowd, among the hundreds in attendance, ensued when Máistir na gCeist Paddy McDermott, of Cornafaen Co. Cavan, announced the result. With this marvellous win Kilglass wrote themselves into Scór folklore yet again. Not only are they the first club to ever win a 3 in a row of quiz titles, they are now the only club to ever claim 4 titles in the discipline. This was not the only piece of history completed by a team from Kilglass in 2008. In the first event of the evening Kilglass represented county and province in the Figure Dancing competition. The team of Natalie McHugh, Sinead Connellan, Antionette McCormack, Rachel Coyle, Katie King, Rebecca Coyle, Rachel Corcoran and Caroline Conroy had achieved a notable first back in January by becoming the first Roscommon club ever to win the Connacht Rince Foirne title in Scór na nÓg. In the national final they gave a graceful and flawless performance of the intricate ‘Trip to the Cottage’. The eight girls looked fantastic and beamed with pride and confidence throughout the dance. In opposition was Ballymore from Longford making their first final performance also, Watty Grahams (Glen Maghera) Co. Derry appearing in their second consecutive showdown and Carrigaline Co. Cork the reigning champions. In what was a great evening for Cork Scór the Carrigaline club again took the honours but the Kilglass girls can take great heart from excellent performance and the pride, which they have brought to club and county this year. Indeed their achievement is a fantastic advertisement of the mighty Scór club that Kilglass Gaels are. Gaeil Cill Glaise Abú. Ros Comáin Abú. Full results from the All Ireland Scór na nÓg Final 2008 Rince Fóirne: Carrigaline Co. Cork Amhránaíocht Aonair: Niamh McGlinchey, Lavey, Co. Derry Ceol Uirlise: Boherbue, Co. Cork Aithriseoireacht: Kieran Hannan, Croagh/Kilfinny, Co. Limerick Bailéad Ghrúpa: Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick Tráth na gCeist: Kilglass Gaels, Co. Roscommon Nuachleas: Glenswilly, Co. Donegal Rince Seit: Millstreet, Co. Cork In other news, clubs are reminded that the Seachtain na Gaeilge quiz takes place in the County Board Office, Castle View, Roscommon on Friday 29 th February at 8 pm. Teams of four can be pre-registered by contacting Diane Ní Dhuinneacha on (087) 9160217 or by e-mailing roscommonscor@gmail.com on or before Tuesday the 26 th.
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