Have you an interest in Irish culture and the GAA? Did you know there is a way of combining the two? No? Well then you haven’t heard of Scór. What is Scór? Scór is the GAA’s cultural competition and it is open to every club in the country regardless of whether you are a Junior C Hurling club in Leitrim or a Senior Football club in Kerry! It is divided into two sections, Scór Na nÓg, for young people under 17 and Scór Sinsear, for everyone over 17! Scór Roscommon is also running a competition called Scór Na bPaistí for National School children. Information and entry forms have been sent to Schools and clubs throughout the county and details of the venues and times will be published here in the coming weeks. A lot of people reading this are saying to themselves ‘the GAA is a sporting organisation, it’s Hurling and Football’. Yes, this is true, but the GAA is first and foremost a cultural movement established with the aim to keep alive our distinct Irish traditions and pastimes, our games and our culture! So a failure by any club to take part in Scór is a terrible disservice to its Gaels. Scór is an outlet for people to display their talents and enjoy themselves whilst representing their clubs and engaging in something uniquely Irish at the same time, it is about the taking part. Among the many inter-county GAA players who have been involved in Scór over the years include Cormac McAnallen (RIP), Jarlath Burns, Declan Meehan and Karol Mannion. What is Scór competition comprised of? There are eight events/disciplines in Scór that cover all aspects of Irish culture and they are Figure Dancing, Solo Singing, Instrumental Music, Recitation, Ballad Group, Novelty Act, Question Time and Set Dancing. The competitions are organised in each county by the Coiste Scór, a committee, which is made up of delegates from clubs (every club is entitled to two delegates). In Roscommon, Scór na nÓg entails four preliminary rounds, two in the north of the county and two in the south, winners here progress to the county semi-final (also known as the northern final or southern final). The county final is a big occasion every year and is usually held in early January (The county final of Scór Sinsear takes place in February). Winners progress to the Connacht final and from here to the national final. It is a tremendous honour for any club to be represented on All-Ireland Scór final day; indeed the All-Ireland Scór champions are presented with the same medal you get if you were to win Sam Maguire or Liam McCarthy and will be presented to you by the President of the GAA! Many people throughout Roscommon are now busy getting ready for the upcoming Scór Na bPaisti and Scór Na nÓg competitions, which will commence in November, but sadly there are still many clubs not taking part at all! This is a terrible shame, not just for the clubs but also for young people who are missing out on the great fun Scór offers. How can my club get involved? Coiste Scór Ros Comáin welcomes every club to Scór and reminds people that you don’t have to be the club chairperson or treasurer to get Scór started in your club, anyone with an interest in one or all of the eight Scór disciplines can get the ball rolling! For any club to say there is ‘no talent’ in their area is a lie, every parish has someone that can sing, act or answer a few questions in the Tráth na gCeist. There are many people involved in church choirs and groups such as Foróige, Macra and Comhaltas, throughout the county, who may be interested in taking part, all you have to do is ask them. Who knows, it might even end up in an All-Ireland title coming back to your parish. * If Scór is not already up and running in your club and you would like some information call Diane in the County Board Office on 090-6627176 or email roscommonscor@gmail.com
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