Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Notes

Scór na nÓg Success

Scór na nÓg began Thursday evening with the Mullingar Shamrocks first round competitors on stage at Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn. 

Thanks to the efforts of our Cultural Officer Emma McCabe Byrne we had two competitors in the Solo Singing, Dylan Hanley and reigning champion Darragh McCabe; Finn McCabe represented us in the Recitation competition and in the Instrumental Music category Orla & Eilís Nohilly and Darragh McCabe came together.

The instrumental trio and Darragh McCabe qualified for the semi-finals of the Scór Iarmhí competitions.

All our representatives performer with distinction.

There was a historical appropriateness (if such a concept exists) to our participation in the Scór Iarmhí Instrumental Music competition. 

This week, 75 years ago, at a meeting in Thomas Street, Dublin, it was decided to establish a national organisation ‘to cater for all Irish traditional musicians' and to attempt to form branches throughout the country.

Eamon Ó Mhuimhneacháin (Eamon Moynihan) proposed that the new organisation be called Cumann Ceoltóirí na hÉireann (CCE). His wife, Caitlin Bean Uí Mhuimhneacháin was elected President of the new organisation. 

At a subsequent meeting, held in Mullingar on 13 January 1952, the organisation was retitled Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

The rest is history.

No doubt, Eamon and Caitlin Bean Uí Mhuimhneacháin would approve of the playing of their great granddaughters Orla and Eilis in the Scór na nÓg competitions - playing instruments that had virtually disappeared prior to the formation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Sean Dempsey Memorial Under-12 Tournament

As the curtain comes down on our Under-12 season, the boys kept their best performances till last by winning the Sean Dempsey Tournament on Sunday hosted by the St Loman"s Club this year. 

The Dempsey family have contributed significantly to both clubs (and Athlone) and host the tournament on alternate years. Sean Dempsey won Senior Chapionships with Athlone as did the great Dobsy, the nephew. Sean was also Chairperson of Mullingar Shamrocks when the great breakthrough began in 1986 during which era Noel won a few Senior championships with the club and then of course the grandson Shane is still doing the business for St Loman’s  with a bundle of Senior medals to his credit.

After accounting for Tyrrellspass in the first group game in tricky conditions on the astro pitch, the boys lifted the level a notch in putting Athlone to the sword to secure top place in the group and earn a place in the final against St Loman's.

Back on the grass pitch the boys stepped it up another gear and played with great tenacity and bravery to get some scores on the board early playing with the wind in the first half. Lomans came back stronger in the sevond half but the boys stuck to their task and showed great maturity in managing the game out to the final whistle, winning by 3 points. 

From our season start back in January, we've come together as a group for more the 50 training sessions and close on 25 games between challenges, league and tournaments. That's alot of football and also a huge commitment from all the boys to turn up week in week out and put the work in on the pitch. It's great to have days like today and the Garrycastle final where the boys get to reap the benefits of all that work.

As a coaching group we're very proud of what they've achieved this year. We've watched them develop and mature as individual players and as a squad and are confident that they're well equipped to make the transition up to U14 grade next season.

Finally a huge thanks to all you parents for your support and trust over the last year. The dropping and collecting from training, the trips to the away games etc. It didn't go unnoticed and as coaches we're very appreciative of the time you've invested.

They're a great bunch of boys and hopefully we'll see them all back next year raring to go. Hope everyone can now enjoy the well earned break!

Thanks again everyone and to the coaches for their dedicated commitment during the season