The Scór competitions stemmed from the brainchild of Derry Gowan of the Fermoy’s GAC in Co. Cork c.1969. It was known as ‘All Ireland Inter Club Winter Social Activity’ and the GAA really got behind his ideas and developed it in an All Ireland basis to what is now known as Scór.
The idea was for clubs to foster and encourage Gaelic music, singing, dancing and knowledge of our history, sports and language. It was run on a championship basis – County and Provincial champions. Venues all over the country were packed; the All-Ireland finals at Galway, Limerick and Dublin were standing room only in the largest available venues.
The general feeling among commentators is that Scór, having its grass roots in the parish, was surely the most important social initiative ever contemplated or put into practice by the GAA.
The first Antrim winners of All-Ireland titles were Oliver Kearney, Creggan, for recitation and Moneyglass for their set dancing, in both 1972/1973. The following year Angela Feeney, St. Pauls won the All-Ireland title in the Solo Singing competition.
Our club competed from c.1971/1972 season, however there is no press coverage until our most successful year in 1975. We have had little response to our request for local information for the earlier years, however, a few participants were recognised viz: Marie McMullan (Solo Dancer), Bronagh Wheeler (Recitation), Niall Wheeler (Solo Singing), Hugh McIlwaine and Fergus Wheeler, in a ballad group, and Kevin McLaughlin, who competed in the instrumental music class.
We won the County title in the Quiz competition in 1974 (Alex McMullan, Brendan Mitchell and Alaistair McAllister) and 1975 (Alex McMullan, Charlie McAllister and Alaistair McAllister).We were runners up in 1976 (Brendan Mitchell, Charlie McAllister and Alaistair McAllister, Betty Erwin, Angela Black, Evelyn Black, Alex Black and Neil John Black (dancers), our last year to compete.
The year in which we received most press coverage was, 1975 our Ballad Group, Recitation and Solo Singer having competed in the County final were narrowly defeated. Indeed these results caused concern to our club regarding the impartiality of the judgements. However in 1975 our Scór Quiz Team progressed to the Ulster final and was beaten by the Derry team in the final question.
Ballymena Guardian 30th January 1975
BIG CROWDS AT SECOND SCOR SEMI-FINAL
The second count semi-final of the Scór competitions held in Moneyglass again drew the crowds. The only disquieting aspect was the fact that St. Edna’s team, from Glengormley, failed to appear. Moneyglass and Glenariffe dominated the scene with nine representatives between them. With the only entrant in the ceilidhe dance section, there never was much doubt here but last year’s Antrim champions, Moneyglass, proved again that they are as good as ever.
The only change in the team is the inclusion of Thomas Close and Briege Kerr in place of Mrs Tony Kearney and Cathal Boyd junior. Claire Kelly (Moneyglass) on the tin whistle and Robert McLarnon (Cargin) mouth organ won the instrumental music section from Kevin McLaughlin (Glenariffe) and Leo McGarry (Aldergrove).
In a tough competitive solo singing section, Eilish McMullan (Glenariffe) and Sean Boyd (Moneyglass), emerged victorious. Alaistair McAllister, Alex Mc Mullan and Charlie McAllister formed a tremendously knowledgeable Glenariffe quiz team which stole the show with 44 points in the Question time. Cargin were runners-up in the form of Malachy McErlaine, Peter Totten and Marie Kelly scoring 32 points. The recitation section produced Ursula Hanson (Cargin) and Margaret Dobbin (Glenariffe) as winners while both groups in the ballad section, Moneyglass and Glenariffe, with the fine performances, were adjudged worthy semi-final spots.
The other semi-final was held in Dunloy, as was later the County Final.
Ballymena Guardian, February 1975
Following the Antrim finals of the Scór Seacta competitions held in Dunloy the host club must really feel proud of its achievements getting three acts to the Ulster stages of the competition. The Moneyglass dance team turned in a brilliant display but the ballad group was quite another affair. The competition here was keen, with both Glenariffe and Glenravel giving the Moneyglass group a close run for it.
Under the watchful eye and ear of Bernie McCoy, it will be no surprise if this group collect and All-Ireland title. Once again the question time held the audience spellbound and it took the final six-mark question to separate the men from the boys. At the end of the second round the Mitchel’s team from Belfast, who had performed so wonderfully well in the semi-final stages of the competition, just a week ago, were once again setting the pace and were four points ahead of Cargin and Glenariffe.
They still were out in front in rounds three and four although Glenariffe were handily placed. At the end of round five, it was evident that it was a three-cornered fight. Dunloy, having made up a considerable amount of leeway. They had 26 points with Mitchel’s leading with 32 points and Glenariffe with 28 points. Then came something of a sensation, when question master, Oliver Kearney, announced that Glenariffe has earlier answered a four-mark question correctly and had not been credited with their marks. This put them on level terms with Mitchel’s and in the final round the Glensmen were the only team capable of satisfying the question master, thus giving them the ’75 title.
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