Great news tonight from the Cumann na mBunscol National Awards Ceremony in Kilkenny as Cumann na mBunscol Liatroma has taken the National Award for the Promotion of Gaelic Games and Culture for its ongoing Hurling Initiative. The initiative which was piloted in six schools from Hallowe’en to Christmas and has since seen the project move on to six other schools this term, has beaten off stiff competition from Cork and Dublin to take the National Award, sponsored by Cornmarket. Well done again to all the schools to date, its pupils and teachers, who have taken this initiative in their stride and we look forward to the continued growth of this project in remaining Leitrim schools. The in-school success has been driven by teaching staffs at the various locations and we are delighted with their enthusiasm. Well done also to the officials of Cumann na mBunscol Liatroma who have worked very hard in pushing this project out with very valued assistance from Leitrim Coaching and Games Development and Hurling Coach Michael Carroll.

Armagh and Crossmaglen legend Oisin McConville was interviewed by John Lynch at a recent Leitrim GAA Coaching workshop.
The well-attended workshop delivered by McConville and held at the Leitrim GAA Centre of Excellence was based on the theme “Effective Forward Play and Decision making in front of goals”.

The Information Evening for Club Insurance Officers will take on Monday night next at 8pm. The venue for this important event is the Landmark Hotel, Ck-on-Shannon and not the Bush Hotel as previously notified. All clubs are encouraged to have a representative at this meeting.

As a result of further overnight snow in some areas and frosty conditions, it has been decided to postpone Scór Sinsir until next Saturday, March 10th. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

As a partial thaw has set in and the majority of county primary and secondary roads are clearing well of snow this afternoon, the Leitrim Scór Committee will make a firm decision tomorrow morning regarding the Scór Sinsir Finals which are scheduled to go ahead in Drumshanbo tomorrow evening. If any area is further affected by overnight snow please inform Scór Rúnaí Claire Crossan at 0876472547 asap tomorrow morning. As is stands the event is still on tomorrow evening.

CCC Liatroma has advised this evening that all club adult and underage games, scheduled for this weekend, have been postponed. Be safe everyone.

Leitrim handball hosted the Connaught Finals of the Colleges Connaught Finals in Drumshanbo and Fenagh Handball Clubs on Sunday last. 17 Games were played in Total to complete the competition. Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim took part. The competition consisted of four Grades. First Year, Junior, Minor and Senior in Boys and Girls.
Leitrim had 8 players taking part. Ronan Moran, Edel O Donnel, Amy O Donnell, Evan Foley, Dean Cornyn, Karl
Foley all from Drumshanbo Vocational School. Darren Wrynne from Ballinamore Community School. Aoibhe Logan who Played for Ursuline College Sligo.In total, Leitrim players came home with 7 Silver Medals.  Congrats to all. Leitrim Handball would like to thank all the referees and all the people who fed the players and their families on the day as this was the first time this event came to Leitrim.

Scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta 2018 – There was a large number of applicants for the Gaeltacht grants offered by Coiste Contae Liatroma. This year, Leitrim County Board GAA was pleased to receive support from Leitrim County Council. This allowed the Board to increase the number of grants made. Grants of between €200 and €400 were awarded to the winners.

Is deas a fheiceáil go bhfuil an méid sin daoine óga ag dul go dtí an Ghaeltacht chun a gcuid Ghaeilge a fheabhsú. Buíochas do na buachaillí agus na cailíní go léir a chuir isteach ar na scoláireachtaí agus comhghairdeas do na buaiteoirí. Buíochas freisin do Choláiste na bhFiann agus Coláiste Ó Direáin a thug páirt-scoláireachtaí dúinn.

Buaiteoirí

1. Caillin Murphy, Cornacreagh, Béal an Átha Móir

2. Shane Smith, Drumroosk North, Fíonach

3. Cillian Cullen, Ballyduff, Béal an Átha Móir

4. Maria Mc Grenaghan, Cornaroy, Droim Seanbhó

5. Emmet Doran, Finisklin, Carrick on Shannon

6. Eentje Ó Gaibheacháin Dunagáin, Farnagh, Carrick on Shannon

7. Alva Sheridan, Clooneen, Manorhamilton

8. Elanor Smith, Hartley Carrick on Shannon

9. Micheal O Conallain, Fawnlion, Fivmilebourne

10. Mark Lowe, Corhownagh Carrick on Shannon

11. Muireann Devaney, Mulcaun, Glencar

12. Liam Torsney, Ardakip Beg

13. Gemma McNamara, Gortnacamdarragh, Cloone

14. Rachel McGarry, Drumleague, Leitrim PO

15. Seán Ó Niadh, Hartley, Cora Droma Rúisc

16. Maria Cunningham, Sonnaghbeg, Cloone

17. Cormac Redican, Drumroosk North, Fíonach

Finola Armstrong-McGuire, Cathaoirleach Comhairle Contae Liatroma, and Attracta O’Reilly, Leitrim County Board GAA County Secretary doing the draw for Gaeltacht Grants in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada. Leitrim County Council provided funding for some of the grants in 2018.

In order for the GAA and its games to survive, we need to recruit new referees. This especially applies to clubs who have no referees and have had no referee in years. A special effort has to be made to unearth this rare species in these clubs. Some clubs in our county continue to supply the board with top class referees and we thank them sincerely for that while others pay lip service and simply do nothing but complain. The opportunity for each club to rectify this problem can be sorted by putting forward at least one suitable if not two suitable people for training on March 9th in the Bush Hotel at 8 o clock. Contact Sean at 0861267414 for any more details.

The All-Ireland Scór na nÓg Finals took place last Saturday 17th February in the Knocknarea Arena, Sligo. A sold out packed venue, showing the enthusiasm for clubs nationwide to support the talented young people from across the country.

In Question Time, Leitrim were represented on Saturday morning in the ballroom of the Clayton Hotel by Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s. Tough questions put to the teams this year and was eventually won by Cornafean of Cavan. Leitrim boys did very well coming in 11th place, the top spot once again of the Connacht teams. This year’s Quizmaster was John Devaney from County Down GAA Board.
Leitrim was honoured to have 3 more acts representing Connacht on the stage for the live stream in the Arena. All of the competitors have trained hard over the past few weeks and were anxious to do their very best, particularly knowing the world may be watching. St Mary’s dancers were first act on stage in Sligo and they were honoured to be opening the show. Their performance of the Cross Reel was excellent but just not enough to bring the title back to Leitrim. Mohill’s Amelia Pajak was the last of the 4 solo singers to perform. She gave a beautiful rendition of Siúil a Rún, but the title went to Cork.

Last up for Leitrim was three times Connacht champions St Marys ballad group. Their performance was highly anticipated by the audience. Despite their best efforts it was not enough to secure the All-Ireland title. Despite no wins last Saturday all of our competitors did Leitrim and Connacht extremely proud.
The one and only medal to go to Connacht went to Katie Heneghan of St Aidan’s Roscommon. This is the young ladies 2nd win in this competition, having previously won the  Recitation cup in 2016.

TG4 were also in Sligo to record the day’s proceedings. Broadcasting the event live on YouTube for the very first time in the history of Scór. It was a huge draw for people unable to travel or secure tickets for the sold-out event. A one-hour highlights programme will be shown on TG4 at a further date and details will be circulated as soon as it is confirmed. Meanwhile, the live stream shown on Saturday last is available online.

All Ireland Scór na nÓg Champions 2018

Tráth na gCeisteanna Boird: Cornafean, Cavan. Rince Foirne – Killeavy, Armagh. Amhránaíocht Aonair – Maggie Moynihan, Cullen club, Cork. Aithriseoireacht- Katie Heneghan, St Aidan’s, Roscommon. Bailéad Ghrúpa – Carberry Rangers, Cork. Léiriú- The Downs, Westmeath. Ceol Uirlise – Borris/Kilcotten, Laois. Rince Seit – Spa, Kerry.

Senior Scór is going straight to the County Final once again. It will be held in the Mayflower Drumshanbo on the 3rd of March with the county title winners going forward to the Connaught final in on Monday 19th of March at 4pm. The Leitrim final will start with quiz at approx. 6pm, followed by the main stage, approx. 7.30pm. Entries for the Leitrim final to be submitted by return of email irishculturalofficer.leitrim@gaa.ie by Monday 26th February.

Scór na mBunscoileanna dates have been set for 9th & 10th of March – Venues are Cloone & Drumshanbo Mayflower. Both nights at 6pm. It is hoped that Schools Scór be encouraged and receive any assistance needed by the county clubs for participation as this is where the talent and love of the music song & dance is nurtured. It is a fantastic outlet & will help identify new people in your community that may not necessarily be involved in field games but may like to join the club and get involved in the area. Full details have been issued to the schools and to clubs.

Connacht 40×20 Juvenile A Finals – The Connacht Juvenile A finals were played in Claregalway Co. Galway on Saturday with two Leitrim handballers in action: Ciaran McMorrow (Drumshanbo HC) and Cormac Scollan (Fenagh HC). It wasn’t to be Leitrim’s day with both players coming up against stronger opposition. In the U14 final, Ciaran was defeated by Mikey Kelly (Galway) while In the U16 final Cormac was defeated by Lorcan Conlon (Mayo).

Connacht Junior B Championship – Jarlath Scollan was awarded the Connacht Junior B title after his opponent Jonathan Conroy (Mayo) conceded the final due to injury on Saturday. Jarlath faces Munster opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday, March 4th. In the Connacht 40×20 Junior B Doubles quarter-final, Fenagh’s Alan Wrynne and Barry McDonagh take on Stanley Harte and Tony Fox (Sligo) tonight (Wednesday) in Collooney at 8.00pm.
Connacht Colleges B Finals – Leitrim will host the Colleges B finals this Sunday with games being played in Drumshanbo and Fenagh alleys.

The following were the lucky winners at last night’s February County Committee Meeting:

January Winners

€100 – Brenda and Paul Mulvey, Ballinaglera GAA Club

€100 – Enda Stenson, Eslin GAA Club

€100 – Sean McGovern, Cloone GAA Club

€100 – Fergus Torsney, St. Patrick’s Dromahair GAA Club

€100 – Geraldine Walpole, Mohill GAA Club

€300 – Bornacoola GAA Club

February Winners

€100 – Tom Crowe, St Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA Club

€100 – Joe Shannon, St Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA Club

€100 – Sean McGovern, Cloone GAA Club

€100 – Gerry McGovern, Cloone GAA Club

€100 – Michael and Noel McGirl, Drumreilly GAA Club

€300 – St. Patrick’s Dromahair GAA Club