Ferbane Ballad Group Wins All-Ireland Title
Thursday, 23 February 2012
The ballad group from Ferbane which won the All-Ireland Scor na nOg title last weekend (l. to r.) Ciaran Reynolds (teacher), Zoe Rooney, Reveina Devery, Niamh Delaney, Avril Spain, Valene Greer, Deborah Reynolds (music teacher in Gallen CS). MT08111
A ballad group from Gallen Community School, representing Ferbane GAA, won the outright title of All Ireland champions in the Ballad Group section of the Scór na nóg competition held in Castlebar last Saturday.
Chants of 'Uibh Fhaile, Uibh Fhaile', a sound more often associated with the terraces than the theatre, rang out when the result was announced.
Following their victory in Ballymore in the Leinster Final the girls - Zoe Rooney, Reveina Devery, Niamh Delaney, Avril Spain, Valene Greer - have continued with many hours of practice under the guidance of Ms Deborah Reynolds, music teacher in Gallen CS, assisted by her brother Ciaran Reynolds. So committed were they that they came into school during their Christmas holidays and every day of their mid-term to practice with their teacher.
Singing 'Through The Eyes Of An Irishman' and 'The Mad Lady And Me', the girls gave an outstanding performance. The group were up against teams from Tyrone, Tipperary and Roscommon representing the other three provinces.
The judges remarked on the excellence of their diction, their beautiful harmonies, vocal excellence and their ease on stage in front of a packed audience including a group of supporters from the school and Ferbane. The girls and their mentors were given a warm reception in Ferbane on their return Sunday night.
Congratulations to all involved on winning this All Ireland Achievement in Scór na nÓg. The group did their club, county and province proud and were thoroughly deserving of their win. The Na Fianna Instrumental Group of Mark Garry, Grace Dunne, Muireann Carton, Helen Brady and Rachel Abraham also performed excellently on the day and hopes were high of a possible double victory, but when the results were announced, there was disappointment as they were pipped by Munster representatives, Ballydonoghue of Kerry. However reaching an All Ireland final is a major achievement in itself and well done to all involved with this young group who also did the county proud.
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