Athboy wins Macra novelty act
Meath Macra members celebrated a win and four runner-up places at the National Final of the Macra National Talent Competition in The Helix Theatre, Dublin. Athboy won the Novelty Act title for the first time to bring its National Talent title haul to 23 and Meath’s to 34 when their novelty item won them the adjudicators’ verdict. The team comprised Caoimhe Leavy, Celine Smyth, Claire Gough, Sarah Beirne, Aislinn Sheridan, Siobhan Kearney, Jenny Faulkner and Tara Cadden.
The same group, minus Jenny and Tara, made up the Disco Dancing team which was runner-up to Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway in Disco Dancing. Athboy member Alan Beirne put up a great performance in Mastermind to finish in second place behind winner Liam O’Sullivan of Newcastlewest, Co Limerick. Alan, taking Cinema as his specialist topic, was in the lead by one mark, 12 points to 11 for two of his three opponents, after the first 90 second speed round on specialist topics but Liam O’Sullivan of Newcastlewest, Co Limerick outscored Alan by 14 to 10 in the second speed round on general knowledge to emerge victorious on a score of 25 with Alan on 22, the Dublin competitor on 19 and the Cork competitor a further point back in fourth with a total of 18 points.
Pop / Folk Ballad Group has become a marquee event for Athboy over the years and the club has appeared in the National Final in that event on no less than fifteen occasions with six victories and numerous runner-up places. On Saturday night, despite excellent renditions of ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘The Longest Time’, Athboy had to accept another second place finish behind the winners, an excellent group from Clodagh Macra club in Co Tipperary. The Athboy group comprised Aoife Mooney, Tara Cadden, Joe Healy, Sarah Beirne, Caoimhe Leavy and Celine Smyth. Indeed the latter two made National Talent history on Saturday night by becoming the first people ever to compete in four events in a National Final as they were also members of the Set Dancing group, along with Siobhan Kearney and Aislinn Sheridan, which competed in Set Dancing which was won by Bantry, Co. Cork with Termonfeckin in second place.
Meath’s fourth second place finish in the Talent Final came courtesy of Kilcloon Macra member Ann Murphy in Solo Singing. She gave an excellent rendition of the Kodaline hit song ‘All I Want’ but had to be satisfied with runner-up position behind the winner Seamus McWeeney from South Leitrim Macra.
The winning Athboy Novelty Act team plus the various individuals and groups who came second were presented on stage at the end of the night with engraved Dublin Crystal trophies by new Macra National President Kieran O’Dowd.