Teenagers from Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny and Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair took six awards at the recent All-Ireland Final of Scléip 2019.
Organised annually by Gael Linn for Irish medium second-level schools nationwide, and funded by Foras na Gaeilge, Scléip is a celebration of contemporary music, song, dance ‘as Gaeilge’.
The final was held in the Clasach theatre, Clontarf, Dublin on Wednesday, January 30, and almost 300 star-struck students, who had qualified through preliminary rounds before Christmas, were on stage during the event.
Coláiste Ailigh musicians, Afraic Ní Bhróithe and Pól Mac Giolla Easpaig, took first and second places respectively in the senior and junior Contemporary Music competition (Ceol Comhaimseartha), while Amy Ní Chléirigh sang her way to first place in the senior section of the Solo Self-Accompanied Singing competition (Amhránaíocht Aonair le Féintionlacan).
The school enjoyed further success when their group, ‘Rasta Cneasta’ won the Contemporary Singing Groups senior category (Grúpaí Amhránaíochta Comhaimseartha le Féintionlacan – Sinsear), against stiff opposition from schools in Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Galway and Cork.
Teacher Marie Nic Thaidhg was delighted with her pupils’ achievement. However, their success didn’t finish there.
The Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair dance troupe, Ciara, Ríoghnach, Deirdre, Erin and Katelyn, were awarded first place for their wonderful contemporary presentation, and singer, Hannah Nic Pháidín, not only won first place in the Solo Singing with Backing Track junior section but also took the Special Merit Award.
Gradam Scléip took first place for the best overall act at the final, in the opinion of the adjudicators. All the winners were presented with specially-designed plaques.
See some of the best moments from the day below.
