Sean McCarthy Memorial Ballad Competition 2023

Our Weekend Festival in Finuge was a great success and very well supported from all over. A BIG Thank You to Sponsors.

Final List of Ballads for the Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition

NAME	ADDRESS	SONG TITLE
Gerry Keogh	Killoughtee, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick	The Old Way
Pat McCarthy	Lockfodder, Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry	Tell Me What Happened Yesterday
Marion McEvoy	92 Lindsey Road, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin	The Ghost of Kathleen Lynn
Michael McKenna	Co. Leitrim	Gallows Hill
Caroline O Callaghan	Banna, Arfert, Co. Kerry	My Maryann
Pete Gilroy		Claddagh
Leanne O Shea Hennessey & Carl Lundrigan	56 Cois Looi, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co kerry	Sister Isles
John Kinsela	Listowel Co. Kerry	Our Own Vicar Joe
Noelle O Sullivan	Ballyhorgan, West Lixnaw Co. Kerry	Simone
Peter Keenan	Lakeside Downs, Blessington Co. Wicklow	Old School Photograph
Barney McCabe	Dringeen Cong Co. Mayo	Dublin Love Lock
Maurice McSweney		Tom Crean
Barry Tierney	Friar’s Lodge, Kinsale Co. Cork	Lord Wind and Bright Yellow

Mick McCarthy Story Telling List of Adult Entrants

NAME	ADDRESS	STORY TITLE

Paddy Commane	Co. Clare	Bikini Line
Godfrey Coppingery	Listowel Co. Kerry	Reincarnation
John Carew		Geroid Larla
Patsy McDermot	Trousers
Domnic Bennet	Co. Antrim	The Bumber Book of Irish Songs
Maire Gillen	Co. Cork	Wolfe Eyes
Francis Kennedy	Listowel Co. Kerry	Hurling Warriors
Danny Larkin	Ballybunion Co. Kerry	Getting Depressed
James Fogarty	Moyvane Co. Kerry	Cutting the Turf
Sonny Egan	Lixnaw Co. Kerry	The Pigeon
Tom Moore	Moyvane Co. Kerry	Left it Late for a Wife
Diarmuid Cronin	Millstreet Co. Cork	Caught for Words

Mick McCarthy Story Telling List of Juvenile Entrants

NAME	STORY TITLE

Rian Gleeson	The Great Escape
Allie Casey	Saying the Holy Communion
Clodagh O Sullivan	The Trials of Fr. Kelly
J J Liston	Minding the Kitchen
Nancy Ní Chonchuir	An Rí Déamus agus an Tailiúir

The Winners of last years Ballad Competition ...

1st Gerry Keogh from Limerick with his Ballad "Safe Harbour"

2nd Barney McCabe from Mayo with his Ballad "The Convent Avenue"

3rd Caroline O Callaghan from Ardfert with her Ballad "Remembering Heart"

The winners of the Mick McCarthy Storytelling Adult Competition...

1st James Fogarty from Moyvane with his Story "BOOM, BURST, BOOM"

2nd Francis Kennedy from Listowel with her story "Nobody's Perfect"

Joint 3rd Chrisie Roche from Limerick with thier story "Up for the Match" & Paddy Commane from Clare with his story "Lisdoonvarna Folk Festival"

Kindly Sponsored by Lionel McCarthy from Dublin

Juvenile Storytelling Competition..

The standard for the juvenile competition was outstanding

Joint winners:

J.J. Liston Lixnaw Kerry "Minding the House"

Nancy O Connor Farranfore Kerry "Bridie or Bridin"

Rian Gleeson Killarney "The Visit"

Rules for the Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition

Entries to be received by no later than 5pm on 19th July 2024
Entries to be submitted on CD with 3 typed copies (Or in very clear handwriting) Also your E-Mail address
Entries to be accompanied by cheque/postal order for €25.00 Make payable to the Sean McCarthy Memoraial Weekend.
No entries will be returned.
Name, address and telephone number and email to be clearly written on CD cover and on the back of each copy of lyrics.
Finalists will perform their entry in Teach Siamsa Finuge.
The overall winner and runner-up will be decided then.
Entries may be in English or Irish. One or Two Musicians only to Accompany the Performer.
Entries must be original and not previously performed or published.
No in-house music supplied by committee.
No pre-recorded backing music allowed.
Adjudicators’ decision is final.(3Judges)
Make Cheques or Postal Orders Payable to Sean McCarthy Weekend.

Performances on the night of the final may be recorded and /or video @ the Committees discretion. Such recordings may be played /transmitted on the sound and visual media, e.g. radio, television, Internet; entrants are deemed to have given their permission for it unless otherwise indicated by them to the Committee

Send entries to...

Peggie O’Connell, Irremore, Listowel Co.Kerry.

Mobile: 087 -9049371

Enquiries: Bridget O’Connor, phone 087–6250516

E-mail: info@finugeweekend.com www.finugeweekend.com

We are also keeping this year for the Mick McCarthy Storytelling Competition.....

the category for the younger age groups

anyone under 18 years of age

Once Upon A Time......

Downlown Rules For Mick McCarthy Story Telling Competition

Rules for the Mick McCarthy Story Telling Competition

The story must be Irish in character and told in a local style
Just send the Name of the Story you are going to Perform.
{Hand writing must be clear and all entries must be clearly marked “Story Telling” on envelope.}
Entries must be received no later than 5 pm on the 26th July 2024
Final will take place in Teach Siamsa Finuge.
An Entry fee for adults of €10,00 and for underage €5.00 must be paid.
The theme can be humorous, serious or a mixture of both, historic and true to tradition.
The length of the story must be a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 6 minutes.
Marking system
1. accuracy and fluency of speed 40%
2. Irish content (humorous, serious, historical) 40%
3. Confidence/Serenity 20%

Story Telling and Adjudication Criteria

Story

Clear narrative is put across; characters, places and events are well developed and described with a creative use of language.

Telling

There is a sense of character and style in the telling. Audience interest is kept throughout with natural flow and “fireside” ease and with humour or emotion where appropriate.

Interpretation and /or originality

New stories and old stories are welcome and can be on any topic or theme and Irish in character. Key considerations should be….

Has an original story been well conveyed?
Has an old story been re-imagined and / or delivered creatively?
Has a new story been created and told in the traditional Irish style and of good standard?

Duration

For the purposes of scheduling, tellers are required to keep their stories between 3 and 6 minutes in duration in competition. Judges may deduct points if competitors run over.

Sean McCarthy Memorial Ballad Competition 2023

Final List of Ballads for the Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition

Mick McCarthy Story Telling List of Adult Entrants

Mick McCarthy Story Telling List of Juvenile Entrants

J.J. Liston Lixnaw Kerry "Minding the House"

Nancy O Connor Farranfore Kerry "Bridie or Bridin"

Rian Gleeson Killarney "The Visit"

Rules for the Sean McCarthy Ballad Competition

Entries to be received by no later than 5pm on 19th July 2024

Entries to be submitted on CD with 3 typed copies (Or in very clear handwriting) Also your E-Mail address

Entries to be accompanied by cheque/postal order for €25.00 Make payable to the Sean McCarthy Memoraial Weekend.

No entries will be returned.

Name, address and telephone number and email to be clearly written on CD cover and on the back of each copy of lyrics.

Finalists will perform their entry in Teach Siamsa Finuge.

The overall winner and runner-up will be decided then.

Entries may be in English or Irish. One or Two Musicians only to Accompany the Performer.

Entries must be original and not previously performed or published.

No in-house music supplied by committee.

No pre-recorded backing music allowed.

Adjudicators’ decision is final.(3Judges)

Make Cheques or Postal Orders Payable to Sean McCarthy Weekend.

Send entries to...

Peggie O’Connell, Irremore, Listowel Co.Kerry.

Mobile: 087 -9049371

Enquiries: Bridget O’Connor, phone 087–6250516

E-mail: info@finugeweekend.com www.finugeweekend.com

the category for the younger age groups

anyone under 18 years of age

Rules for the Mick McCarthy Story Telling Competition

The story must be Irish in character and told in a local style

Just send the Name of the Story you are going to Perform.

{Hand writing must be clear and all entries must be clearly marked “Story Telling” on envelope.}

Entries must be received no later than 5 pm on the 26th July 2024

Final will take place in Teach Siamsa Finuge.

An Entry fee for adults of €10,00 and for underage €5.00 must be paid.

The theme can be humorous, serious or a mixture of both, historic and true to tradition.

The length of the story must be a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 6 minutes.

Marking system

accuracy and fluency of speed 40%

Irish content (humorous, serious, historical) 40%

Confidence/Serenity 20%​

Story Telling and Adjudication Criteria

Story

Clear narrative is put across; characters, places and events are well developed and described with a creative use of language.

Telling

There is a sense of character and style in the telling. Audience interest is kept throughout with natural flow and “fireside” ease and with humour or emotion where appropriate.

Interpretation and /or originality

New stories and old stories are welcome and can be on any topic or theme and Irish in character. Key considerations should be….

Has an original story been well conveyed?

Has an old story been re-imagined and / or delivered creatively?

Has a new story been created and told in the traditional Irish style and of good standard?

Duration

For the purposes of scheduling, tellers are required to keep their stories between 3 and 6 minutes in duration in competition. Judges may deduct points if competitors run over.

Confidence/Serenity 20%