Beo finalists with judges Paddy Mc Kenna 2 fm, Cian Mac Carraigh Radio na Liffey, Nadine Ni Mhaoldonaigh TV3, Jackie Hayden Hot Press and Barbara Ní Dhonnacha TG4 and Cllr Paschal Blake, Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre. Photo: Donna El Assaad
So there it is another year of BEO gigs complete and newcomers Colaiste na Trionoide crowned Comórtas BEO champions for 2014.
A jubilant Caroline Ní Fhiaich admitted after that the competition was the tonic needed in east Cork to bring the students of the new Colaiste na Trionoide together after the recent amalgamation of three schools in Youghal.
Pobal Scoil na Rossan students who made the presenation at Beo are Liam McGee, Dylan Rodgers, Michelle Hoey, Wojtek Hordyniec and Alison Graham.
Beoghal as the east Cork town is now known charmed the judging panel with a dramatized presentation of why their gig hosting Gavin James was the best school gig hosted in Ireland in 2013/14. This was evident when judge Paddy Mc Kenna took a spontaneous selfie with the 25 strong troupe mid presentation.
This year is the third year of the running of Comortas BEO an event hosted by Colaiste Ailigh Letterkenny to find the school that can organise and realise the best live music event in their own school community. They must also promote the image of the cupla focal and a social conscience in their event.
The competition brief was released in September with 38 schools registering. They submitted a 7 minute video of their event and BEO’s Mike Baker was tasked with reducing the list to 6 finalists.
First up were Pobalscoil na Rossan the only school to make it to the final of Comórtas BEO all three years. A fantastic presentation from Edel Mc Laughlin’s Dungloe School was sold short with the omission of live footage from their gig. The Rosses school hosted Mojo Gogo and turned the school upside down in what sounded like a fantastic show.
Judges Paddy McKenna, 2fm, Cian McCarthy, RnaG, Nadine Maloney, TV3, Jackie Hayden and Barbara Nic Dhonnacha, TG4.
Youghal were then followed by Boyne Community School who decided to have an event structured around school based talent. Linda Murphy’s students composed various new songs in Irish to enter the competition and did an excellent job of selling their interpretation to the judges.
Carrick were next up and were stuttered by technical issues at the start of their presentation. Noel Wards charges recovered well and presented footage of what, to this scribe looked like the best actual gig. Carrick hosted Belfast rock band More than Conquerors in an excellent event that would see them secure second place overall.
Next up were Abbeyfeale who made the trip to Donegal via Italy. The school and their teacher Ryan Kinelly were returning from a school tour that saw them arrive in Dublin at 11pm the previous night. 6 bottles of Lucozade later and the schools presentation was a go. Their presentation was also hampered by technical problems but the schools performance led them to third place on the podium. The Limerick school hosted the largest gig of all with 450 attending. They even managed to get teachers dancing to Rap group Random Acts of Kindness.
Selfie… by Paddy McKenna, 2FM with students from Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, Youghal after their presentation at the Beo finals.
Pre competition favourite Grennen College led by Sarah Fitzpatrick hosted the excellent Neon Wolf in Thomastown to a hugh local crowd will feel they left the prizes behind them. A dejected Principal O Sullivan was hurting for his students who he witnessed worked so hard and to see them fail to place was difficult for them. “The tragedy of competition”
The day also saw guest speakers Linda Ervine from Belfast educate the gathering on Irish in East Belfast, followed by Keith Johnson from IMRO with some advice to young talent on how to copy write their music. This was Keith’s first brush with BEO and he seemed to really enjoy the experience.
Judge since the beginning Jackie Hayden commented on the increased quality of the entries. “Previously it would have been easy to choose the top three but not today. We (the judges) had some debating to do and I tell you it was not a unanimous decision”
The night finished with a excellent gig from Neon Wolf and Paddy Mc Kennas Storyfold with both groups promoting new material to be available shortly.
Seosamh Mac Ceallabhuí reflecting on Comórtas BEO 2014 suggested it was really humbling to see other school taking our que here in Donegal and delivering gigs with original music all over the country. Hope we can do it all again in 2015.
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