NOTE PERFECT PATRICIA IS AN IRISH CHAMPION

A local teenager has emerged victorious from the all-Ireland final of Scléip which is a popular competition that celebrates contemporary music, song and dance ‘as Gaeilge’.

Patricia Ní Leathlobhair, from Enniscorthy, who is a pupil in Meánscoil Gharman, took the top prize in the solo self-unaccompanied singing category (Amhránaíocht Aonair le Féin-Tionlacan).

The competition is an annual event organised by Gael Linn for Irish medium second-level schools across the country and is funded by Foras na Gaeilge.

The final was held in the Clasach theatre, Clontarf, Dublin, last Wednesday, and featured almost 300 students from all over Ireland who qualified through preliminary stages before Christmas.

Patricia sang her way to success in the junior section of the competition and faced very stiff opposition from schools entrants from Cork, Donegal, Galway and Carlow. Her teacher, Clare Kavanagh, was delighted with her achievement.

Seán Ó Ceallaigh, from Gael Linn, commented on the competition and said: ‘ There has been and huge increase in the popularity of contemporary song and music in Irish among young people today, with groups such as Seo Linn, IMLÉ and Kneecap taking centre stage at festivals like Electric Picnic and ‘Féile na Gealaigh’.’

He said his organisation plans to ‘encourage and nurture the young musicians and singers of the future through their participation in Scléip’.