Last month Gary O’Brien, Chairman of Ballincollig Community Forum, welcomed a large audience to the Oriel Hotel. Ballincollig for the Final of 
2019. A large number of competitors took to the stage, many for the first time, with Betty Smith who is an energetic 82. When Betty is not dancing she keeps busy producing her own home made delicious Poitín Marmalade. With so many contestants, there wasn’t a lull in the whole show and everything ran smoothly on the night. After the final act the voting by the audience took place, and the Judges Henning Dressel, Jenny Buckley and Dermot Holmes also added up their votes. During the counting of votes, the Audience were entertained by the wonderful Ceoltóirí Mhúscraí, a beautifully balanced group of Irish musicians, under the leadership of Ballincolligs own Martin Power. MC, Mr Dick Beamish, invited Jimmy Healy and Michael N Twomey to oblige with a song before the votes came in, and both former Ballincollig Over 60′s winners rose to the challenge, much to the delight of the audience. The winners on the night were Amy Field in third place, Abigail Breen second, with three nine year old girls Maeve Buckley, Amy Collins and Heather McCormack taking first prize. Ballincollig Community Forum member, Niamh Buckley presented the trio with first prize which was sponsored by Ballincollig Credit Union.
