No Name celebrations

YOUNG STARS Pictured in the TF Royal Theatre at the No Name Club’s 30th Annual Dinner and Awards night, Host and Hostess of the Year Winners Andrew Finn from the Claremorris Club and Michelle McIntyre from the Tuam Club, with MC for the evening Ruth Scott.

Claremorris on the double

Almost 1,000 teenagers enjoyed a night of drama and entertainment in the TF Royal Theatre on Saturday night – and no alcohol in sight

Emer Gallagher

CLAREMORRIS No Name club did it on the double last weekend when Paddy Burke handed over the prestigious national title of ‘Host of the Year’ to fellow club member Andrew Finn.
The glamourous occasion that was the No Name Club’s National Youth Awards took place in Castlebar last Saturday and, true to the nature of the voluntary organisation, there was no alcohol involved.
The 25th annual presentation of the Host and Hostess of the Year drew a crowd of almost 1,000 to the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre on Saturday evening and the guests even stayed for a sleepover! All the young people attending brought sleeping bags and tents and set up camp after the ceremonies and disco had taken place and put their heads down for the night.
Bubbly 2fm DJ Ruth Scott was the popular compere for the night and made sure the young people voiced their full support for the finalists.
Claremorris teenager Andrew Finn was one of the four male finalists in the running for the prestigious title of ‘Host of the Year’ and was a popular winner on the night.
Speaking to The Mayo News afterwards, the 18-year-old said: “I’m thrilled. I’m still above on cloud nine. I was a bit surprised as in the 25 years of the competition there have never been two winners in a row from the same club.”
Winning the title was also a remarkable personal achievement for the young man from Derrymore, outside Claremorris, who once described himself as shy. As he told the amused audience in Castlebar last weekend, he had to overcome his shyness when he had to take to the stage as a woman a few months after joining the club. The articulate young man regaled the audience of his peers with his experiences in the No Name Club and his many hobbies and his community work including his involvement in the Red Cross and Claremorris Community Radio.
His performance can only be described as magical as, for his party piece, he wowed the audience with a Keith Barry inspired trick that drew gasps of disbelief.
Tuam native Rochelle McIntyre won the hotly-contested ‘Hostess of the Year’ award and will join Andrew as MC for a number of national events in the coming year. They will also travel around to schools in September in a bid to recruit new host and hostesses.
Maria Walsh from Shrule, the national PRO of the No Name Club, said the event was a testament to the young people involved. “There is no alcohol here and, more importantly, there is no need for it because they are having such a good time,” said Maria.