Coosan's Golden Girl collects a fifth gold medal

Local girl Cliodhna Golden completed an impressive string of successes at the National Community Games when her performance with the Beechpark/Coosan Variety Group last weekend earned her a fifth gold medal at the last six finals of the event. The 15-year-old from Hillquarter, Coosan, was captain of the 14-member Variety group which took the top prize with their entry 'Let Us Entertain You' at the finals in Athlone IT's John McCormack Hall last Saturday. "The support we got last weekend was absolutely brilliant. There were so many people from Athlone and Westmeath in general who were cheering us on," said Cliodhna. The latest gold medal in her collection now sits alongside those she won the Variety group in 2005, 2006 and 2008. She also took the top prize in the Under-14 All Ireland solo singing competition at the games in 2008. The Our Lady's Bower student, who is the daughter of Sharon and Barry Golden, was keen to stress that last weekend's victory was the result of a team effort made by numerous people. "We had 14 members, including my sister Aisling and cousin Chloe," she said. "The Variety competition is really competitive so everyone had to pull together as a team." Cliodhna and her mother, Sharon, paid tribute in particular to the Variety group's producer Joe Duke, choreographer Niamh Donohoe and musical arranger Fiona McManus. They also congratulated Brendan Gibbons, who previously won three gold medals with the Beechpark/Coosan Variety Group, on his victory in Under-16 swimming at the games last weekend. Cliodhna's sisters Shauna (18) and Aisling (12) have won two gold medals apiece at the Community Games, taking their combined total to nine gold medals. "All of the girls have learned so much from the Community Games. It has given them massive confidence," said Sharon. "The Coosan/Beechpark area is a great place for Variety. The kids are really into it, a lot of families are involved and the parents are so supportive." Cliodhna, Shauna and Aisling, performing as The Golden Sisters, were featured in RTE's All Ireland Talent Show earlier this year. They perform together at weddings and other functions, including a recent appearance at the European Festival in Athlone. They will also appear at the town's Dean Crowe Theatre during the upcoming National Culture Night on September 24. This latest victory was Cliodhna's last in the Community Games, as her age means she will no longer be eligible to take part in 2011. "Every summer has been taken up with preparing and taking part in the Community Games, so I don't know what I'm going to do next year!" she said. However her love for the stage is something she is keen to pursue in the years ahead. "I love it. I try not to get nervous when I'm going on stage - instead I get really excited and then I try to use that excitement in the performance," she commented.