Speaking at the closing of the Claregalway Festival of Drama, Michael Hession thanked the many people who had made the festival such a success. Special tribute was paid to the sponsors and advertisers. Mary Kelly made a presentation to Festival President Mary Moran and Secretary Sheila Hession made a presentation to Adjudicator Tom Byrne in appreciation of their contribution to Claregalway Festival of Drama. Many tributes were paid to the Festival committee for their huge efforts in the organising of making the festival such a mammoth success.
Adjudicator Tom Byrne paid tribute to Claregalway who ran a very caring Festival of Drama. He said that the people involved were caring and that the Claregalway Festival of Drama committee expressed tremendous care to the groups, the audience, the sponsors and to all that they had to work with. Tom Byrne added that the standard of amateur drama in the Claregalway Festival was very high and that his task as adjudicator was extremely difficult. He thanked everybody for their support and wished them continued success.
Claregalway Festival of Drama concluded with the Best Overall Production going to Thurles Drama Group for their presentation of “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller. Thurles Drama Group also took the best play in the Open Section and Margaret McCormack of Thurles Drama Group took the Best Director (Open) award. Thurles Drama Group also took the Best Actor award with David McElgunn taking the award for portraying the part of Chris Keller in “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller. Donal Ryan who played the part of George Deever in “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller won the Best Supporting Actor award. The Best Actress Award in the Open Section went to Katie Holly of Shoestring Theatre who played the role of Breda in “Eden” by Eugene O’Brien. The Best Supporting Actress Award in the Open Section was won by Eileen Lahiffe of Corofin Dramatic Society for portraying the part of Mrs Kilbride in “By the Bog of Cats” by Marina Carr.
In the Confined section Compántas Lir took the Best Play in their section with “The Way You Look Tonight” by Niall Williams. Phillip Cribbin of Compántas Lir took the Best Director Award in the Confined section. The Best Actor Award in the Confined Section went to Michael Tevenan of Glenamaddy Players who played the part of Nial Lynch in “Moment” by Deirdre Kinahan. The Best Supporting Actor Award in the Confined Section was won by Dermot Hession for the part of Francis in “The Way You Look Tonight” by Niall Williams. The Best Actress Award in the Confined Section went to Mary McCarthy of Compántas Lir for portraying the part of Katherine Dooley in “The Way You Look Tonight” by Niall Williams. The Best Supporting Actress Award in the Confined Section was won by Mary O’Driscoll of Skibbereen Theatre Society for portraying the part of Triona in “The Hen Night Epiphany” by Jimmy Murphy.
Adjudicator’s Award was won by Ollie Turner of Dunmore Amateur Drama Society—DADS for the creativity in fast forward in the production of “War” by Roddy Doyle. Best Stage Crew was won by Dunmore Amateur Drama Society—DADS for their presentation of “War” by Roddy Doyle.
Best Lighting was won by Gerry Taylor and Sean O’Dwyer of Thurles Drama Group for “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller. Best Setting was won by Skibbereen Theatre Society for “The Hen Night Epiphany” by Jimmy Murphy.
Results
Confined Section
- 1st Compántas Lir—’The Way You Look Tonight‘ by Neil Simon
- 2nd Glenamaddy Players—’Moment‘ by Deirdre Kinahan
- 3rd Skibbereen DG—’The Hen Night Epiphany‘ by Jimmy Murphy
- Best Supporting Actor Dermot Hession, Compántas Lir
- Best Supporting Actress Mary O Driscoll, Skibbereen
- Best Actor Michael Tevenan, Glenamaddy Players
- Best Actress Mary McCarthy, Compántas Lir
- Best Director Philip Cribben, Compántas Lir
Open Section
- 1st Thurles Drama Group—’All My Sons‘ by Arthur Miller
- 2nd Corofin Drama Group—’By the Bog of Cats‘ by Marina Carr
- 3rd Shoestring Theatre Group—’Eden‘ by Eugene O’Brien
- Best Supporting Actor Donal Ryan, Thurles
- Best Supporting Actress Eileen Lahiffe, Corofin
- Best Actor David McElgunn, Thurles
- Best Actress Katie Holly, Shoestring
- Best Director Margaret McCormack, Thurles
Overall
- Best Overall Production Thurles Drama Group— ‘All My Sons‘
- Best Lighting Thurles Drama Group—’All My Sons‘
- Best Setting Skibbereen—’The Hen Night Epiphany‘
- Best Sound Glenamaddy— ‘Moment‘
- Adjudicators Award Ollie Turner, DADS Director of ‘War‘ by Roddy Doyle, for creativity ad a special Moment in Theatre.
Well Done Everyone!
