There was tremendous jubilation as the news came through from Castleblayney that the Claregalway/Carnmore Drama Group Compántas Lir had won the All-Ireland Title in the All-Ireland Confined finals.
For the past thirty-four years Compántas Lir have been been one of the top drama groups in the confined circuit and had reached the All-Ireland finals on numerous occasions.
However, after 34 years the deadlock has finally been broken and from next year, Compántas Lir had come first in seven of the eight venues where they performed and took the overall at two of these festivals.
Saturday night saw plenty of awards for the dedicated and hardworking cast. Best Lighting went to Gus McCarthy and Dermot Hession of Compántas Lir for their production of Proof by David Auburn.
Fionnuala Glynn who played the part of Claire was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the All-Ireland Confined finals and Eoin McCarthy who played the part of Hal was nominated as Best Supporting Actor in the finals. The Best Supporting Actor went to stalwart Vincent Moran who played the part of Robert in Compántas Lir production of Proof by David Auburn.
Ruth O’Driscoll who played the part of Catherine in Compántas Lir production of Proof by David Auburn was awarded the Best Actress Award. The Best Director Award went to Dermot Hession of Compántas Lir, and their production of Proof was named as the clear winner and Best Play in the All-Ireland Confined finals.
The people of the area warmly congratulate all of the people involved in Compántas Lir over many years as this was a victory for all, but especially the present dedicated cast and backstage crew that have dedicated the past six months of their lives to drama and they have now been rewarded with rich success.
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- Noel Keelan, Cathaoileach Monaghan County Council, presenting Dermot Hession (Compántas Lir) with the Best Producer/Director award, at the All-Ireland (Confined) Drama Festival Finals, held in the Íontas Theatre Castleblayney. Picture by Jimmy Walsh.
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- Ruth O’Driscoll (left) scooped Best Actress Award at the All-Ireland Drama Festival (Confined) Finals in the Íontas Theatre Castleblayney on Saturday night. Ruth is pictured with her acting buddy Fionnuala Glynn. Both starred in the Compántas Lir performance of ‘Proof’, which won the Overall Award at the All-Ireland Drama Festival Finals (Confined). Picture by Jimmy Walsh.
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- All-Ireland Champions! Compántas Lir from Galway in their winning performance ‘Proof’ in the All-Ireland Drama Festival Finals (Confined) in the Íontas Theatre in Castleblayney. Picture by Jimmy Walsh.
