Claregalway Festival of Drama has once again proved to be a huge
success as the curtain came down after nine wonderful nights of
entertainment. It was a difficult task for adjudicator Irene O’Meara
who gave a comprehensive adjudication to all the groups each night.
Irene was no stranger to Claregalway Festival of Drama having graced
the stage in Claregalway as both an actor and director as well as
having previously adjudicated Claregalway Festival of Drama in 2011.
Speaking at the close of this year festival John Brennan Festival
Director paid tribute to the huge audience participation each night of
the festival. He added his appreciation to all the groups and to the
quality of their productions but said that no play would be successful
unless they had audience participation and the complimented each other
and extended his good wishes to all who reach the All Ireland finals.
Mr Brennan paid special thanks to the Claregalway Community Centre
management committee and the groups and schools who make the
facilities available to host the drama festival each year. He added
his appreciation to the media, SMA, Coyle family and all the committee
and friends of committee who provided refreshments each night and so
much more to the festival. He paid special tribute to adjudicator
Irene O’Meara who has been an inspiration with her comprehensive and
excellent adjudication. John Brennan thanked the small festival
committee of Mary McCarthy, Dermot Hession, Mary Kelly, Mary Fleming,
Tom Moran, Mike Hession, Maura Mannion, Claire Horgan and Martin
Henihan who work very hard in the run up to the festival and in
particular to Secretary Sheila Hession, who worked with such
dedication with each of the participating groups. Mr Brennan also paid
tribute to the Lenihan family as this year’s Drama festival was
dedicated to the late Tom Lenihan who started the Drama festival in
Claregalway thirty six years ago and sadly passed away last November.
Presentations were made to adjudicator Irene O’Meara and to long time
President of Claregalway Festival of Drama, Mrs Mary Moran and Agnes
Lenihan, wife on Tom Lenihan.
The results brought great jubilation to the many award winners and in
particular Glenamaddy Players and Compantas Lir who took the top
awards. The Claregalway 2016 Festival of Drama Results were as
follows: Best Lighting was awarded to Stella Fleming of Compantas Lir
in the production of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. Best
Setting was awarded to John Clancy, Clare Foley and Thomas Kearney of
Corofin Dramatic Society in the production of “Big Maggie” by John B
Keane. Best Sound award went to Dick Ryan and Kevin Kirwin of Thurles
Drama Group in the production of “Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward. Best
Stage Crew went to Geraldine Morrissey and her team from Thurles Drama
Group in the production of “Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward.
Best Supporting Actress in the Confined Section was won by Eavan
Brennan who played the part of “Maxine” in Sliabh Aughty Drama Groups
production of “Moonglow” by Kim Carney. Best Supporting Actor in the
Confined Section went to Brendan Robinson who played the part of “Ray”
in Corofin Dramatic Society production of “Big Maggie” by John B
Keane. Best Actress in the Confined section went to Tina Ward who
played the part of “Jane” in Glenamaddy Players production of “The
Good Father” by Christian O’Reilly. Best Actor in the Confined section
went to Cian Boyle who played the part of “Tim” in Glenamaddy Players
production of “The Good Father” by Christian O’Reilly.
Best Supporting Actress in the Open section was won by Deana McGuire
of Compantas Lir who played the part of “Laura Wingfield” in the
production of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. Best
Supporting Actor in the Open section was awarded to Christopher
Slattery who played the part of “Lucky” in Corn Mill Theatre Group
production of “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett. Best Actress in
the Open Section went to Maura Clancy who played “Maggie Polpin” in
Corofin Dramatic Society production of “Big Maggie” by John B Keane.
Best Actor in the Open Section went to Killian McGuinness who played
the part of “Estragon” in Corn Mill Theatre Group production of
“Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett. Best Director in the Confined
Section went to Coman Keaveney of Glenamaddy Players for their
production of “The Good Father” by Christian O’Reilly. Best Director
in the Open Section went to Dermot Hession and Mike Hession of
Compantas Lir for their production of “The Glass Menagerie” by
Tennessee Williams.
Best Play in the Confined Section went to Glenamaddy Players for their
production of “The Good Father” by Christian O’Reilly. Best Play in
the Open Section went to Compantas Lir for their production of “The
Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. Best Overall Production went
to went to Glenamaddy Players for their production of “The Good
Father” by Christian O’Reilly. For the purpose of securing points
towards a place in the All Ireland finals the top three placings were
in the Confined section 1st Glenamaddy Players for their production of
“The Good Father” by Christian O’Reilly. 2nd Sliabh Aughty Drama
Groups for their production of “Moonglow” by Kim Carney. 3rd
Enniscorthy Drama Group for their production of “The Beauty Queen of
Leenane” by Martin McDonagh. In the Open section 1st Compantas Lir
for their production of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams.
2nd Corofin Dramatic Society for the production of “Big Maggie” by
John B Keane. 3rd Corn Mill Theatre Group production of “Waiting for
Godot” by Samuel Beckett.
Adjudicator Irene O’Meara said that the Adjudicators Award was a
special award that adjudicators had the option of giving to any person
or group associated with the festival. Irene said it was her privilege
to present the Adjudicators Award in the 2018 Festival to Agnes
Lenihan in recognition of the contribution that her husband Tom
Lenihan had made in starting the Claregalway Festival of Drama and the
contribution that he had made ever since. Sadly Tom passed away last
November and this year’s Festival was dedicated to Tom Lenihan. It was
a fitting tribute by the adjudicator to a man that had made such a
tremendous contribution to Claregalway Drama Festival.
In the raffle for three months membership of Core Fitness at
Claregalway Hotel the prize was won by Geraldine Carr of Gortaleava
and the second prize of a City Link voucher was won by Kerry McClure
of Waterdale.
Compantas Lir Reach All Ireland Drama finals
In only their second year competing in the Amateur Drama Open section,
Claregalway-Carnmore Drama Group Compantas Lir have reached the All
Ireland Drama finals to be held in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone
which takes place from May 3rd to the 11th. This is an outstanding
achievement for Compantas Lir to reach the All Ireland finals in the
open section in just their second year of participation. Compantas Lir
were founded back in 1983 and took part in the festival circuit for
the first time in 1986. Despite many excellent productions and
reaching All Ireland finals on many occasions Compantas Lir discovered
that although they were in the Confined section that ultimate success
was difficult to achieve. In December 2014 Compantas Lir achieved a
long awaited goal when they took first place in the All Ireland
Confined One Act Finals when they were held in Ballyshannon with their
production of “Nine” by Jane Sheperd. In 2016 Compantas Lir captured
first place in the All Ireland Confined Three Act Finals with their
production of “Proof” by David Auburn, which put them into the top
tier of amateur drama competing in the open section. Now after just
their second year in the Open section they have qualified for the All
Ireland Open Finals.
It is an outstanding achievement for all involved, their wonderful
cast of Liz Hession, Vincent Moran, Deana McGuire and Darragh Moran,
Directors Dermot Hession and Mike Hession, Stage Manager Mary
McCarthy, Set and Lighting Design Gus McCarthy and Dermot Hession,
Lighting Stella Fleming, Sound Daragh O’Connell, Make Up Ann Moran,
Backstage Crew Carmel Kenny and Fidelma O’Rourke, Set Crew Simon
Kavanagh, John Heneghan, Peter Talbot and John Brennan.
Congratulations to all involved.
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