South Mayo Drama Festival sees plenty of local success

The curtains came down on a highly successful Claremorris Drama Festival when adjudicator Aodh McCay from Strabane delivered his verdicts at the end of another nine nights of delightful drama. The overall results saw three groups, Corofin (Clare), Dalkey and Bunclody qualify for the All Ireland Open Final in Athlone, while two groups, Upstage Players (Claremorris) and Slieve Aughty (Clare) qualified for the All Ireland Confined Final in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone.

It was a jubilant night for the Corofin Dramatic Society from Clare who scooped the top award in the Open competition with their production of ‘Wit’ by Margaret Edson. The runners-up were the Dalkey Players (Dublin) with the John B Keane classic, ‘Sive’, with third place going to the Bunclody/Kilmyshall Group from Wexford with their presentation of ‘Da’ by Hugh Leonard.

Billy Canning picked up the Best Actor Male for his role in "Da" and Maura Clancy was honoured with the Best Actor Female for her role in 'Wit' (Corofin). The Best Supporting Actor Female was Josephine Byrne (Bunclody and the Best Supporting Actor Male went to George Hogan 'Sive' (Dalkey).

The Best Producer award went to John Clancy from Corofin while Banner County group was also honoured with the Best Presentation Overall award. Further awards went the way of Corofin with John Clancy picking up one for Best Lighting and the team of John and Maura Clancy and Charles Knowles for Best Set. The Best Sound: award went to Dalkey’s Emma Jane Nulty.

Claremorris based Upstage Players took the top award in the Confined competition, followed by the Sliabh Aughty Players (Clare) in second place and Clann Machua from Kiltimagh taking third spot.

Una Monaghan from Claremorris received the accolade for Best Female Actor (Confined) while the recipient of the Best Male Actor award in this category was Jourdain Cunningham (Upstage).

The other award winners were: Best Supporting Male Actor: Alan Henaghan; Best Supporting Female Actor. Aisling Costello; Best Sound - Sliabh Aughty: Nokia Coulter; Best Lighting: Upstage Billy Freeley; Best Set: Confined: Dooega Drama Group; Best Producer Confined: Andrea Silke Upstage Players.

The special adjudicator awards recipients were Caroline Mangan, Dooega, Achill; Geraldine Condren, Sliabh Aughty; Mary Rigney - Costumes (Sive); Ensemble Comedy in 'Da'; and Rhona Lyons. Make up (Wit).

First place in scriptwriting for the Fringe Festival went to Rex McGregor for Party Crasher on a Mission and the runner-up was Niall McGrath with ‘Dugout’.

Festival director, Peter McCallig, extended grateful thanks to all who took part and to everyone who helped out in any way during the hosting of another superb event in Claremorris Town Hall Theatre.

Photo caption: Aodh Mc Cay ADA adjudicating Claremorris Drama Festival 2026 - pictured at the official opening performed by John Keane, Chair of ADCI and with Festival Chairman, Peter Mc Callig with members of the festival committee, Marie Murphy and Mary Esler.

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