Westport’s Sacred Heart School win All-Ireland drama competition

AN All-Ireland now rests within the walls of Westport’s Sacred Heart School after it scooped top honours the All-Ireland 15 Minute Light Entertainment for Second Level Schools Festival.

A group of 15 students won First Best Overall with ‘The Merciless Hand’; an almost original musical set during The Great Famine which includes three original songs.

A total of 47 students from two groups represented the school at the finals of the competition, which were held in the Cork Opera House yesterday (Wednesday).

The winning drama is based around its fourth song, ‘Mary Kate’, written by Declan O’Rourke, who worked with the students on the project.

All of the other songs, choreography, and artwork were created by its director and students from the Westport secondary school, who last won the competition in 2015. 

Sacred Heart School students Emma Ryan and Niamh Muldoon also scooped individual awards. 

The school’s other entry, ‘Let’s Do A Musical’ gave a strong performance under the guidance director/ choreographer Sarah Callaghan, who worked with the girls on many dance styles before school every Wednesday morning since October.

Séamus Mac Eachmharcaigh, a teacher in the school and Director of ‘The Merciless Hand’, told The Mayo News that there was ‘absolute shock’ when the Sacred Heart School were announced as winners.

“We’re absolutely delighted because it’s actually an original piece, more or less,” Mr Mac Eachmharcaigh added.

The cast of ‘The Merciless Hand’ were as follows; Bridget – Emma Ryan, Mary-Kate – Sadhbh Noone, Miss Ann – Ailbhe Gavin, Workhouse Girls – Laura Heraty, Isabelle Foody and Maud McCabe, dancers – Maud McCabe, Eleanor McNally, Lilly Conway and Ella O’ Malley, Musicians, Ruby Slok, Leah Mai Dowling and Mary-Kate McHale. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sacred Heart School (@shs.westport)