2025 South Wicklow Drama Festival
The launch of the 2025 South Wicklow Drama Festival took place on Thursday 27th February in Jim Byrne’s, Carnew. Linda Dunne officially launched our 20th Anniversary Festival. We are excited to have a fantastic selection of plays and talented drama groups coming to perform at our 2025 Festival.
The Official Opening of our 20th Anniversary was conducted by RTÉ Presenter, Joe Duffy on Friday 14th March 2025.
The Winners of the 2025 South Wicklow Drama Festival
Confined Section
1st – Tinahely Variety Group with ‘Thy Will be Done’
2nd – Kilmuckridge Drama Group with ‘Juno and the Paycock’
Open Section
1st – Wexford Drama Group with ‘Skylight’
2nd – Kilrush Drama Group with ‘Bailegangaire’
3rd – Brideview Drama with ‘The Weir’
Confined Section
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Kenneth Hearne, Kilmuckridge
Best Actor in a Major Role – Fergus Garrett, Tinahely
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Dorothy O’Connor, Kilmuckridge
Best Actress in a Major Role – Annette McCarthy, Kilmuckridge
Best Director – Eddie McGlynn, Tinahely
Open Section
Best Supporting Actress – Lisa Redmond, Bunclody-Kilmyshall
Best Supporting Actor – Tim Connaughton, Bunclody-Kilmyshall
Best Actress – Seona O’Connor, Wexford
Best Actor – Andy Doyle, Wexford
Best Director – Paul Walsh, Wexford
Adjudicator Award 1 – Susan Somers & Bridge Drama for use of physical theatre and multimedia
Adjudicator Award 2 – Sally Stevens for most detailed and layered characterisation
Adjudicator Award 3 – Cillian Tobin for sustained characterisation
Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Kenneth Hearne as Joxer, Kilmuckridge
Magic Moment in Theatre (Pat Connaughton Award) – Sally Stevens & company for the laughing competition, Kilrush
Audience Cup (Altura Credit Union Award) – Bridge Drama – ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’
Best Presentation – Kilrush Drama Group – ‘Bailegangaire’
Adjudicator – Declan Drohan
Introducing our 2025 Adjudicator – Declan Drohan (ADA)
Declan Drohan, M.A. H.Dip.Ad.Ed teaches on the B.A. in Performing Arts and the M.A. in Creative Practice at ATU Sligo. He has been a theatre practitioner for over 30 years. His practice encompasses acting, directing, facilitation, lecturing, and consultancy.
He trained at the Gaiety School of Acting, and with Michael Chekhov Europe.
He is co-director of Chekhov Training and Performance Ireland, and has served as a director of the Glens Centre Manorhamilton, where he also was Artistic Director of senior youth theatre for 14 years.
He is a regular tutor at the DLI Summer School at the University of Limerick and is a member of the Association of Drama Adjudicators (ADA).
We look forward to welcoming Declan to Carnew for our 20th Anniversary South Wicklow Drama Festival.
