Festival 2019

The 2019 South Wicklow Drama Festival was officially opened by Imelda MacDonagh and the adjudicator was Ailbhe Garvey Hughes.
The Winners of the 2019 South Wicklow Drama Festival:

Confined Section

1st – Skibbereen Theatre Society, The Beauty Queen of Leenane
2nd – Kilmuckridge Drama Group, The Righteous are Bold
3rd – Tinahely Drama Group, Eclipsed

Open Section

1st – Bridge Drama, Brighton Beach Memoirs
2nd – Kilrush Drama Group, The Steward of Christendom
3rd – Wexford Drama Group, Rabbit Hole

Confined Section:

Best Supporting Actress – Tara Murphy, Tinahely
Best Supporting Actor – Barry Turner, Kilmuckridge
Best Actress -Hannah McNiven, Kilmuckridge
Best Actor – Aidan McParland, Lislea
Best Director – Ger Minihane, Skibbereen

Open Section:

Best Supporting Actress – Danielle Reck, Wexford
Best Supporting Actor – Billy Canning, Bunclody-Kilmyshall
Best Actress – Mairéad Cummings, Bridge
Best Actor – Michael Dunbar, Kilrush
Best Director – Pat Whelan, Bridge

Adjudicator Award 1 – For a moment of real theatre, Skibbereen Theatre Society for the pouring of boiling oil.
Adjudicator Award 2 – Gorey Little Theatre Group for seamless transitions from past to present.
Adjudicator Award 3 – Kilrush Drama Group for their lighting and soundscape.

Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Tara Murphy, Tinahely

Magic Moment in Theatre (Pat Connaughton Award) – Niall Kehoe’s haunting but glorious singing as Willie, Kilrush Drama Group.

Audience Cup (Altura Credit Union Award) – Bunclody- Kilmyshall Drama Group, Moonglow

Best Presentation – Kilrush Drama Group, The Steward of Christendom

Festival 2020

South Wicklow Drama Festival will host the All Ireland Confined Drama Finals in 2018

South Wicklow Drama Festival are delighted to announce that for the first time in its history, The All Ireland Confined Drama Finals under the auspices of the ADCI will be held in County Wicklow. The venue for the Festival will be St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew and the Festival will run from 13th – 21st April, 2018.

An exciting and busy time lies ahead for the South Wicklow Drama Festival committee in planning possibly one of the most exciting events to take place in the County for many years. It heralds a real opportunity for Carnew and the County to showcase everything that is good in the area.

This exciting opportunity has been met with great approval by the committee, business people, community groups and many theatre lovers in the area.

The Adjudicator for the 2018 All Ireland will be Tom Byrne. A native of Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Tom had over thirty years involvement with amateur drama. He is best known for his work with Bradán Playes, Leixlip of which he was founder and artistic director. He is a much sought after Director and the committee look forward to working with him in April.

The All Ireland Finals Confined Drama Finals rotate from Province to Province and this is the first time that a venue in County Wicklow will have the privilege of hosting the Finals. This event will bring some of the best amateur productions from across the country to Carnew, all competing for the much coveted ‘Claregalway’ Trophy. This award was last in the area when it was won by Kilrush Drama Group with their production of Billy Roche’s Poor Beast in the Rain in 2015.

ACDI All Ireland Confined Table

The 2018 Festival Circuit came to a close on Sunday 26th March and we would like to congratulate the 9 All Ireland Confined Drama Finalists who will visit Carnew between 13th – 21st April. The draw to find out what night each group will perform will take place on Saturday 31st March and the line up will be announced that evening.

Festival 2018

All Ireland Confined Drama Festival Results 2018

Confined Section

1st – Ballycogley Players with ‘The Night Alive’
2nd – Schull Drama Group with ‘No Man’s Land’
3rd – Glenamaddy Players with ‘The Good Father’

Best Director (The Broderick Perpetual Cup) – Breda Hayes, Ballycogley Players
Nominations for Jennifer Williams & Coman Keaveny

Best Presentation (The Ray Leonard Memorial Trophy) – Schull Drama Group, ‘No Man’s Land’
Nominations for Lislea, Ballycogley & Glenamaddy

Best Lighting (The Playlight Perpetual Cup) – Dan Thornhill & Ger Minihane, Schull Drama Group
Nominations for Nick Hayes (Ballycogley), David & Michael Farrelly (Sillan) & Miriam Lanigan, Paddy Connolly & Conor O’ Connell (Holycross)

Best Stage Management (The Carrickmore Perpetual Trophy) – Paddy McGuire, Ballycogley Players
Nominations for Josephine McParland (Lislea), Brian Sheehan (Curtain Call) and Sharon & Karina Farrelly (Sillan)

Best Actor – Alan Sparling, Sliabh Aughty Drama Group
Nominations for Con Doyle (Ballycogley), Caleb Cairns (Schull), Sean O’ Connell (Schull)

Best Actress – Tina Ward, Glenamaddy Players
Nominations for Denise Moules (Coolgreany), Trish Boyce (Ballycogley) & Jenny Bracken (Holycross/ Ballycahill)

Best Supporting Actor – Sean Carthy, Ballycogley Players
Nominations for Con Doyle (Ballycogley), Caleb Cairns (Schull), Sean O’ Connell (Schull)

Best Supporting Actress – Jacqui Lacey, Holycross/ Ballycahill Drama Group
Nominations for Eavan Brennan (Sliabh Aughty), Julie Halpin (Sillan) & Vanessa Hyde (Curtain Call)

Scholarship to Drama League of Ireland Summer School – Shane Fox, Sillan Players
Scholarship to Stageworks Summer School – Megan Marriott, Curtain Call Productions
New for 2018; Scholarship to The Lir, ‘Introduction to Stage Management and Technical Theatre’ – Miriam Lanigan, Holycross/ Ballycahill Drama Group

2018 All Ireland Champions, Ballycogley Players with adjudicator, Tom Byrne

South Wicklow Drama Festival Committee 2018

Front row L-R: Tommy Kavanagh; Mick Byrne (President); Eamonn Doran (Chairman); Kevin McEvoy (Secretary); Brendan Doyle (Vice-Chairman); Jacinta Kavanagh.

Back row L-R: Mary Doran (PRO); Kieran Tyrrell; Mary Doyle; Mandie O’Keeffe; Raymond Brennan; Lorna Doran McEvoy (Asst. Secretary & Asst. PRO); Hannah Doyle; Máire Doran; Debbie Furlong (Treasurer); Gavin Nolan and Jacqui Mulholland (Asst. Treasurer).

Click here for some of the fringe events from the All Ireland Festival

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Festival 2017

The Winners of the 2017 South Wicklow Drama Festival are…

Confined Section

1st – Sillan Players with The Trappe Family
2nd – Take 5 with The Telephone Exchange
3rd – Lislea with Juno and the Paycock

Open Section

1st – Bunclody- Kilmyshall with Agnes of God
2nd – Bridge Drama with An Inspector Calls
3rd – Kilrush with Hedda Gabler

Confined Section:

Best Supporting Actress – Deirdre Coulter, Lislea
Best Supporting Actor – John Campbell, Lislea
Best Actress -Anne Garvey
Best Actor – David Clarke – Sillan
Best Director – Paddy Farrelly – Sillan

Open Section:

Best Supporting Actress – Anne Sheridan, Kilrush
Best Supporting Actor – Matt Furlong, Kilmuckridge
Best Actress – Kate Power, Bunclody
Best Actor – Paul Tobin, Bridge
Best Director – Kieran Tyrrell, Bunclody

Adjudicator Award 1 – Most challenging play – Tribes, Gorey
Adjudicator Award 2 – Most challenging play – The Telephone Exchange, Take 5.
Adjudicator Award 3 – Best Lighting, Eddie O Brien, Gorey – Tribes
Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Brendan Farrelly, Sillan
Magic Moment in Theatre (Pat Connaughton Award) – ‘LIAR’ – Bunclody
Audience Cup (Carnew Credit Union Award) – ‘Agnes of God’ – Bunclody-Kilmyshall

Best Presentation – Bridge Drama, An Inspector Calls

Festival 2016

Another great week of drama was performed by the nine groups who participated in South Wicklow Drama Festival which took place in St. Brigid’s Hall. Each night the stage was transformed into a different world with each group erecting their own unique sets, which was one of the aspects that Alan Howley Adjudicator was extremely impressed by. The festival enjoyed full houses almost every night and there was a great build-up of excitement on Saturday night awaiting the final adjudication and results.

The Winners of the 2016 South Wicklow Drama Festival are…

Confined Section

1st – Take 5 with ‘Children of a Lesser God’
2nd – Lislea Dramatic Players with ‘The Prisoner of Second Avenue’
3rd – Ballycogley Players with ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’

Open Section

1st – Bridge Drama with ‘Lost in Yonkers’
2nd – Gorey Little Theatre Group with ‘The Birds’
3rd – Bunclody-Kilmyshall Drama Group with ‘Moonshine’

Confined Section:

Best Supporting Actress – Ellen Quirke, Take 5
Best Supporting Actor – Mike O’ Neill, Take 5
Best Actress – Sarah Jacob, Take 5
Best Actor – Chris Doyle, Take 5
Best Director – Noelle Clarke, Take 5

Open Section:

Best Supporting Actress – Mairead Ryan, Bridge.
Best Supporting Actor – Paul Tobin, Bridge.
Best Actress – Heather Hadrill, Bridge.
Best Actor – Rónán P. Byrne, Bunclody.
Best Director – Pat Whelan, Bridge.

Adjudicator Award 1 – Ferns Dramatic Society for ‘stage business’
Adjudicator Award 2 – Lislea for technical, theatrical business
Adjudicator Award 3 – Peter McCamley who played Louie in ‘Lost in Yonkers’
Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Tim Connaughton – Moonshine
Magic Moment in Theatre (Pat Connaughton Award) – Dalkey Players
Audience Cup (Carnew Credit Union Award) – Bridge Drama with ‘Lost in Yonkers’
Best Presentation – Gorey Little Theatre Group for ‘The Birds’

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Festival 2015

Included in the line-up for the Festival are: The Seafarer by Conor McPherson and performed by Wexford Drama Group; There Goes the Bride by Ray Cooney & John Chapman and performed by Ballycogley Players; Tea in a China Cup by Christina Reid and performed by Lislea Dramatic Players; Stolen Child by Barbara ni Chaoimh & Yvonne Quinn and performed by Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group; The Kings of the Kilburn High Road by Jimmy Murphy and performed by Kilmuckridge Drama Group; Moll by John B. Keane and performed by Craanford Drama Group; Pygmalion by GB Shaw and performed by Bridge Drama; Momologues by Lisa Rafferty, Stephanie Cloutier & Sheila Eppolito and performed by Take 5 Drama Group and Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel and performed by Yellow Moon Theatre Company

South Wicklow Drama Festival Results

Confined Section

1st – Lislea with Tea in a China Cup
2nd – Craanford with Moll…
3rd – Ballycogley with There Goes the Bride

Open Section

1st – Bunclody/ Kilmyshall with Stolen Child
2nd – Bridge with Pygmalion
3rd – Yellow Moon with Dancing at Lughnasa

Festival 2014

The Winners of the 2014 South Wicklow Drama Festival are…

Confined Section

1st: ‘The Weir’ – Kilmuckridge Drama Group
2nd: ‘Little Gem’ – Take 5
3rd: ‘Thy Will Be Done’ – Craanford Drama Group

Best Supporting Actress – Marie Butler
Best Supporting Actor – Richard Devereux
Best Actress in a Major Role – Noelle Clarke
Best Actor in a Major Role – Michael Murphy
Best Director – Michael Johnson

Open Section

1st: ‘Animal Farm’ – Rasper Players
2nd: ‘A View from the Bridge’ – Thurles Drama Group
3rd: ‘Big Maggie’ – Bridge Drama

Best Supporting Actress – Sally Stephens
Best Supporting Actor – Paul Tobin
Best Actress in a Major Role – Trish Doyle
Best Actor in a Major Role – David McElgunn
Best Director – Stephen Acton

Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Noelle Clarke for her role in ‘Little Gem’
The Audience Cup (Carnew Credit Union Award) – ‘A View from the Bridge’ – Thurles Drama Group
Best Presentation – ‘Animal Farm’ – Rasper Players
The Magic Moment in Theatre (The Pat Connaughton Award) – Bunclody/ Kilmyshall Drama Group for the final picture in ‘April Bright’.

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Festival 2013

The Winners of the 2013 South Wicklow Drama Festival are…

Confined Section

1st: Lislea Dramatic Players with Rumors.
2nd: Craanford Drama Group with Anyone Could Rob a Bank
3rd: Moyne Drama Group with Sive

Best Play: Rumors by Neil Simon performed by Lislea Dramatic Players
Best Director: Liam Hannaway for Rumors (Lislea Dramatic Players)
Best Actress: Geraldine Delaney in the role of Mena Glavin in Sive (Moyne Drama Group)
Best Actor: Aengus Hannaway in the role of Ken in Rumors (Lislea Dramatic Players)
Best Supporting Actress: Maureen Claffey in the role of Nanna Glavin in Sive (Moyne Drama Group)
Best Supporting Actor: Richard Devereux in the role of Pats Bo Bwee in Sharon’s Grave (Kilmuckridge Drama Group)
Audience Cup (Carnew Credit Union Cup): Out of Order – Bridge Drama
Best Presentation: Moonshine, Wexford Drama Group
Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Perpetual Trophy): Paul Tobin in the role of Richard Willey in Out of Order by Bridge Drama.

Open Section

1st: Bridge Drama with Out of Order
2nd: Wexford Drama Group with Moonshine
3rd: Moat Club, Naas with Eden

Best Play: Out of Order by Ray Cooney performed by Bridge Drama.
Best Director: Pat Whelan for Out of Order (Bridge Drama)
Best Actor: Brendan Farrell in the role of Billy in Eden (Moat Club, Naas)
Best Actress: Mary Condron in the role of Kate Keller in All My Sons (Thurles DG)
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Walsh in the role of Michael in Moonshine (Wexford Drama Group)
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Gibson in the role of Mag Folan in The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group)

Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) – Noelle Clarke for her role in ‘Little Gem’
The Audience Cup (Carnew Credit Union Award) – ‘A View from the Bridge’ – Thurles Drama Group
Best Presentation – ‘Animal Farm’ – Rasper Players
The Magic Moment in Theatre (The Pat Connaughton Award) – Bunclody/ Kilmyshall Drama Group for the final picture in ‘April Bright’.

Adjudicators Awards

Lislea Dramatic Players for their set for Rumors.
Pat Berney (Craanford DG) for his Comedy Performance in Anyone Could Rob a Bank.
Thomas O ‘Leary for his direction of Moonshine. (Wexford Drama Group)

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Festival 2012

Another successful South Wicklow Drama Festival has just ended. St. Brigid’s Hall was once again the setting for nine nights of high drama as nine Drama Groups performed their productions over the run of the Festival. The Festival opened with a lovely comedy by Ballycogley Drama Group, Mother Knows Best and ended with a comedy/love story by Droichead Nua Drama Group, The Good Father. There wasn’t too much happy family in between though, as audiences were treated to a wealth of intense drama with some good comedy interspersed throughout.

Festival Results

Adjudicator, Myles Purcell, (G.I.D.A) was extremely impressed by the high standard of production throughout the festival and on Saturday night had the hard task of deciding on the winners in the various categories and on picking the two Best Plays.

Open Section:

Best Play: By the Bog of Cats performed by Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group
Best Director: Pat Connaughton for By the Bog of Cats Bunclody/Kilmyshall
Best Actor: Brendan Dunlea in the role of “John Proctor” in The Crucible by Ballyduff Drama Group
Best Actress: Gayle Jordon in the role of “Hester Swaine” in By the Bog of Cats”.
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin O’Shea in the role of “Deputy Governor Danforth in ” in The Crucible by Ballyduff Drama Group
Best Supporting Actress: Josephine Byrne for her portrayal of “Cat Woman By the Bog of Cats Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group

Confined Section:

Best Play: There Came a Gypsy Riding by Frank McGuinness for Kilmuckridge Drama Group
Best Director: Andy Doyle There Came a Gypsy Riding by Frank McGuinness Kilmuckridge Drama Group
Best Actress: Michelle Burton for her portrayal of Margaret in There Came a Gypsy Riding – Kilmuckridge Drama Group Best Actor: Richard Devereux for his portrayal of Leo in There came a Gypsey Riding – Kilmuckridge Drama Group
Best Supporting Actress: Marie Johnston for her portrayal of Bridget in There came a Gypsey Riding- Kilmuckridge Drama Group
Best Supporting Actor: Ken Blowers for his portrayal of Brendan in The Weir Doonbeg Drama Group

Adjudicator Award 1 – Roisin Barry for her portrayal of “Josie Swaine” in By the Bog of Cats Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group
Adjudicator Award 2 – Alan Clarke for his portrayal of Tim in The Good Father by Droichead Nua Players
Adjudicator Award 3 – Ger Canning for his direction of The Crucible Ballyduff Drama Group
Best Comedy Performance (Jim Tighe Trophy) -Geraldine Condren for her portrayal of “Bridie Lavin” in Thy Will be Done by Sliabh Aughty Drama Group.

Best Presentation – The Crucible, Ballyduff Drama Group

Front Left to Right: Marie Johnson (Kilmuckridge D.G.) Brendan Doyle chairman South Wicklow Drama Festival Sarah O’Hara (Bunclody/Kilmyshall DG), Myles Purcell GIDA (Adjudicator) Ger O’Hara Bunclody Kilmyshall DG) Catherine Barry (Bunclody/Kilmyshall DG)
Back Left to Right: Andy Doyle (Director Kilmuckridge DG) Killan Cotter and Courtney Canning (Ballyduff DG) Richard Devereux (Kilmuckridge D.G) Hannah Doyle (Secretary South Wicklow Drama Festival) John Hearne (Kilmuckridge DG) Alan Clarke (Droichead Nua DG) and Michael Dunbar (Bunclody/Kilymyshall DG)

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