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Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Glory for various Wexford groups at All-Ireland Drama Festival finals
This year's Gala Awards for the open section of the full-length festival circuit in Athlone's Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday, May 17, brought competition to the table that was as tight as ever between nine drama groups, with the overall champions hailing from County Waterford, Ballyduff Drama Group, as Ger Canning directed their performance of The Blackwater Lightship, written by Enniscorthy's Colm Tóibín, in the number one slot. Tóibín's work was adapted for stage by David Horan. The Ballyduff Drama Group members are no strangers to Athlone, and the group has been performing on the 3 Act circuit for over forty years. During that time, they won the All-Ireland in 2004, and more recently this is their third time to win in four years (2022, 2024). The 2025 champions' showcasing of The Blackwater Lightship enlightened audiences to a story set in 1990s Ireland and HIV/AIDS is still a terminal diagnosis. A sister, a mother and a grandmother, along with two friends, have come together to tend to 29-year-old Declan, who has the disease. The Wexford-native's story brings the audience on a journey along with the makeshift family unit to see if they face up to the illness and each other. The Balally Players, directed by Declan Rudden, who performed Ulster American by David Ireland, were placed second on the night. Meanwhile, Wexford's Bridge Drama Group were placed third, for their play directed by Susan Somers, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted by Simon Stephens. Also taking awards back to the Model County included, Cillian Tobin, Bridge Drama, who won best actor for his role as Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Catherine Stafford, Ballycogley Players, received the award for the best actress in a supporting role for her portrayal of Maggie in Lend Me A Tenor. The award for best stage management went to Mary O'Connor, Bridge Drama, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and the same play also picked up the award for best stage lighting, perfected by Mark Redmond, Bridge Drama. Wexford Drama Group was also one of the nine groups to reach the finals under the direction of Paul Walsh for their production of Skylight, by David Hare, which continued their qualifying success in the drama circuit to the All-Ireland Drama Finals for three years consecutive years. The Festival Director, Michael McGlone, remarked that it was a privilege for him to take on the role, which comes with a massive responsibility to ensure the high standards are maintained and that finalists coming to Athlone have a rewarding experience. He thanked his committee for their contribution. "This year's festival is extra special because, thanks to the team in RTÉ, our awards ceremony was live streamed,' said Mr McGlone. 'This will no doubt open up a whole new audience to the ceremony and remind everyone that amateur drama is going from strength to strength,' he added. This year's adjudicator, Walker Ewart has a wealth of experience in all aspects of amateur drama since the age of 14. He was awarded an O.B.E. for Services to Education in 2012 on his retirement. He is fully aware of the efforts made by the huge team of volunteers in any production. He said he has basked in, and suffered, adjudications as an actor and director, and understands the sensitivities of groups who have been preparing their work for many months. Mr Ewart deems it an honour to adjudicate his peers in any festival and added that its is 'a particular honour, and an awesome responsibility, to adjudicate Athlone for the third time'. During the week of the Drama Festival, he pronounced to the audience that it was 'a great day to be alive' after seeing many of the performances. Mr Ewart continued his comments on the festival, and said it was 'the best festival' he has ever adjudicated at. 'This year there was a stunning level of performance in every case.' Speaking to Nuala Carey, RTÉ, he recalled the history of amateur drama stemming back to the work of priests going out into communities and setting up drama festivals, and how amateur drama has a legacy of family to family passing down in the community. In praising the nine finalists, Mr Ewart said 'they have all done their communities extremely proud.' He gave the Adjudicator's Award to Emma Walsh, Brideview Drama Group, for her Valerie's speech in The Weir. The winning play by Ballyduff Drama Group, originally written by Tóibín, was noted by the adjudicator as to have 'presented a well-nigh perfect production of the Blackwater Lightship'. "A wonderful lived-in house, inhabited by a totally believable set of characters. The audience was drawn into the bewilderment and the tensions as the characters faced the unexpected and shocking news of the illness of a loved one. The acting was of a consistently high standard, in the majority of cases excellent portrayals. The friends who rallied round to help Declan in his suffering cared deeply for him. The final goodbye was a very moving piece of theatre. In the end, those of us who were privileged to look into this world cared for these characters. An unforgettable production,' he concluded as the curtains came down on the 2025 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival, held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI).
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Ballyduff Drama Group triumphs at 2025 RTÉ All-Ireland Festival
Ballyduff Drama Group from County Waterford has been crowned winner of the 2025 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival for their production of The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Tóibín, adapted for stage by David Horan. The announcement was made during a glittering Gala Awards ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone on Saturday, May 17 - watch it above. Directed by Ger Canning, Ballyduff's staging of the 1990s-set drama — which explores themes of family, illness, and reconciliation during the AIDS crisis — won widespread praise. It marked Ballyduff's third All-Ireland title in four years, having also won in 2022 and 2024. Festival adjudicator Walker Ewart praised Ballyduff's "well-nigh perfect production" and "consistently high standard of acting," calling it "an unforgettable production." Canning also received the Best Director award for his work on the play. Mary Colbert, who portrayed Dora Devereux, won Best Actress, while Ronan Bennett claimed Best Supporting Actor for his role as Larry. The group also secured the Best Stage Setting award. Second place went to Balally Players, directed by Declan Rudden, for their production of Ulster American by David Ireland. Bridge Drama, under Susan Somers, placed third with their adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, based on the novel by Mark Haddon. Balally Players also won the prestigious Abbey Award, presented by Abbey Theatre Executive Director Mark O'Brien. The group will perform their winning play at the Peacock stage of the Abbey Theatre in the coming weeks. Individual acting accolades included Best Actor for Cillian Tobin (Bridge Drama) in T he Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Stafford (Ballycogley Players) for her performance in Lend Me A Tenor. Technical awards went to Mary O'Connor for Best Stage Management and Mark Redmond for Best Lighting (both from Bridge Drama). Emma Walsh (Brideview Drama Group) won the Adjudicator's Prize for her delivery of Valerie's speech in The Weir. Sarah Smith of Newpoint Players received the Drama League of Ireland Summer School Scholarship. The festival, held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI), brought ten top drama groups from across the country to Athlone. New Festival Director Michael McGlone expressed pride in his inaugural year leading the event, which saw its Gala Awards live-streamed for the first time via RTÉ Culture. "It's a testament to the passion and dedication of all involved in amateur drama," he said.
AU Financial Review
13-05-2025
- AU Financial Review
Why playing tennis with Colm Tóibín is like reading one of his books
I rish writer Colm Tóibín, 69, is the bestselling author of 11 novels, including Brooklyn, and his new book, Long Island. His 1999 novel, The Blackwater Lightship, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. He splits his time between the United States and Ireland. Here's how he spends a weekend when he's home in Los Angeles. Saturday morning | Because of the way LA is configured, you can't really go flâneuring around. You can't just decide to go for a coffee. It's a big deal. So the great thing is you stay home. They're good here with the delivery of papers. On Saturday morning, The New York Times, the LA Times and the Financial Times are literally at the door from about 6am, so you can't feel completely isolated from the normal world.
