Kilmeen Drama Group from West Cork were crowned All Ireland Drama Champions for an unprecedented third year in a row at a gala awards ceremony in Athlone's Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday May 11 as the curtain came down on the 61st RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival.
Kevin O'Donovan and the late Tim Coffey directed Kilmeen's production of 'The Playboy of the Western World' by John Millington Synge. This is the group's fourth win in their 17 appearances at the finals which they first entered in 1980. Steeped in theatrical tradition, this is an emotional win for Kilmeen following the passing of their highly regarded director, the late Tim Coffey, who had scooped the Best Director award in the group's production of 'The Weir' only last year.
Nora Scannell acting as the Widow Quinn won the Best Supporting Actress award to the delight of almost 700 drama enthusiasts in the Athlone Radisson Blu hotel.
Meanwhile Silken Thomas Players, came second with their play 'Mercury Fur', while Prosperous Dramatic Society came third with 'The Goat or Who is Sylvia?'.
Best Director went to Pat Whelan of Bridge Drama from Co Wexford in their play 'Out of Order'. This was their first appearance in the finals in Athlone.
Other award winners included 3rd placed Prosperous Dramatic Society who got Best Actor (Robert Massey) in their production of Edward Albee's 'The Goat or Who is Sylvia?'. Best Actress went to Maura Clancy in Corofin Dramatic Society's production of 'By The Bog Of Cats'.
It was a glittering evening of celebration in Athlone and the compere for the evening was RTÉ's Karina Buckley.
Speaking before the awards presentation, the new Festival Director, Joe Mac Carrick, remarked on the success of the festival with nine superb productions on stage, a lively and entertaining Festival Club, an absorbing Fringe and a town that looked its best with themed window displays, flags and flower arrangements. He thanked Athlone Town Council, Westmeath County Council, Athlone businesses and the local media for getting full square behind the festival and contributing to the successful event it has become.
Joe also expressed his sincere gratitude to main sponsors RTÉ for their continued support of the festival.