All-Ireland Drama Festival

The All-Ireland Drama Festival, known for sponsorship reasons as the "RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival", is an amateur theatre competition organised by the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland. It takes place in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, County Westmeath each May.[1][2] Amateur drama groups from across the island are chosen from a long-list to present a production in the venue, and the best production is awarded the grand prize.[3][4][5][6]

A fringe festival includes a short-film competition.[7] A playwrighting competition for secondary school students is also included in the festival.[8][9][10]

History

As part of the An Tóstal collection of festivals celebrating Irish culture,[11] the festival began in 1953, and was staged in the General Textiles "Glenex"'s Sportex hall.[12][13][14][15] Principal sponsors have been Esso, from 1959 to 1999,[16] Ericsson from 2000 to 2003,[17] and Raidió Teilifís Éireann from 2004.

Festival directors

  • Brendan O'Brien (1952–1992)[18][19]
  • Colm Kelly (1992–2002)[19]
  • Regina Bushell (2018–2025)[20][21]
  • Michael McGlone (2025–present)[20]

List of Perpetual Trophy winners

RTÉ sponsorship

Ericsson sponsorship

All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals

The All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals is a related competition, in which theatre groups with less experience, resources or fewer members, who have not been chosen for the Athlone Festival compete.[40] The finals are staged in a different venue year to year.[41][42][43]

List of Confined Drama Final Venues

One Act Festival Circuit

The All-Ireland One Act Festival Circuit features amateur one-act productions. It is organised by the Drama League of Ireland, in conjunction with the Amateur Drama Council.[45]

List of One Act Finals Venues

Bibliography

  • O'Brien, Gearóid, ed. (2002). All-Ireland Drama Festival Athlone 1953-2002 — 50 Glorious Years of Drama. All-Ireland Festival Committee.

References

  1. ^ "New Dean Crowe manager combines his passion with professional experience". Westmeath Independent. 20 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Home". RTE All Ireland Drama Festival. 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Mayo group back on stage with The Weir ahead of All-Ireland final". Con-Telegraph.ie. 7 April 2025.
  4. ^ O'Hare, Columba (1 April 2025). "Newpoint Qualify for All Ireland Drama Festival for Third Year in a Row". Newry.ie.
  5. ^ Murphy, Siobhan (24 March 2025). "Four Co. Wexford Drama Groups qualify for All Ireland Open & Confined Finals".
  6. ^ "New Festival Director for Athlone-based RTE All Ireland Drama Festival". Westmeath Independent. 22 January 2025.
  7. ^ "The Athlone Film Festival". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Cork student wins All-Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright competition". WestmeathIndependent.ie. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  9. ^ "RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright Competition 2024 Winner Announced". About RTÉ. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Finalists announced for RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright contest". WestmeathIndependent.ie. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  11. ^ Ryan, Ray (23 May 2021). "All the world was a stage for Ireland's rural drama groups". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Call on council to honour drama festival 'success story'". WestmeathIndependent.ie. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  13. ^ "First All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival". RTÉ Archives (published 29 April 2022). 21 April 1953. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  14. ^ "My father and the factory he set up - under instruction from Sean Lemass". Irish Independent. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Gentex". Athlone Community Radio. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Esso All-Ireland Amateur Drama Fest Trophy from the 60s, 70s & 80s". NationalTreasures.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  17. ^ "RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival: Actors from Ireland's amateur drama movement come together". RTE.ie. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  18. ^ "New portrait of Drama Festival stalwart unveiled". Westmeath Independent. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  19. ^ a b Lunney, Linde (December 2011). "Kelly, (Patrick) Colm". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.009428.v1.
  20. ^ a b "New Festival Director for Athlone-based RTE All Ireland Drama Festival". Westmeath Independent. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Team & Board Members - Athlone Chamber". Athlone Chamber. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  22. ^ a b c d "Watch Now: RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival Awards 2025". RTE.ie. 19 May 2025.
  23. ^ Conway, Aishling (19 May 2025). "Ballyduff Drama Group scoops top award at RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival". DublinGazette.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  24. ^ Seoige, Síle (2005). 'Stolen Child' wins the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Finals 2005. RTÉ – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Kilmeen victors at Athlone festival". RTÉ.ie. 14 May 2006.
  26. ^ "All-Ireland Drama Winners announced". RTÉ TEN. 7 May 2007.
  27. ^ a b "Drama Festival concludes as Estuary Players retain title". Westmeath Independent. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  28. ^ "The History Boys pass with flying colours". Athlone Advertiser. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  29. ^ a b c "Kilmeen Drama Group wins RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival". WestmeathIndependent.ie. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  30. ^ O'Brien, Claire. "Corn Mill sweeps the boards at All-Ireland Drama Festival". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  31. ^ Prendiville, Norma (17 May 2015). "Shoestring Theatre Company head to the Abbey Theatre". LimerickLeader.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  32. ^ "Palace Players - 'Conversations on a Homecoming'". BallyduffDrama.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  33. ^ "Wexford drama group wins All-Ireland Drama Festival". RTÉ TEN. 9 May 2016.
  34. ^ "Dalkey Players Sweep the Board at the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival". Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Participation Network. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  35. ^ McHugh, Conor (14 May 2018). "Prosperous Drama Society wins All Ireland Drama Festival". LeinsterLeader.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  36. ^ O'Hare, Columba (3 April 2019). "Drama Festival Win for Prosperous Dramatic Society". Newry.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  37. ^ "RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival is back after two-year absence". WestmeathIndependent.ie. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  38. ^ "Dalkey Players triumph at 2023 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival". RTE.ie. 8 May 2023.
  39. ^ McBride, Charlie. "KATS turns twenty with Cass Maguire". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  40. ^ a b "Festivals". DLI.ie. 16 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  41. ^ a b "Drama festival up and running in Claremorris - What's on". WesternPeople.ie. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  42. ^ "About". Amateur Drama Council of Ireland. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  43. ^ a b "Co Wexford drama group are crowned All Ireland champions". Wexford People. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025 – via Independent.ie.
  44. ^ "Thespians to descend on Glenamaddy". TuamHerald.ie. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  45. ^ "Home". DLI.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  46. ^ "One Act Finals 2024". MoatTheatre.com. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
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