Bonfires blazed in Glenamaddy for All-Ireland Drama heroes
Historic win for amateur group
It was the greatest night ever in the proud history of amateur drama in the Glenamaddy area.
There were emotional scenes in Tyrone on the night of Saturday April 18 – and in Glenamaddy during subsequent celebrations – as Glenamaddy Players made a piece of local theatre history by winning the All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals for the first time ever.
The Glenamaddy group have been performing Chapatti by Christian O’Reilly to great acclaim over recent months with the pinnacle performance at the ADCI All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone.
There were cheers of delight when Glenamaddy were announced as the overall winner, taking the Premier Award.
This historic success was a timely reward for perseverance – the Glenamaddy Players have been in the last 12 All-Ireland finals, finishing either second or third over the past six years.
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CAST members Paraic Newman and Marie Coneran and in foreground Christian O’Reilly, author of Chapatti.Image 2 of 3
DIRECTOR Coman Keaveny with the award.Image 3 of 3
DIRECTOR Coman Keaveny and the Glenamaddy Players received a great homecoming with their All-Ireland award.There’s a 60-year tradition of drama in Glenamaddy, up on 100 years in all and the win is testament and tribute to all the people who have been involved over the years. Those who have passed on are very much in our thoughts too at this time.
Glenamaddy Players’ success sparked jubilant and emotional scenes among the large group of supporters who had travelled to Tyrone for the ceremony.
The celebrations continued when the cast and crew were given a huge homecoming with a phenomenal turnout on the streets of the town on the Sunday night.
Bonfires lined the route towards the town and people in surrounding areas stood out and added their congratulations. There was further recognition for Glenamaddy at the All-Ireland awards in the individual categories, with nominations for Coman Keaveny as Best Director, Paraic Newman as Best Actor and Marie Coneran as Best Actress.
“I was amazed at the turnout on Sunday night,” Coman Keaveny reflected this week. He was particularly delighted that the playwright of Chapatti, Christian O’Reilly, was present at the celebrations as well as John Keane, Chairperson of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland.
Glenamaddy Players will now perform their All-Ireland winning play tonight Wednesday April 29 at the Dean Crowe Theatre Athlone.
There will be two final performances in Glenamaddy Town Hall Theatre this Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3 at 8pm. Bookings via Eventbrite.