Call on council to honour drama festival ‘success story’

The “wonderful success story” that is RTE All Ireland Drama Festival should be recognised by the council in this, its 70th year, according to Deputy Mayor Cllr Aengus O'Rourke.

In a motion at the month April meeting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District, he called on the local authority to host a civic reception in honour of the nationally recognised festival, and to give due recognition to all those who have made, and continue to make, this event such a success for the town.

“As far back as 1952, I suppose the first seeds for a national drama festival were sown here in Athlone. A small local committee was formed comprising of my own grandfather PJ Lenihan, Alfie Faulkner and Brendan O'Brien, the father of Gearoid O'Brien, our former librarian. Three right characters from what I believe. These men, in fairness, made things happen and from 1953 on, they successfully ensured that the funding from the Arts Council came to Athlone, and as we know it (the festival) stayed here ever since.

“In 1953 the first drama festival was held in the Sportex hall which was the community facility attached to the Gentex factory, which was the leading employer in the town.

“The game-changer was in 2004 when RTE stepped up with sponsorship and support for the festival. This new cooperation or new partnership resulted in the festival getting more prominence, thanks to the national broadcaster,” and in turn, this also benefitted Athlone as TV and radio shows were now broadcast from Athlone and featured the town.

“I suppose the bedrock of the festival are the volunteers, and it takes quite a number of volunteers to pull this festival together every year, who dedicate so much of their own time each winter and spring getting everything ready, and then each year pulling off a very professional and enjoyable festival of entertainment and arts in town, so that group of volunteers down through the years have meant it's now a nationally recognised festival. And here in Athlone, we all know the benefit of that,” he outlined at the recent council meeting.

As everyone knows, it's very difficult to come up with festivals, so to have one with the prominence and prestige as the All Ireland Drama Festival is something to be celebrated, he maintained, seeking the support of other members to honour the festival with an address of recognition.

Seconding his proposal, his party colleague Cllr Frankie Keena said it's an event that's part of the calendar every year for Athlone from a festivals point of view, and it shows the town in a very positive light both locally and nationally.

He commended the group of volunteers who put in “enormous” hours every year to make it happen, and the fruition of that work can be seen when the various drama groups come to the town from all over the country which gives the area huge national prominence.

“I want to fully support the motion. I think it's fully deserved. I think, like other things when we were without it for a couple of years we appreciated what it brought to the town. We should recognise that,” Fine Gael's John Dolan commented.

The proposal will now go before the next Corporate Policy Group of Westmeath County Council for a decision.