RTÉ Drama Festival Director Michael McGlone speaking at last Saturday's RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation in the Radisson Blu Hotel. Photo: Eric Molloy.
Gallery: Inside the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival gala awards ceremony
The RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival gala awards ceremony in Athlone’s Radisson Blu Hotel took place on Saturday.
The event was hosted by Nuala Carey and Simon Delaney, as the curtains came down on the 2025 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival.
The festival is held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI).
Ballyduff Drama Group, directed by Ger Canning, were crowned RTÉ All-Ireland Drama champions for their performance of ‘The Blackwater Lightship’ by Colm Tóibín, adapted for stage by David Horan.
Balally Players, directed by Declan Rudden, who performed ‘Ulster American’ by David Ireland, were placed second, and, Bridge Drama, directed by Susan Somers, who performed ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted by Simon Stephens, were placed third.
Other award winners included Cillian Tobin, Bridge Drama, who took home the best actor award 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 award went to Mary O’Connor, Bridge Drama, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ and the award for best stage lighting went to Mark Redmond, Bridge Drama. Emma Walsh, Brideview Drama Group, won the Adjudicator’s prize for Valerie’s speech in ‘The Weir’. The Drama League of Ireland (DLI) Summer School Scholarship went to Sarah Smith, Newpoint Players for her role as the dummy in ‘Ghetto’.
Ronan Bennett Best Supporting Actor Ballyduff Drama Group, Festival Adjudicator Walker Ewart, Ger Canning Best Director and overall winners Ballyduff Drama Group.
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RTÉ hosts Nuala Carey & Simon Delaney.
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Festival Director Michael McGlone and Deirdre McGlone.
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Doreen Holloway Festival Secretary presented a bouquet of Flowers by RTÉ Drama Festival Director Michael McGlone.
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Festival Director Michael McGlone, RTÉ's Nuala Carey, Ronan Bennett Best Supporting Actor Ballyduff Drama Group, Ger Canning Best Director and overall winners Ballyduff Drama Group, and RTE's Simon Delaney.
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Festival Director Michael McGlone with RTÉ's Nuala Carey & Simon Delaney.
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Regina & Ronan Bushell.
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Festival Director Michael McGlone, Liam Hannaway Chairman ADCI, and Festival Adjudicator Walker Ewart.
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Festival Committee Ladies Olive Martin, Aisling King, Majella O' Dea, and Paola Bassanese.
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Ballyduff Drama Group overall winners from Co. Waterford at last Saturdays RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation.
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Claire & Alan Shaw.
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Drama Festival Ladies Eileen Jennings, Margaret Egan, Mary Merrigan, Doreen O' Shea, and Gill Moran.
