Draw held for RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival
The nine participating finalists gathered at the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone on Monday of this week for the official draw determining the line-up for this year's All-Ireland Drama Festival.
The 2026 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival, held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI), will take place from April 30 to May 8 in the Dean Crowe Theatre.
Commencing proceedings, Festival Director, Mr Michael McGlone, asked Mairead Broderick, Secretary of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI), to light a candle as a mark of respect for those from the amateur drama world who had passed in the last year.
In welcoming the groups, Michael mentioned that Kilmeen Drama Group and Bunclody Kilmyshall, had returned to the final after being absent from the festival for some years.
ADCI chairperson, John Keane, commended the groups on the exceptionally high standard of their plays and wished this year’s adjudicator the best of luck.
Drama League of Ireland (DLI) vice chairperson Christine O’Brien commended the dedication and talents of the groups. She noted that the DLI Summer School will be 60 years running this year and concluded her address with a quote from Shakespeare, 'strive mightily but eat and drink as friends’.
Mayor of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Vinny McCormack, congratulated the committee and stated that the contribution of the festival to the town was greatly appreciated.
He thanked RTÉ for its continued support and noted that all of Ireland’s acting talents could trace their roots to amateur drama, adding that "we Irish carry a tradition of storytelling". He added that Westmeath County Council remained keen to support the festival and keep it in Athlone.
Turning to the programme, opening the 2026 Festival, on Thursday April 30, the Balally Players, directed by Seán Murphy, present the 2022 play ‘Heaven’ by Eugene O’ Brien. In the play, Mal and Mairead, are a middle-aged couple attending a family wedding. What starts off as a simple trip home becomes a moment of reckoning.
On Friday, May 1, Wexford Drama Group, directed by Linda Hynes, will perform ‘Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me’ written by Frank McGuinness. The play is about three men held captive in a Lebanese jail. The play is loosely based on the true story of journalist Brian Keenan, who was held captive in the 1990s.
Kilmeen Drama Group, directed by Denis O’Sullivan, take to the stage on Saturday, May 2, to present Enda Walsh’s ‘Ballyturk’, an absurdist, high-energy play that explores the fragility of existence, the nature of memory, and the inevitability of death.
Bunclody Kilmyshall Drama Group, directed by Kieran Tyrell, will present ‘Da’ by Hugh Leonard on Sunday, May 3. The play revolves around the living memories of Charlie, a grown man who returns home to Ireland after the death of his father only to find the old man’s presence is still very much alive.
Ballycogley Players, directed by Brigid Scully, take to the stage on Monday, May 4, with ‘All My Sons’ by Arthur Miller. Joe Keller strives to keep the truth of an old crime in the distant past. However, long buried truths are forced to surface and ultimately the American Dream comes tumbling down for Joe and those close to him.
On Tuesday, May 5, Dalkey Players, directed by Emma Jane Nulty, present ‘Sive’, the masterpiece by John B Keane. Sive is a story of greed and bitterness, of a scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman, forcing a young girl to marry a much, much older man.
Brideview Drama Group, directed by Jack Aherne, presents ‘Da’ by Hugh Leonard on Wednesday, May 6.
On Thursday, May 7, Bridge Drama, directed by Susan Somers, present ‘Things I Know to Be True’, an acclaimed 2016 play by Andrew Bovell, exploring the complex dynamics of a suburban family facing challenging truths over one year.
The festival closes on Friday, May 8, with Corofin Dramatic Society, directed by John Clancy, who will perform ‘Wit’ by Margaret Edison. At its heart, Wit tells the story of Vivian Bearing, a brilliant and formidable professor of metaphysical poetry, who undergoes treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
This year’s adjudicator, Padraic McIntyre, is a native of Bailieboro, Co. Cavan and trained as an actor at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He has an MA in Theatre Studies from DCU. Padraic is currently Venues Manager at Ramor Arts Centre. Previously he was the Artistic Director of the Livin’ Dred Theatre Company. He has written numerous plays including ‘The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down’ which has sold out venues around the country.
This year’s Athlone Festival has a bumper programme of fringe events with something for everyone including the Athlone Film Festival, the Schools Playwright Awards, a parade, several new additions including ‘Apres Play’ meet ups, pop up pub fringe events, set dancing and the return of the Sheraton Miscellany.
More details will be available on our website and social media closer to the time. Tickets for the festival are now on sale and can be booked through the Dean Crowe website, at www.deancrowetheatre.com or at the theatre box office, phone 09064 92129. Admission is priced at €25 (includes a €2 booking fee).