Doyenne of the All-Ireland Drama Festival
Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards in association with Westmeath County Council
Unsung Hero finalist: Doreen Holloway
Doreen Holloway has devoted many years to amateur drama, and as secretary of the All-Ireland Drama Festival she is a key person working behind the scenes ensuring the prestigious national event continues to thrive in Athlone.
Doreen’s association with the festival goes back to the early 1980s, when she was known as Doreen Byrne, daughter of legendary Athlone drama stalwart Therese. At that time, she was delighted to be selling programmes, which also gave her the opportunity to watch performances from the back row of the theatre. She moved to Dublin in 1990 but maintained a keen interest in the All-Ireland Drama Festival, returning regularly for performances.
When she returned to Athlone in 2015, the then Festival Director, Joe MacCarrick invited her to rejoin the Drama Festival. She initially served as assistant secretary to Harry Smith before taking on the secretary’s position, a role she has now held for over a decade.
The secretary’s role is a challenging voluntary position, and involves her connecting with nine competing drama groups, including their directors and casts, the festival’s adjudicator, the festival’s main sponsor RTÉ and the Abbey Theatre. Doreen also coordinates the festival programme, introducing photographs and other interesting features for the printed programme, which she believes remains an important record of the festival’s history.
An important part of her remit is managing documentation and licensing, and ensuring the many visiting groups receive the supports and care they need.
“We have to be ready to give them all the support they deserve, because we recognise the commitment of the groups travelling from all corners of Ireland after months of preparation,” said Doreen.
Having been influenced by her late mother, Doreen has now witnessed her own daughter, Lisa, become involved, as part of the festival’s PR team.
“I wouldn’t give one of those hours back,” said Doreen, about her many years of commitment to the All-Ireland Drama Festival, a commitment which continues throughout the year, with only a short summer break.
Doreen finds her greatest satisfaction of the festival is seeing the different generations of people working together to preserve an event that has become such an important part of the town’s cultural and community life.
The Unsung Hero award finalists are Declan Grogan and Ray O'Reilly, Joan Larkin, and Doreen Holloway
The Unsung Hero award is sponsored by West-Midlands Credit Union