Countdown to All-Ireland Drama Finals in Glenamaddy

Glenamaddy Theatre Festival are thrilled to be hosting this year’s AllIreland Confined Drama Finals in April. We look forward to welcoming the nine qualifying groups and visiting patrons who will experience the hospitality for which Glenamaddy has been noted since the hosting of the first Glenamaddy Theatre Festival in 1960.

The Glenamaddy Theatre Festival Committee, led by Director Coman Keaveny, is confident that the hosting of the All-Ireland Confined Finals – the third such hosting of the event over the past 30 years with the last being held in 2010 – will be a momentous occasion and is committed to meeting and exceeding the high standards that patrons have come to expect from the prestigious event.

Last Monday, January 23rd, RosFM (Roscommon’s community radio station) debuted a new programme called ‘Mark My Words’, focused on addressing issues affecting people with disabilities.

The programme is presented by Mark McClean, who himself is confined to a wheelchair following a traffic accident. Every Monday, between 12 noon and 1 pm, ‘Mark My Words’ will address all the issues and latest news affecting people with disabilities with special guests news and features.

This week, RosFM will also air a special programme called ‘Integration in Ireland’. This one-hour programme was made by members of the Afghanistan community from the EROC centre and members of the Ukrainian community in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. The participants undertook a ten-week QQI Level 3 media expression course at RosFM under the supervision of Deirdre Hunt, which was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The participants researched, recorded, and edited the programme as part of the course. The programme will be repeated next week on Wednesday, February 1st, between 3 pm and 4 pm.

The latest winner of the RosFM 50-50 draw was Helen Kearney, who won €202 after the latest draw on Friday, January 20th. The next draw will be held in studio on Friday, February 3rd, at 2.30 pm.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the draw so far.

RosFM is once again appealing for volunteers to join the station. There are roles in music presentation, current affairs, and news and sport. Full training will be given. For more details, email info@ rosfm.ie or call into our new studios on the Lanesborough Road in Roscommon Town.

For now, the committee’s focus is on preparing for the upcoming finals which will run from April 13th to April 21st next in Glenamaddy Community Centre, with curtain up at 8 pm each night. Patrons can be assured of a very warm welcome where Glenamaddy Community Centre will be transformed into a wonderful theatre for the nine nights with ample space and seating and an ambience that will equal any of its counterparts.

The draw for the finals will take place on Sunday, 2nd of April in the Town Hall Theatre, Glenamaddy which will determine the nine-night programme.

Audiences will be enthralled by the standard of performances, which will be adjudicated this year by Geoff

For further information please visit our website www.glenamaddydrama.ie where season tickets costing €110 are currently on sale. Nightly tickets will be released for sale on the website from 1st March 2023. If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact the Festival Secretary by email on glenamaddydrama@ gmail.com. There will also be a range of fringe events to coincide with the festival so keep an eye on our website and social media platforms.