Tributes To Sligo Drama Circle

The Circle were doing work of National importance in promoting the Irish language or drama, said the Mayor of Sligo, Mr. Norbert Ferguson, when he attended the annual dinner of the Sligo Drama Circle, in the Sancta Maria Hotel, Strandhill. He said although people such as they, close to the national movement which started fifty or sixty years ago with the foundation of the national theatre and the Gaelic League, might sometimes feel their enthusiasm was not shared by the majority, he would like to assure them that the people appreciated all that they were doing.

Mr. Ferguson was speaking on behalf of the guests in reply to a toast proposed, on behalf of the Circle, by Mr. Liam Mc Kinney. Opening his speech in Irish, Mr. Ferguson thanked the Circle for inviting himself and Mrs. Ferguson to their annual dinner. It was an honour for him to be present as he had a great interest in, and a real love for, the language and drama of the country. Mr. Ferguson said even if the Sligo Drama Circle never produced a play, their presence in the town was more than justifiable because the members individually had lent their experience and skill to every production in the town. On behalf of all the groups in the town he would like to thank the Circle most sincerely.

Mr. F.J. Wynne, President of Sligo Yeats Society, in proposing a toast to the Circle, paid tribute to the high standard they achieved in all their productions, and on behalf of the Yeats Society, thanked them for putting on plays for the benefit of the students of the Summer School. Yeats’ Plays had become a part of the School and for the last two years the Sligo Drama Circle had presented them to the students. He felt sure the Circle, too, had benefited from playing to an international audience, conversant with Yeats’ plays and stage technique. “The students”, said Mr. Wynne, “were fully behind them and were completely carried away”. It gave him great pleasure to propose a toast to Sligo Drama Circle.

Mr. Lionel Gallagher thanked Mr. Wynne for the toast and thanked the Yeats Society for the support they had given the Circle. Most important to him was that the Circle had the confidence of the Yeats Society. This was a greater commendation than any drama award. Mr. Gallagher traced the year of the Circle, the highlight of which was the winning of the premier award at Belfast. He thanked the Mayor of Sligo and the Boys’ Club Band for the fine reception they were given on their return to Sligo. It was a very full and successful year for the Sligo Drama Circle, he said.

Mr. Seán O’ Reilly, Chairman, thanked the guests for attending the dinner and went on to speak of the policy of the Circle which for the past three years had been building up the organisation so that in years to come there would be a nucleus of skilled personnel from which the drama movement would grow.

from The Sligo Champion, January 26th, 1968