Roscommon Drama Festival Programme Notes

Sligo Drama Circle, founded in August 1956, with a membership of ten, had their initial production, Gerard Healy’s “Thy Dear Father”. They were runners up in the three act open class in Athlone in 1957 (Ballyshannon nomination). Louis Dalton’s “Money Doesn’t Matter” was their choice in 1958. The best actor and actress awards at Ballyshannon were awarded to two members of the cast. They secured a nomination to Athlone from the Ballinrobe festival. In 1959 he group presented Donagh Mc Donagh’s spectacular play “God’s Gentry” which proved to be highly a successful production – securing more than twelve awards (individual and collective) at various festivals including the Three Act Open and Verse Play Awards in Athlone (Cavan nomination).

“Montserrat”, heir choice for 1960, and their biggest challenge to date, is a play rarely undertaken by amateurs, but the Circle has good reason to be proud of its achievements during the past year with three first prizes (at Roscommon, Cavan and Limerick), three second prizes (at Bundoran, Ballyshannon and Navan) and one third prize at (Tubbercurry) to its credit. In addition, they secured the production awards at four festivals (Roscommon, Limerick, Bundoran and Navan) and three gold medals for the Best Actor at the Roscommon, Navan and Cavan Festivals were awarded to Tom Hayes, Eddie Mc Dermottroe and Paddy Dooney respectively; several certificates of acting were also awarded to the group. Unfortunately, however, due to illness, the group were unable to compete at Athlone in the All-Ireland Festival last year.

Roscommon Drama Festival, March 1961