Co Wexford drama group are crowned All Ireland champions

Hooked received a brilliant adjudication from judge Walker Ewart after their performance on Thursday, April 25 and they also won Best Stage Management and Best Director.

PRO of Kilrush Drama Group, Mary Doran said: “We performed it in Carnew three nights before we went away and each of the performances was good but there’s no doubt about it, they peaked on Thursday night.

“Kay Cahill, Erin Hogan and John Redmond, each one of them was outstanding,” said Mary.

The group were delighted to take the Claire Galway trophy home with them to Wexford as All Ireland Confined Winners but Mary said that the standard of the eight other drama groups was exceedingly high this year and they didn’t know what result to expect.

“Once you go into the All Ireland, it’s a level playing field so you have to put on a production and do the best you can. They did a powerful job on it on Thursday night. The adjudicator praised every part of the production, the directing, the lighting, the sound, the ingenius set.”

"Hooked is so different and so very well done. We’re absolutely thrilled with the win,” said Mary.

Each group was marked on four elements including acting, dramatic achievement, production and presentation.

In the lead up to the All Ireland in Mountmellick last weekend, Kilrush Drama Group were in top place on the leader board of the Confined Drama All Ireland League Tables, after seven wins on the festival circuit.

The group have also won Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Technical, Best Lighting, Best Sound and Best Set in the past.

Kilrush Drama Group’s usual director for the last 60 years, Mick Byrne, was unable to take on the play this year and actor turned director Niall McGrath stepped up in his place. He was returned with a Best Director award at the festival.

“Niall McGrath took it on and he left no stone unturned, he’s an amazing find as a director and a wonderful actor too."

"It was a very simple set, designed by Niall McGrath but through lighting and sound and the way the actors used it, it worked fantastically. We won best stage management award as well, Claire Duffy was the stage manager. The adjudicator did say it was very much a team award,” said Mary.

After the results were announced, there were celebrations that night in Mountmellick which continued on back at their hotel in Portlaoise.

On Sunday the group were welcomed home and brought by trailer through the streets of Carnew to St Brigid’s Hall. “Even though it was spilling rain out, there was a great number of people there to welcome us home. There were a few speeches then in the hall as well,” said Mary.

To top it all off, Kilrush Drama Group are also celebrating their 60 year anniversary this year. “It is the icing on the cake to win an All Ireland,” said Mary.

Kilrush Drama Group will take to the stage with their production of Hooked once more in several weeks but a date hasn’t been decided yet.