Dalkey Players Scoop Top Award at 2023 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival

Dalkey Players, with a version of Marina Carr’s By the Bog of Cats, directed by Emma Jane Nulty, were crowned RTÉ All Ireland Drama Champions at Saturday’s Gala Awards ceremony in Athlone’s Radisson Blu Hotel. Ballyduff Drama Group, directed by Ger Canning, who presented ‘The Welkin’ were placed second and Thurles Drama Group, directed by Margaret McCormack, who performed ‘The Seafarer’ were placed third.

Director Emma Jane Nulty also won the Best Director award, while Sarah Coughlan, also of Dalkey Players,  won the award for best actress.

Other award winners included:

• Andy Doyle, Wexford Drama Group, won the award for Best Actor for his role as Andre in The Father, Rachel O’Connor, Ballyshannon Drama Society, won the best actress in a supporting role for her role as Claire in A Delicate Balance
• Matt Tracey, Thurles Drama Group, who played Ivan Curry in The Seafarer won the award for best actor in a supporting role,
• Ballyduff Drama Group won the award for best stage setting,
• Treasa Davey, won the Adjudicator Award for her role as Winnie in Happy Days,
• The ADCI/Drama League of Ireland (DLI) Summer School Scholarship went to Fiona Ahern, Ballyduff Drama Group, for her role as ‘Mary Middleton’, in the Welkin.

It was a glittering evening in a week that saw thousands flock to the Athlone and many sold-out shows. Speaking before the awards presentation, Festival Director Regina Bushell congratulated the 9 groups in the final and thanked them for their commitment, hard work and dedication. Regina expressed her sincere gratitude to the festival’s main sponsors, RTÉ, for their continued support of the festival and the extensive coverage the festival had received for this the 70th year of the ADCI. Coman Keaveny, ADCI Chairman, thanked RTÉ for their coverage of the festival and was delighted to inform the audience that numbers attending drama festivals on the circuit this year were estimated to be the highest in 20 years.

Regina thanked the Abbey Theatre, for their support and their generous invitation to the winners of the 2023 Abbey Award, to perform on the Peacock stage next month. Mark O’Brien, Executive Director Abbey Theatre stated that it was a particularly difficult decision this year before announcing Wexford Drama Group who presented ‘The Father’ as the winners of the Abbey Award.

This year’s adjudicator at the festival was Ms Paula Dempsey. She is an Actor, Director and Drama Adjudicator. Paula has also worked as an Actor Trainer and Facilitator. She has been adjudicating since 2007 and is a member of the Association of Theatre Adjudicators. She holds an honours BA and MA in Modern Drama Studies from University College Dublin.

Award Categories:

• RTÉ Perpetual Trophy to the Overall Winner – Dalkey Players, By the Bog of Cats
• Best Director – Emma Jane Nulty, Dalkey Players, By the Bog of Cats
• Best Actor – Andy Doyle, Wexford Drama Group, as Andre in The Father
• Best Actress – Sarah Coughlan, Dalkey Players, as Hester Swaine in By the Bog of Cats
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Matt Tracey, Thurles Drama Group, as Ivan Curry in The Seafarer
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Rachel O’Connor, Ballyshannon Drama Society, as Claire in A Delicate Balance
• Best Stage Management – Dalkey Players, By the Bog of Cats,
• Best Stage Lighting – Dalkey Players, By the Bog of Cats,
• Best Stage Setting – Ballyduff Drama Group, The Welkin
• Adjudicator Award – Treasa Davey, as Winnie in Happy Days,
• The ADCI/Drama League of Ireland (DLI) Summer School Scholarship went to Fiona Ahern, Ballyduff Drama Group, for her role as ‘Mary Middleton’, in the Welkin.
• Anna Kilcoyne, won the John Butler scholarship for her role as ‘Black Wing’ in By the Bog of Cats
• The Abbey Theatre Award – Wexford Drama Group, The Father