Kilkenny drama festival goes down a storm!

The Goresbridge One Act Drama Festival attracted its largest audiences this autumn as attendees from near and far visited the Kilkenny village.

The competing groups in the Open Section were Kilrush Drama Group (Co. Wexford), Kilmeen Drama Group (Co.Cork), Ennis Players (Co.Clare), Coolgreany Amateur Dramatic Society (Co.Wexford) and Bunclody Kilmyshall Drama Group. Coolgreany were the winners in this section, with Kilrush second and Kilmeen third.

The festival was hosted by Kilcumney Players and took place over three nights in Ionad Dara, Goresbridge. Nine drama groups from around Ireland competed in two sections and the adjudicator was Alan Haslett of the Association of Drama Adjudicators.

There were four competitors in the Confined Section. New Ross Drama Workshop, Camross Drama Group, Kilmuckridge Drama Group (all Co.Wexford) and Carlow Little Theatre competed. The winners were Carlow Little Theatre with New Ross second and Kilmuckridge third.

Altogether, there are 22 drama festivals around Ireland in October and November with about 40 drama groups in competition.

All the competing groups are vying for places in the All Ireland One Act Finals. The top six Open groups and the top five Confined groups will qualify to compete in the Iontas Theatre in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan in early December.

Kilcumney Players express their sincere thanks for the wonderful support Goresbridge Drama Festival received and to congratulate the participating groups for the great entertainment they provided. 

The local group also expressed their gratitude to the sponsors of the event. Kilkenny County Council Arts Office provided grant support to the festival again this year, Connolly's Red Mills were the main sponsor while Goresbridge Credit Union and Goresbridge Horse Sales also acted as sponsors.