New winners of athlones rte all ireland drama festival

A new name was inscribed on the perpetual trophy for the overall winners of the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival this weekend.

The Palace Players, Fermoy from County Cork were crowned champions with “Conversations On A Homecoming” by Tom Murphy at the gala awards ceremony in Athlone's Radisson Blu Hotel last night as the curtain came down on the 63rd RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival.

Directed by Liam Howard, who also won the Best Director award, this is the first time for The Palace Players, Fermoy to win the perpetual trophy. The adjudicator Walker Ewart, described their performance as a “memorable evening of theatre” which took place in the Dean Crowe Theatre Athlone on Thursday evening last.

The overall list of winners is as follows:

Perpetual Trophy, The Palace Players, Fermoy with Conversations On A Homecoming
Best Director, Liam Howard The Palace Players, Fermoy
Best Actor, Rónán P. Byrne Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group
Best Actress, Josephine Byrne Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group
Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Ger Liston Shoestring Theatre Company
Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Mary Flavin The Palace Players, Fermoy
Best Stage Management, Liam Farrell Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group
Best Stage Lighting, Brian Nutley Dublin Estuary Players
Best Stage Setting, Dublin Estuary Players
Gormanstown Summer School Scholarship, Killian Collins Ballyduff Drama Group
ADCI/DLI Summer School Scholarship, Michael Mulligan Ballyduff Drama Group
John Butler Scholarship to D.L.I. Summer School, Michael Murphy Kilmuckridge Drama Group