Dramatic award haul for Clonlara group

MEMBERS of a Clonlara amateur drama group have plenty of reasons to celebrate at their annual Christmas party this Saturday night, having won 18 different awards, including an All-Ireland title, during the recent one-act drama circuit.
Shannonside Drama Group will display their glittering array of trophies in the Landscape Bar, Doonass this Saturday night at 8pm.
The group has also decided to stage its multi-award winning production of Landscape at a local venue early in the new year. It has decided to do a joint production with another local group.
In total, the group won a staggering 17 individual awards and a great national victory in the All-Ireland confined section in Dublin recently.
The individual awards included five for best play on the festival circuit in Kilmallock, Haulbowline, Dunmore and Doonbeg – three for Eilish Casey, who won best actress in Kilmallock, Dunmore and Doonbeg and two adjudicators awards in Birr and Haulbowline.
Eddie Dillion scooped the coveted prize for best actor in Doonbeg and Kilmallock and the best overall actor in Birr. The group also won four best director crowns in Kilmallock, Birr, Dunmore and Doonbeg while Eddie Dillon was nominated for the best actor and Eilish Casey for an adjudicator’s award in the All-Ireland final.
The play starred Eddie Dillon, who played Duff and Eilish Casey, who played Beth. Stage crew were Tommy Moloney, Dermot Ryan and Brendan Burke.
Group director, Pauline Moloney said the group is thrilled to win so many awards in one season having come so close to winning an All-Ireland crown by qualifying for the overall decider in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
“When we started rehearsing, it was tough but I think this play brought the actors out of their comfort zone and that brought out the best of them.
“We knew we had the calibre of actors to produce a very good play. It was great to see the actors peaking for the final. Every year, we put on a showcase after the circuit to get new young people involved in directing, acting and doing back stage work,” she said.
“The Underdog Theatre Group also play a vital role as it produces budding new actors for Shannonside, which is very important,” she explained.