Sliabh Aughty wins top prize at Mountmellick Drama Festival

Sliabh Aughty Drama Group has scooped the top accolade in the confined section of the Mountmellick Drama Festival for their production of Michael Carey’s Thy Will Be Done.
In addition to the top drama award, the group were also honoured in two other categories, with director/producer John Allen being awarded best producer and Noel Hogan named as best actor.
The East Clare group took to the stage in Mountmellick on Monday March 5 marking their first appearance on the drama circuit for 2012.
They have followed this with performances at the Claremorris Drama Festival and continue on the circuit next to Claregalway this Friday night, Carnew thereafter before returning to home turf for the Clare Drama Festival in Scariff on March 22 next.
Speaking about the award, John Allen commented, “We are over the moon. The last time we won anything was in or around 1995 or 1996 so it has been a long time coming as we’ve been getting seconds and thirds…always the bridesmaid and never the bride as they say. It is our first win at this drama festival and we would be hopeful going forward that the play will do well”.
Their three-act production is written by Headford author Michael Carey and is a comedy/drama telling the story of two brothers who have not spoken to each other in 40 years. One brother has a failed marriage, his wife having emmigrated to America and his son returns to Ireland after 35 years there.
The other brother spends his time fishing and arguing with the home help who behind it all has all his best interests at heart. As the play unfolds it transpires that the man the young man thinks is his father is actually his uncle and his uncle is actually his father. The play then culminates in an unexpected twist.
There are four in the cast, all plucked from the East Clare area and they include Liam Flannery who plays the character of Peter Griffin, Noel Hogan who plays Jack Griffin, Geraldine Condren in the role of Bridie Lavin and Fergus Dermody plays Martin Griffin.
John admits that having read the play he decided it was a good option for the drama group and thought there were a lot of issues in the play to challenge the cast.
Thy Will Be Done comes to Scariff Community College on March 22 next at 8.30pm as part of the Clare Drama Festival.