Thurles Information

As stated in an earlier post, the prestigious County Tipperary Open Drama Festival, under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland will be held once again in Holycross Community Centre, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. This popular event will take place, over 9 nights, from Friday March 21st until Saturday March 29th.
The centre will open nightly at 8:30pm, except on Awards Night (Saturday March 29th), when the centre’s activities will commence, sharp, at 8:00pm.

As already announced, the Adjudicator for this year, will be Ms Irene O’Meara (B.Ed. LLSM, MA Drama & Theatre Studies); with Mr Donal Duggan continuing in his role as Festival Director.
Festival committee members will be on hand, as is usual, to cater for attending patrons during necessary interval breaks.

This year, nine of Ireland’s leading drama groups will present plays by top playwrights.

Plays and Players.

Friday March 21st, (Open); “The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot”, By Stephen Adly Guirgis, (Clontarf Drama Group, Dublin).
Saturday March 22nd, (Open); “The Blackwater Lightship”, by Colm Toibin (adapted by David Horan).
Sunday, March 23rd, (Confined); “A Living Will”, by Jim Keane, (Suir Productions, Tipperary).
Monday, March 24th, (Open); “The Weir”, by Colm McPherson (Brideview Drama Group, Waterford).
Tuesday March 25th, (Open); “Rathmines Road”, by Deirdre Kinihan (Thurles Drama Group). [Note: Not Suitable for Children].
Wednesday March 26th, (Confined); “The Beauty Queen Of Leenane” By Martin McDonagh (Flavour Of The Month Productions, Limerick).
Thursday March 27th, (Open); “Bailegangaire”, by Tom Murphy (Kilrush Drama Group).
Friday, March 28th, (Confined); “The Snapper”, By Roddy Doyle (Clann Machua, Mayo). [Note: Not Suitable for Children].
Saturday, March 29th (Confined); “Amongst Men”, by Eoghan Rua Finn (Wayside Player’s Wexford).

Admission each night: €15. Season Ticket: €70 and Concession: €12.

For further information: Phone: 086-257 5159 or Email: donal@dugganvet.ie 
Fax: 0504-43147.

The Holycross County Tipperary Open Drama Festival committee are proud to announce that they have acquired the services, as ‘Adjudicator’, of Ms Irene O’Meara (B.Ed. LLSM, MA Drama & Theatre Studies) for the 2025, eight day, prestigious festival, which begins on Friday March 21st next and ends on Saturday March 29th.

Ms O’Meara holds a Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies, which has enabled her to work in many theatre related areas, namely the Drama Department of Mary Immaculate College and as a tutor with Hibernia College, in Drama, Literacy, and Integrated Arts. She is also involved in designs while facilitating courses in Process Drama for teachers and educators.

Her other work involves facilitating workshops in acting, ensemble work and other aspects of theatre, including the improvement of basic stagecraft.

Ms O’Meara has acted and directed in many plays with Nenagh Players, Aisteoirí an Aonaigh, DramsocNUIG and other drama groups over the years; as well as working on Lighting, Sound, Wardrobe, Stage Management. She has been involved in various committees and greatly appreciates all of the work and talent that goes on behind the scenes, thus enabling on-stage matters to run smoothly.

Ms O’Meara has a keen interest in dance and has also worked as choreographer with ‘Kids On Stage’, latter a Musical Theatre school in Tipperary.
Her latest venture has been working in the area of harmonic singing, where the process of collaboratively creating and enjoying harmonies works as a healing, relaxing and grounding agent for the singers.

Finally, Ms O’Meara enjoys adjudicating at festivals and is looking forward to viewing the variety of this year’s productions at the County Tipperary Open Drama Festival in Holycross, Thurles and meeting with both the talented Drama Groups and the various audiences, each night.