By Paddy Walsh
On Monday evening at the An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny the buzz was still evident. And will be for some time.
And as the members of the All-Ireland winning Letterkenny Music and Drama Group filtered through the door at various stages, the applause and cheers went up. And they raised a glass of cider – or would have had there been any available! – to the victors and their spoils.
That included first prize in the ACDI/DLI All Ireland One Act Drama Festivals with the group’s production of Kieran Kelly’s ‘Cider Park’, the Best Male Actor award going to Kieran himself following his return to an acting role; and the Summer School Bursary Award claimed by Andrew Tinney.
In addition there were nominations for director, Michael Leddy, and for stage manager, Tom Nelis.
The other members of the Letterkenny Group involved in ‘Cider Park’ who returned victorious were Cathal O Gallchoir who played the part of ‘Ritchie’ and Eoghan MacGiolla Bhrighde who worked on lights.
And with the Butt Drama Circle finishing third with their one act play, ‘A Matter of Rights’, written by Conor Malone, and JC Bonar also nominated for an acting award, it was a drama laden weekend for Donegal.
“It’s brilliant, absolutely fantastic,” Kieran reacts to one of the greatest nights of his theatrical career.
“I had never written a one act play before and I just wanted to see how it would go.”
And go it did. Winning awards in various categories and then capturing the ultimate one at the Moat Theatre in Naas at the weekend.
“I was in tears when it was announced, floods of tears,” Kieran freely admits.
“I didn’t dream that this could happen,” he adds, though it’s quite certain that it did feature in those dreams.
“The festival itself was amazing and the crowd was fantastic.”
The Letterkenny group staged ‘Cider Park’ on Saturday night – “without a doubt our best staging of it” – but had to wait until Sunday before finding out where the prizes went.
“And then the Butt group were given third place and I wondered, what’s going on here? I thought we were in contention and then came the announcement….”
Not just because they claimed the top prize but Kieran was full of praise for the adjudicator, Imelda McDonagh.
“She got it. She got things in the play – the sub text of it, She totally understood it,” Kieran exclaims.
“Fantastic atmosphere, an extraordinary experience,” Michael Leddy reflects on the weekend.
“Being confident because I saw the lads doing their best show on Saturday night.
“We were blown away with the response and the awards. And proud to be there for Donegal.”
Because the festival coincided with the staging of ‘Shrek the Musical’ at An Grianán, the six men, comprising cast and crew, essentially represented the Letterkenny Music and Drama Group on their own.
“Yeah, it just happened to clash but that’s the way it goes. But of course the Butt Drama Group were there so we were supporting each other and having the craic.”
Michael had read Kieran’s script back in January and because the latter wanted to make a return to acting, Leddy was delighted to take on the role of director.
“To be honest, there wasn’t a lot for me to do but shape it, and nudge it along and alert them to the things I was observing.
“They had built the house – all I was doing was putting the roof on it,” the director modestly proclaims.
Addressing the cast and crew at Monday evening’s reception, the Letterkenny Music and Drama chairperson, Pluincead O Fearraigh offered a “huge congratulations” to all involved.
“We have been really busy this year and this is the icing on the cake,” he declares.
Pluincead reflected back to 2012 when the Group claimed All-Ireland success on the drama circuit with their staging of the ’39 Steps’.
“And that was the year Donegal brought Sam Maguire back to the county!.”
But for now the celebrations are focusing, not on Croke Park, but on Cider Park…!
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