The All-Ireland Schools Drama Festival was held in Mullingar last week and Scoil Chnoc na Naomh, Doire Chonaire, Gortahork took home a host of prestigious awards.
They won the top award ‘Scoith Léiriú na Féile’ as well as four others: Best National School, Best Gaeltacht School, Best Production of a newly written drama and also Best Drama in Competition 4 category.
Their newly written drama titled ‘Mac Tíre na Draíochta’ was written and produced by Louise Nic Giolla Chearra, a teacher in the school. She is originally from Rann na Feirste.
This is the second time in three years for Scoil Chnoc na Naomh to win the top prize.
The festival took place over six days and the adjudicator was Neasa Ní Laoire. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Clasac Theatre Dublin on May 15.
Noel Ó Gallchóir, President of the Cumann Scoil Drámaíochta said it was a marvellous achievement for Scoil Chnoc na Naomh and he congratulated Louise Nic Giolla Chearra for writing and producing the drama.
He also complimented the young actors and everyone who helped with the presentation. He said 45 plays were staged at the festival and added the standard of plays this year was extremely high.
Louise Nic Giolla Chearra said she was very proud of the young pupils who took part in the play.
She thanked the parents for their assistance and commitment and everyone who helped her with staging the presentation.
Louise said the experience was a real a team effort and she thanked everyone who helped with the costumes, music and the lighting.
She said each Christmas the school has a drama sketch and this sketch was developed for the drama festival.
Among the other Donegal winners at the National Festival were: Pobal Scoil Chloichcheann Fhaola, Falcarragh who won Competition 12 with the drama, ‘Faoi Bhois an Chait’.
This play was written by Siobhán Uí Dhúgáin, a teacher in the Pobal Scoil.
Pobal Scoil Ghaoth Dobhair won the Best Pobal Scoil Award with the drama ‘Tá dóigh thart ar achan rud’ by Ciarán Mac Pháidín and Róisín Nic Pháidín.
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