Castleblayney Drama Festival

10/05/2026

09/05/2026

✨🎭 Tonight is the Night🎭✨

We've seen all nine of our plays and we've heard our adjudicator's feedback. Now, it's time to crown our 2026 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival Winners!

🔗Link for Awards Livestream in bio🔗

09/05/2026

After a great nine nights of theatre, we'll find out the results tonight, livestreamed from 9pm.

20/04/2026

Had an enjoyable night at the Mid Ulster Drama Festival in Carrickmore when the awards were presented. A well organised event in The Patrician Hall, and it was lovely to meet other drama friends from around the country.
Next year, the Confined Finals will be held in Tubbercurry, Co.Sligo.

19/04/2026

The full list of awards from the Confined finals held in Carrickmore.

The All Ireland Confined Drama Finals came to a close last night with the Awards Night in The Patrician, Carrickmore. The audiences were treated to nine absolutely fantastic nights of amateur drama, with so much talent on the stage each night.

Every drama group that performed on stage over the past nine nights can be very proud of their achievement in making it all the way to the finals, but unfortunately, not everyone can be crowned the winner.

This year, that accolade goes to Glenamaddy Players for their performance of 'Chapatti' by Christian O'Reilly. Congratulations to the cast and crew on this brilliant win.

Runner-up spot went to Gorey Little Theatre for their performance of 'Gut' by Frances Poet, and third place went to Sliabh Aughty Drama Group for their performance of 'The Outgoing Tide' by Bruce Graham

Proudly sponsored by Nugent's Corner Bar, Pomeroy.
Along with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Amateur Drama Council of Ireland
Drama League of Ireland

Upstage Players
Sliabh Aughty Drama Group
Tinahely Variety Group
Enniskillen Theatre Company
Gorey Little Theatre
Clones Drama Group
Bualadh Bos Oranmore
Glenamaddy Players
Memory Lane Theatre

18/04/2026

Glenamaddy have eventually done it - congratulations to Coman Keavney and all the group.

06/04/2026

Draw made today. Here's the lineup for the Open finals in Athlone.

01/04/2026

The draw is complete for the 2026 ADCI All Ireland Confined Drama Finals hosted by Mid Ulster Drama Festival.

Best wishes to Mid-Ulster and the nine qualifying groups with their All-Ireland preparations.

16/03/2026

Plenty of local drama heppening.

🚨 THIS WEEKEND: DON'T MISS OUT 🚨

World Premiere of
A TWILIGHT DREAM
By John McArdle
Directed By Tommy McArdle

“The third millennium is still young.”

When Three nuns who have been working in a medical facility in Sudan are called home to their head convent, they arrive into spartan accommodation in a little-used room, and speculate on why they were summoned. Perhaps it was because civil war was about to break out again in Sudan? and their safety was threatened? They discover that the convent is crowded with nuns from both home and abroad, assembling for a conference on the role of the church in the new millennium.

Assuming that they are being asked to speak about their Sudan experience and its relevance, They discuss what their contribution might be, becoming enthused by the hope of setting out a radical direction, not only for the whole order, but for the whole church in the world. However, they gradually come to realise that the actual reasons for their return are not what they imagined…

Described by the author as ‘A love story with five women and one man’, A Twilight Dream combines the talents of two of Monaghan’s most accomplished sons, playwright and screenwriter John McArdle and his twin brother Tommy, award-winning director in theatre, film and television. Their knowledge of nuns and religion goes back to their childhood. The five women and one man are brought quietly to life by a dedicated cast and backup team, in an innovative staging of the play.

📆 Thurs 19th, Fri 20th & Sun 22nd March 2026
⏰ 8pm
🎟 Tickets €17/€15

🎟Tickets on sale now: https://iontascastleblayney.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173670111