Award-winning drama group to perform at Opera House

It may be small but it’s one of the top nine drama groups in the country — now West Cork’s Kilmeen Drama group is to perform its latest prize-winning play at Cork Opera House.

The group has made it through to this week’s prestigious all-Ireland drama finals in Athlone, which it won last year.

“Only nine groups qualified for the drama final in Athlone, which is a 32-county competition — it’s a great accolade to even get to the finals,” said Christy O’Sullivan, a member of the group, which will perform its award-wining The Weir at the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Finals on Sunday next. In the interim, the Kilmeen cast has been invited to perform The Weir, by Conor McPherson, at the Opera House tomorrow and Wednesday with the second night’s performance in aid of Marymount Hospice.

There is a cast of just five in this latest play from Kilmeen — the drama group itself consists of only 30 members from the village of Rossmore.

Mr O’Sullivan noted last year, in an unprecedented achievement, the group won both the all-Ireland three act play and the one-act play in Athlone: “What we achieved last year has never before been achieved in the history of the drama movement in Ireland,” he said.

“We are now going to Athlone effectively for our third all Ireland in a row.”

The fact that Kilmeen is appearing at the Opera House beforehand the All-Ireland finals will give Cork audiences an opportunity to enjoy the highly acclaimed play, which is produced by Tim Coffey.

“This play has a superb cast, many of which have won individual awards at all Ireland level in the past — actors such as Declan Price who won the Best Actor award in 2011 and Norah Scannell who won Best Actress on two occasions” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Last year Kilmeen also won the One Act All Ireland category with Disco Pigs which will form part of the fringe festival in Athlone this year also.

“Appearing in Cork Opera House is always a very special occasion for us — we are particularly looking forward to it this year because it precedes our All Ireland appearance in Athlone.”