PRESS RELEASE 6 APRIL 2026

2026 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival programme promises a bumper feast of drama and an action packed fringe festival!

The 2026 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival, held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama
Council of Ireland (ADCI), will take place from April 30 th to May 8 tth next in the Dean Crowe
Theatre, Athlone. The nine finalists gathered in Athlone on Monday 6 tth April to attend the
official draw for the line-up for the RTÉ All-Ireland final. Amongst the finalists are four
Wexford drama groups!
Commencing proceedings, Festival Director, Mr. Michael McGlone, requested Mairead
Broderick, Secretary of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI), to light a candle as a
mark of respect for those from the amateur drama world who had passed in the last year. In
welcoming the groups, Michael mentioned the high standard of the groups and noted that
Kilmeen Drama Group and Bunclody-Kilmyshall, had returned to the final after being absent
from the festival for some years.
ADCI Chairperson, John Keane, commended the groups on the exceptionally high standard
of their plays and wished this year’s adjudicator the best of luck. Drama League of Ireland
(DLI) vice Christine O’Brien commended the dedication and talents of the groups. She
reminded that the DLI Summer School will be 60 years running this year. She concluded
quoting from Shakespeare ‘Strive mightily but eat and drink as friends’.
Mayor of the Athlone-Moate District, Councillor Vinny McCormack, congratulated the
committee and stated that the contribution of the festival to the town was greatly appreciated.
He thanked RTÉ for their continued support and hopes they continue to sponsor the festival.
He noted that all of Ireland’s acting talents could trace their roots to amateur drama and that
we Irish carry a tradition of storytelling. Westmeath Co. Co. are very interested in supporting
the festival and keeping it in Athlone.
Tickets for the festival are on sale from 8 th April and can be booked through the Dean Crowe
website at http://www.deancrowetheatre.com/ or at the theatre box office, phone (090)
6492129. Admission €25 (includes a €2 Booking Fee).
2026 Programme
Turning to the programme, opening the 2026 Festival, on Thursday 30 th of April, the Balally
Players, directed by Seán Murphy, present the 2022 play ‘Heaven’ by Eugene O’ Brien. Mal
and Mairead, are a middle-aged couple attending a family wedding. What starts off as a
simple trip home becomes a moment of reckoning.
On Friday 1 st of May, Wexford Drama Group, directed by Linda Hynes, will perform
‘Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me’ written by Frank McGuinness. The play is about three
men held captive in a Lebanese jail The play is loosely based on the true story of journalist
Brian Keenan, who was held captive in the 1990s.
Kilmeen Drama Group, directed by Denis O’Sullivan, take to the stage on Saturday 2 nd of
May, to present Enda Walsh’s ‘Ballyturk’ the absurdist, high-energy play that explores the
fragility of existence, the nature of memory, and the inevitability of death.

Bunclody-Kilmyshall Drama Group, directed by Kieran Tyrell, will present ‘Da’ by Hugh
Leonard on Sunday 3 rd of May. The play revolves around the living memories of Charlie, a
grown man who returns home to Ireland after the death of his father only to find the old
man’s presence is still very much alive.
.
Ballycogley Players directed by Brigid Scully, take to the stage on Monday 4 th of May with
‘All My Sons’ by Arthur Miller. Joe Keller strives to keep the truth of an old crime in the
distant past. However, long buried truths are forced to surface and ultimately the American
Dream comes tumbling down for Joe and those close to him.
On Tuesday 5 th of May, Dalkey Players, directed by Emma Jane Nulty, presents ‘Sive’ the
classic masterpiece written by John B. Keane. Sive is a story of greed and bitterness, of a
scheming matchmaker and a resentful woman, forcing a young girl to marry a much, much
older man.
Brideview Drama Group, directed by Jack Aherne, presents ‘Da’ by Hugh Leonard on
Wednesday 6 th of May. 2026 is Hugh Leonard’s centenary year.
On Thursday, 7 th of May, Bridge Drama, directed by Susan Somers, present ‘Things I Know
to Be True’ an acclaimed 2016 play by Andrew Bovell, exploring the complex dynamics of a
suburban family facing challenging truths over one year.
The festival closes on Friday 8 th of May with Corofin Dramatic Society, directed by John
Clancy, who will perform the Pulitzer Prize winning ‘Wit’ by Margaret Edison. At its heart,
Wit tells the story of Vivian Bearing, a brilliant and formidable professor of metaphysical
poetry, who undergoes treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
Fringe
This year’s Athlone Festival has a bumper programme of fringe events with something for
everyone including the Athlone Film Festival, the Schools Playwright Awards, a parade,
several new additions including ‘Apres Play’ meet ups, pop up pub fringe events, set dancing
and the return of the Sheraton Miscellany. More details will be available on our website and
social media closer to the time.
Adjudicator
This year’s adjudicator, Padraic McIntyre, is a native of Bailieboro, Co. Cavan and trained as
an actor at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He has an MA in
Theatre Studies from DCU. Padraic is currently Venues Manager at Ramor Arts Centre.
Previously he was the Artistic Director of the Livin’ Dred Theatre Company. He has written
numerous plays including ‘The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down’ which has sold out venues around the country.