Louisa Robinson, a TY student from Loreto College, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, has been announced as the overall
winner of the 2026 Schools Playwright Competition with her play ‘State Your Purpose’ on the theme ‘Change’.
The competition is held in conjunction with the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Fringe and sponsored by the West
Midlands Credit Union. Michael McGlone, Festival Director, opened the prize giving ceremony. Billy Nott, as co-
ordinating judge, acted as MC. The guest speaker at the awards ceremony was Leah Egan.
Leah Egan is an award winning actor, director, screen-writer and film-maker from Athlone known for her work
across Ireland, the UK, Canada and recently the U.S. Leah’s dedication to story-telling engages audiences
everywhere. She is a recognised winner as an experienced playwright and theatre producer who gained recognition
for her roles in TG4’s Ros na Rún and RTÉ’s Fair City. Leah’s short films have won her awards such as ‘The
Westmeath Film Award’ an ‘Actor as Creator’ award. Her two original short films ‘Shelter’ and ‘I see a Voice’ won
her Best Writer and Best Cinematography awards. She has two children’s books and three theatre productions to
her credit. Leah continues to write, direct and perform in English, Irish, French and Irish Sign Language.
Selected from a short list of 16 finalists, Louisa’s play was performed by herself and her classmates Juliet Trenaman
and Hannah Duffy in the Little Theatre, Athlone on Tuesday 28 th April ably assisted by Paddy Martin with lighting and
props. This play, ‘State Your Purpose’, illustrates the harsh reality of immigration bureaucracy and the
dehumanising experience endured by poor illiterate and hopeful people emigrating from Ireland to America during
the Famine Era. A false sense of security continues today to dominate modern, educated and well-to-do people who
seek immigration approval status. Digital screening of phones is the new health, safety and security way for
immigration rejection in a tense political state where division and anti-institutional sentiment must be investigated
to “ensure American Greatness” !.
James Hanlon from St. Fergal’s College, Rathdowney, Co. Laois came second with his play ‘The Judgeman’. James’s
play is a trial-like court journey of an injured policeman lying on a hospital bed in intensive care. The meaning of his
life is a chaotic mind decision for him between life and death. Defence and Prosecution attorneys remind him of his
lived life to date to help win their case. The Judgeman acts as Mediator and shows him how to structure the chaos
in his mind and not be judged by Heaven or God or Fate but by himself. The policeman chooses to live.
Sorcha McDonagh from Presentation Secondary School, Killina, Rahan, Co. Offaly came third. A changed classroom
seating arrangement upsets an autistic student who also suffers from selective mutism. Her best friend calms her
and is instrumental in establishing a whole school and student human lesson where understanding and respect for
those who need a unique way of learning can be accommodated by a Special Needs Teacher in a Step by Step
approach.
Owen O’Keefe from St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Castleisland, Co. Kerry with his play ‘The Butterfly Man’ came
fourth. Owen’s play deals with the emotional weight of Schizophrenic hallucinations that traumatise a young man’s
mental health state after the death of his parents. Brief visits by his sister and therapist over time unlock his pain
and fear of medication. His choice to fight his illness gives him a new life.
Vee Coyle from Gorey Educate Together Secondary School, Gorey, Co. Wexford came fifth with her play ‘A Day to
Remember’. Vee’s play highlights the urgent need to address identity based violence. Her story is built around a
dog and cat friendship where the cat faces most discrimination because he is ‘black’ and so suffers violence and
death at Hallowe’en. The dog suffers the loss of his best friend. Such cruelty is never socially acceptable as it affects
everyone involved.
Clodagh Scally from Tullamore College, Riverside, Tullamore, Co. Offaly came sixth with her play ‘New Beginnings’.
This play captures the reflective feelings of three school friends who wait for the last bell of their secondary school
life to ring and the clatter of school lockers to stop. They then reminisce on the fond memories the school has given
them. They discuss future plans, and family support structures or not, as they promise each other to keep in touch.
The Awards Ceremony concluded with a presentation of a cheque for €500 by Michael McGlone, Director of RTÉ All
Ireland Drama Festival, to the Deputy Principal, Des Fitzgerald of Loreto College whose school had the winning play.
The Judging Panel consisted of Evelyn Breen, Caroline Coyle, Paddy Martin and Joe MacCarrick. Margaret Egan,
Schools Playwright Co-ordinator, assisted by Joe MacCarrick, organised the Competition.