Drama glory for Kilmuckridge
COMMUNITY GETS TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE FANTASTIC AWARDS FOR LOCAL DRAMA GROUP
THE community of Kilmuckridge came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Kilmuckridge Drama Group at the recent national finals of the confined amateur drama competition, which was held in Doonbeg in Clare from April 5 to April 13.
At the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Doonbeg, Hannah McNiven won ‘Best Actress’ while Barry Turner won a scholarship for summer school, and the group were nominated for stage presentation, lighting, stage management and supporting actor.
Back in Kilmuckridge, around fifty locals gathered to congratulate the amateur drama group, after all their six months of hard work to make this possible.
The group performed their rendition of ‘ The Righteous are Bold’ by Frank Carney during the festival, a play in three acts which has left audiences amazed in Wexford and beyond.
‘ There have been plenty of gasps from audiences,’ said best actress winner Hannah McNiven, who is 25 years of age and lives locally near Kilmuckridge.
Hannah plays the character Nora, who in the play is possessed by evil spirits until exorcised by an elderly priest.
‘At the end of first act, I smash a statue of Virgin Mary, and later an exorcism is seen on stage. People like to see something that’s a little bit scary,’ said Hannah.
‘ There was a wonderful atmosphere in Doonbeg, as around 40 people travelled all the way from Kilmuckridge, there was a real community feeling, it was like a home away from home,’ said Hannah.
Formed in 2007, the members of Kilmuckridge Drama Group are no strangers to winning awards but it was the first time for Hannah McNiven to be honoured so many times in one season.
Hannah McNiven was named ‘ Best Actress’ at the national finals as well as Holycross Drama Confined in February, Wexford Drama Festival, Kilmuckridge Drama Festival as well as the South Wicklow Drama Festival, which was held in Carnew.
Hannah also won ‘ Best Performance’ at the Shercock Drama Festival in March, and said she has always had a fascination for film, TV and drama.
‘I love that feeling when you’re on stage, you get to be somebody else. I don’t do this for the awards, of course they matter but for me, it’s about the community behind the drama,’ said Hannah.
‘It was such a massive commitment, this was six months out of our lives but I enjoyed sharing the stage with so many other local people. It gives you great confidence to have people beside you supporting you all the way.
‘It wasn’t just me, it was everybody who made this possible,’ said Hannah.
Although Hannah works as a part time teacher, she is in the middle of writing a short film which was commissioned by Wexford County Council and she hopes to showcase it during the summer.
Hannah is no stranger to the stage, as she first took part in the pantomime in Gorey in 2013 and from there she has been involved with amateur drama groups in Gorey, Bridge, Enniscorthy as well as Bunclody/Kilmyshall.
‘ This time around so many people have gotten behind us, I feel like Kilmuckridge Drama Group belongs to the community as it’s driven by the community,’ said Hannah.
‘It’s fantastic, the community are delighted,’ said Cllr Mary Farrell speaking about Kilmuckridge Drama Group,
‘For a small amateur production, it brings the whole community together and everyone is so proud of them. Everyone knows someone in this group, because it’s all local actors, which is great for any rural community,’ said Mary.