25 years of Feis Dhun Dealgan
FEIS Dhun Dealgan is celebrating its twenty year anniversary when hundreds of talented young entrants gather in the Crowne Plaza, Dundalk on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January.
Feis Dhun Dealgan is the only such event in County Louth, indeed the only festival between Dundalk and Dublin. The Feis which began in 1997 as a one day event with 400 hundred entries as grown to two days with up to 800 competitors last year.
Great credit is due to local drama teacher Patricia Reynolds who runs the Feis with efficiency, ensuring high standards of performance, pleasure and enthusiasm.
This year’s adjudicators are David Meredith, Director of The Irish Board of Speech and Drama, and Anna Walker, Senior Drama Examiner with The Royal Irish Academy of Music.
‘We, at Feis Dhun Dealgan believe that we are helping to mould Ireland’s future leaders,’ says Patricia Reynolds. ‘ The students develop communication, presentation and leadership skills, how to perform individually and as part of a team, which creates natural leaders and develops the ability to ‘ think on their feet’, invaluable assets for the future.’
There are over fifty two competitions throughout the weekend, covering all aspects of Speech & Drama, from poetry, solo-drama, mime, sight-reading, original poetry, duologues, Television Newsreader, Group Improvisation, Choral Verse and Movement to Music.
‘As a special addition this year, we have invited past competitors of Feis Dhun Dealgan to participate in a senior poetry and senior drama award,’ says Patricia. ‘ This will take place at 7.00pm on Saturday January 28.’
One of the competitors is actually travelling back from their home in Lyon, France to participate in this competition.
This year in particular, we do really need your support, all members of the public are more than welcome to come along at the weekend to enjoy the entertainment, talent and dedication given by the students. Competition begins at 10am each day and continues until 8.00pm on Saturday and 5.30pm on Sunday. The final Movement to Music competition on Sunday at 4.30pm, are always a must to see with the students interpreting music through the form of plays and dance. This year in particular, we do really need your support.
Feis Dhun Dealgain would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsors, without whom this Festival could not continue.