Mary Doran, Kilrush, Michael Dunbar, Enniscorthy, and RTE personality Anne Doyle at the All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals launch in Carnew. (Pic; Eamonn Doran).

It has been a remarkable start to the year for drama groups with many festivals disrupted and rescheduled due to inclement weather conditions, however, the season finishes on a high note with the exciting news that five Co. Wexford groups have qualified for the All-Ireland finals.

Bridge Drama, Kilmuckridge and Wexford will participate in the RTE All- Ireland Open Finals in Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone on May 3-11th while Ballycogley and Coolgreany have qualified for the 2018 Bostik All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals over nine performances in St Brigid’s Hall from Friday to Saturday, April 13-21st, nightly at 8 pm, except on the final night when adjudicator Tom Byrne makes his decision, and there is a 7.30 pm start.

Legendary RTE newsreader Anne Doyle had the pleasure of presiding at the press launch recently and she wished everybody well with the festival where details were announced.

The attendance in the Corner House, Carnew, was also addressed by Michael Johnston, Kilmuckridge, wearing his Vice-Chairman of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI) hat, who wished the festival well, while Michael Dunbar provided some classic excerpts from well-known stage settings.

Eamonn Doran, Chairman of the South Wicklow Drama Festival Committee, welcomed everybody to the launch and said that he anticipates “the best drama festival ever and a big effort from Carnew”, while Mary Doran, PRO, outlined some of the fringe events running in tandum with the festival.

Hosted by Kilrush Drama Group the South Wicklow Drama Festival was founded in 2005 and takes place in March every year in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew, and is run under the auspices of the ADCI.

And more drama news. The All-Ireland One-Act Finals 2018 will be hosted by Kilmuckridge Drama Festival in the Kilmuckridge Memorial Hall on Friday to Sunday, December 7-10th, under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland.