Anticipation high as festival run finishes

As the final weekend of the festival run looms, there is no major change in the top placings from last week with the exception of Thurles having moved top of the table with six wins.

The battle for ninth place continues with Brideview Drama (‘The Father’) just outside the top nine as things stand. Should they get a win in Scariff at the weekend, it may might just be enough but with Thurles (‘The Seafarer’) and Dundalk (‘Faith Healer’) also in Scariff, it’s not looking good going on past results.

The groups safely through include Thurles (‘The Seafarer’), Wexford (‘The Father’), Ballyduff (‘The Welkin’), Prosperous (‘Oleanna’), Ballyshannon (‘A Delicate Balance’), Dalkey Players (‘By The Bog Of Cats’), Newpoint Players (‘Happy Days’) and Butt Drama Circle (‘Darkness Echoing’). Dundalk (‘Faith Healer’) are presently in ninth place but could yet be overtaken this weekend.

In the confined section, four groups have 36 points - Kilmuckridge (‘Sive’) with six wins, Clontarf (‘The Importance of being Earnest’) five wins, Glenamaddy (‘Proof’) and Salmon Eile (‘The Pitchfork Disney’) each with four wins. Others safely through include the Ray Leonard Players (‘The Kings of the Kilburn High Road’), Lislea (‘See How They Run’) and St Patrick’s Drama Group, leaving Harvest Moon Theatre Group (‘God Of Carnage’), Wayside Players (‘The Field’), Newtownstewart (‘Midden’) and Pomeroy (‘The Hen Night Epiphany’) battling it out for the last two places.

So, another nail-biting weekend in store for some of the groups above. The confined draw for All-Ireland places in Glenamaddy, Co Galway from April 13th to 21st, will be held on Sunday.