Previous Winners

2023

Íontas Theatre, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan with Ciarán McCauley adjudicating.

Open: Prosperous Dramatic Society – The Same

Confined: The Ray Leonard Players – A Night Without Stars

2022

Ballina Arts Centre, Co. Mayo with Paula Dempsey adjudicating.

Open: Blue Hat Productions: A Dog’s Life

Confined: Millrace Drama Group: Dancing at Lunacy

2021

Glór, Ennis, Co. Clare with Geoffrey O’Keeffe adjudicating.

Open: Butt Drama Circle -In Other Words

Confined: Phoenix Players – Plaza Suite: Visitor from Hollywood

2019

St. Mary’s Hall, Rossmore, Co Cork with Anna Walker Adjudicating
Open – Moat Club, Naas – Nine by Jane Shepard
Confined – New Ross Drama Workshop – Notes on Falling Leaves by Ayub Khan-Din

2018
Kilmuckridge Memorial Hall, Co Wexford with Imelda McDonagh Adjudicating
Open – Moat Club, Naas – What’s Left of the Flag by Jimmy Murphy
Confined – Gunpowder Productions, Co Cork – Wittgenstein in the West by Stephen Toomey

2017
An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny with Padraic McIntyre Adjudicating
Open – Palace Players, Fermoy – The Quiet Land by Malachy McKenna
Confined – Coolgreany ADS , Wexford – Something Unspoken by Tennessee Williams

2016
Mill Theatre, Dundrum with Tom Byrne Adjudicating
Open – Moat Club, Naas – Plaza Suite: A Visitor from Hollywood by Neil Simon
Confined – Blue Hat Productions, Cork – Two by Jim Cartwright

2015
Town Hall Theatre, Galway with Tony Rushforth adjudicating
Open – Bradán Players Leixlip – Power Lunch by Alan Ball
Confined – Fr Mathew Players Tipperary – A Galway Girl by Geraldine Aron

2014
Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon with Martin Maguire Adjudicating
Open – Kinnerton Players – The Seduction of Chaos by Kent R Brown
Confined – Compantas Lir – Nine by Jane Shepard

2013
Roscommon Arts Centre with Geoffrey O’Keeffe Adjudicating
Open – Prosperous Dramatic Society – Lovely Head by Neil Labute
Confined – D.A.D.S. Dunmore – A Galway Girl by Geraldine Aron

2012
St Michael’s Hall, Ballyduff with Walker Ewart Adjudicating
Open – Prosperous Dramatic Society – Bobby Gould In Hell by David Mamet
Confined – Breffni Players – Scarecrow by Don Nigro.

2011
Glor, Ennis with Anna Walker Adjudicating
Open – Kilmeen Drama Group – Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh.
Confined – Corofin Dramatic Society – What’s For Pudding? by David Tristram.

2010
Mill Theatre, Dundrum with Paul Brennan Adjudicating
Open – Bradán Players – A Number by Caryl Churchill
Confined – Shannonside Drama Group – Landscape by Harold Pinter

2009
Backstage Theatre, Longford with Padraic McIntyre Adjudicating
Open – Bradan Players – The Quality of Boiled Water by Jason Milligan
Confined – Backstage Theatre Company – Small Box Pyschosis by Barry McKinley

2008
Tubbercurry with Tony Rushforth Adjudicating
Open – Causeway Productions – Address Unknown by Taylor Kressman
Confined – Camross Drama Group – A Family Affair by Derek O’Gorman

2007
St. Mary’s Theatre, Rossmore with Colin Dolley Adjudicating
Open – Balally Players – Riders to the Sea by J. M. Synge
Confined – Cookstown Drama Group – Ruby of Elsinore by Bruce Kane

2006
The Patrician Theatre, Carrickmore with Tom Doherty Adjudicating
Open – Balally Players – Melody by Deirdre Kinahan
Confined – Malthouse Players – The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish by David Tristam

2005
Moat Theatre, Naas with Michael O’Hara Adjudicating
Open – Bradan Players – Small Box Pyschosis by Barry McKinley
Confined – Barrymore Drama Group – A Family Affair by Derek O’Gorman

2004
Cornmill Theatre Carrigallen with Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open – Ennis Players – The Dandy Dolls by George Fitzmaurice
Confined – Tullamore AD Society – Three More Sleepless Nights by Caryl Churchill

2003
Glor Theatre, Ennis with Walker Ewart Adjudicating
Open – Crois Dearg Drama Group – After Magritte by Tom Stoppard
Confined – Baileborough Drama Group – The Henhouse by Tara Maria Lovett

2002
Ramor Theatre, Virginia
Open – St. Patrick’s Dramatic Society, Dalkey – The Pushcart Peddlars by Murray Schisgall
Confined – Timeless Players – Virtual Reality by Alan Ayckbourn

2001
Dunamaise Theatre, Portlaoise with Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open – Estuary Players – Five Kinds of Silence by Sheelagh Stephenson
Confined – Ennis Players – Lone Star by James McClure

2000
Siamsa Tire, Tralee with Pat Burke, Brid Mc Bride and Michael Twomey Adjudicating
Open – Olivian Players – Never Swim Alone by Daniel Mc Ivor
Confined – Ballyshannon Drama Society – The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish by David Tristam

1999
Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny with Patrick Sutton Adjudicating
Open – Moat Club, Naas – A Bench at the Edge by Luigi Jannuszi
Confined – City Limits – The Lords of Love by Eoin Colfer

1998
Backstage Theatre, Longford with Irene Rostron Adjudicating
Open – Estuary Players – Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit
Confined – Carrig Players – PVT Wars by James McClure

1997
Belltable Theatre Limerick with Michael Vernon Adjudicating
Open – Carlow Little Theatre – Tadhg O’Cathain and the Corpse by Douglas Hyde
Confined – Malthouse Players – What’s for Pudding by David Tristram

1996
Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon with Patsy Croal Adjudicating
Open – Donegal Drama Circle – Donalbain by Soinbhe Lally
Confined – St. Patrick’s Dramatic Society, Dalkey – Say Something Happened by Alan Bennett

1995
Watergate Theatre Kilkenny with Tommy McArdle Adjudicating
Open – Prosperous Dramatic Society – Faint Voices by John MacKenna
Confined – Trim Dramatic Society – The Donahue Sisters by Geraldine Aron

1994
Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork with Betty Ann Norton Adjudicating
Open – Olivian Players – To by Jim Cartwright
Confined –  Drumshanbo Community Players – Bedtime Story by Sean O’Casey

1993
Ballinasloe with Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open –  Terenure Players – Small Box Psychosis by Barry McKinley
Confined – Corofin Dramatic Society – Three’s A Crowd by Earl Derr Biggers and Christopher Morley

1992
Belltable Arts Centre Limerick with Tom Doherty Adjudicating
Open – TBC
Confined – Insight Theatre – A Cut In The Rates by Alan Ayckbourn

1991
Enniskillen with Russell Boyce Adjudicating
Open – Strand Players, Dublin – 27 Wagons Full of Cotton by Tennessee Williams
Confined – Camross Drama Group – Birthright by T. C. Murray

1990
Malahide with Ron Whetton Adjudicating
Open – Bangor Drama Club – The Donahue Sisters by Geraldine Aron
Confined – Donegal Drama Circle, Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard

1989
Carrick-On-Shannon with Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open – Moat Club, Naas – Stygian Cherubim by Pat Kinnevane
Confined – Kilmeen Drama Group – Bar and Ger by Geraldine Aron

1988
Carlow with Betty Ann Norton Adjudicating
Open – Pegasus Drama Group, Headford – Death of Pilate
Confined – Ballyhaunis Drama Society – The Time of the Whitehorn

1987
Mullingar with Hugh Lovegrove Adjudicating
Open – New Theatre Group, Kilkenny – Ritual for Dolls by George MacEwan Green
Confined – Mountmellick Pioneer Group – Professional Help

1986
Carlow with Tom Doherty Adjudicating
Open – New Theatre Group Kilkenny – The Interview by Octave Mirbeau
Confined – North West AIB Drama Group – The Late Arrival of the Incoming Aircraft by Hugh Leonard

1985
Carrick On Shannon with Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open – Granary Players Limerick – Gum and Goo by Howard Brenton
Confined – Ballymahon Drama Group, Conscience Stricken by Neil Fitton

1984
Wexford with Ron Wheaton Adjudicating
Open – New Theatre Group Kilkenny – A Galway Girl by Geraldine Aron
Confined – Prosperous Drama Group – The Later Days Are Cold by Colman O’Shannon

1983
Newcastle with Tommy McArdle Adjudicating
Open – Moat Club, Naas – A Phoenix Too Frequent by Christopher Fry
Confined – Cloonclare Players – Spreading The News by Lady Gregory

1982
Carrick On Shannon with Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open – Carlow Theatre Group – Croker/The Young Piper by William Butler Yeats
Confined – Mullingar Theatre Group – The Lady Aoi by Yukio Mishima

1981
Talbot Hotel, Wexford with Paul Hadfield Adjudicating
Open – Carlow Little Theatre – The Apollo of Bellac by Jean Giraudoux
Confined – Corn Mill Theatre – The Workhouse Ward by Lady Gregory

1980
One Act Finals Not Held – TBC

1979
Moat – Club Naas with Sam McCready Adjudicating
Open – Drumlin Players Cavan – Riders To The Sea by John Millington Synge

1978
Open – Sligo Drama Circle – The Cat and the Moon by William Butler Years
Rural –  Kilcullen Drama Group – The Toothache by George Fitzmaurice

1977
Barry Cassin Adjudicating
Open – Companions Drama Group – The Later Days are Cold by Colman O’Shannon
Rural – Kilcullen Drama Group – MeMcKenna by Don Shaw

1976
Sam McCready Adjudicating
Open – Strand Players, Dublin – Fando and Liz by Fernando Arrabal
Rural – Kilcullen Drama Group – Bedtime Story by Sean O’Casey

1975
Barry Cassin Adjudicating
Open – Olivian Players – The Dandy Dolls by George Fitzmaurice
Rural – Neal Players, County Mayo – Riders to the Sea by J. M. Synge

1974
Dan Treston Adjudicating
Open – Scariff Drama Group – The Resurrection by George Watson
Rural – Kilcullen Drama Group – The Workhouse Ward by Lady Gregory

1973
Barry Cassin Adjudicating
Open – Bangor Drama Club – Rainbows is the Boys by Pauline McGonigle
Rural – Wayside Players, Wexford – The Bishop’s Candlesticks by Victor Hugo

1972
Gerda Redlich Adjudicating
Open – Sligo Drama Circle – Pot of Broth by William Butler Yeats
Rural –  Scariff Drama Group – Dreaming of the Bones by William Butler Yeats

1971
Anthony Thomas Adjudicating
Open – Bangor Drama Club – Bedtime Story by Sean O’Casey
Rural – Camross Drama Group – Spring by T. C. Murray

1970
Dan Treston Adjudicating
Open – Armagh Theatre Group – Adam’s Children by Seamus Mallon
Rural – TBC

1969
Graham Suter Adjudicating
Open – Sacred Heart College Cork – Children in Uniform by Christa Winsloe
Rural – Kilmeen Macra na Feirme – They Also Serve by Sandy Taylor