Mayo drama group enjoy success at All-Ireland finals

SAINT Patrick's Drama Group, Westport, enjoyed success at the All-Ireland drama finals in Mountmellick with their production, Agnes of God.

Colette McGinty scooped the Best Actress award, with the production itself finishing fourth place overall.

The beautiful performance earned a spontaneous standing ovation - as has happened with all their performances to date.

Adjudicator Walker Ewart had a very positive response to it and said he couldn't separate the three actresses' performances - Sinead Brogan as Agnes, Martina Ryan as Reverend Mother and Colette McGinty as psychiatrist Dr. Martha Livingstone.

He also loved the soundscape, the live singing backstage of Orla Ui Dhomhnaill and Alice Burns, and he praised director Seamas Cafferkey for his understated set, which fitted perfectly with the play and for his brilliant directing. Lighting by Jamie O'Neill and Micki Hansbury was superb too.

The standard at All-Ireland level is phenomenal and the Westport group were thrilled to be awarded 91 points, placing them in fourth place overall (the winning group scored 96), which is an incredible achievement for St. Patrick's who only joined the festival circuit last year with Dear Frankie, which also qualified for the All-Irelands and came seventh.

But the highlight of the week was Colette McGinty (Dr. Martha Livingstone) being named Best Actress overall - a wonderful achievement.

And there was more good news for the group with Agnes of God invited to perform as the main play in Listowel Writers Week - a very prestigious occasion ahead.

St. Patrick's Drama Group have extended thanks to all their supporters and well-wishers and look forward to bringing lots more entertainment this year, their 60th anniversary.