Another successful Ballina One Act Drama Festival for 2023, by Trisha Browne
The Ballina One Act Drama Festival was another resounding success. Festival PRO Trisha Brown reports!
Now in its eighth year, it is fair to say that the Ballina One Act Drama Festival is well established and very popular on the countrywide circuit. We strive each year to improve all elements of our festival and because of this we were awarded the hosting of the All-Ireland Finals in 2022. It is truly rewarding to welcome back seasoned patrons and as always we especially love to see new audience members come through our doors.
This year, Morag Prunty – aka Kate Kerrigan – famed for her one woman show “Am I Irish Yet” opened proceedings on Friday Night as only Morag can – immediately engaging with her audience.
In our programme this year we featured several new groups to the circuit, some new playwrights and many accomplished groups hailing from Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Mayo & Sligo and it is an honour for us to give them a good start on their quest for a place in the elusive finals.
Added extras this year included the presentation of the Martin Mitchell Perpetual Cup by Padraig Mitchell.

Adjudicator Anna Walker enthralled the audience nightly with her personable, honest and insightful analysis of each play. It’s fair to say that Anna provides that extra touch of sparkle to a festival and this she did with style and finesse in Ballina.
Staged at Ballina Arts Centre – a very popular venue and one where we as a group are made feel very welcome – there is no doubt that the excellent working relationship between Director of Ballina Arts Centre, Paul Cunningham, his hardworking team and the festival committee together with lighting specialist Oisin Herraghty is a vital factor in the overall success of our festival.
Festival Director Marie Loftus leads a solid team and leaves absolutely no stone unturned in the lead up to and for the duration of events and we have no doubt that her attention to detail –whether it is a dodgy burco boiler or a last-minute tweak to a timetable for tech, she is impeccable. This is what heralds the success to date of the Ballina One Act Drama Festival.

As always the Awards Ceremony was well attended and also hit staggering amounts of ‘views’ on our social media livestream. All awards presented on the night are crafted locally, and in a nutshell that is what a good festival thrives on. Local input and local support, all of which we very much appreciate.
To each and everyone of you who supported Festival 2023 – we simply couldn’t do it without you. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.