Ballyduff Drama Group, directed by Ger Canning, were crowned RTÉ All-Ireland Drama champions for their performance of ‘The Blackwater Lightship’ by Colm Tóibín, adapted for stage by David Horan, at the Gala Awards ceremony in Athlone’s Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday 17th May, hosted by Nuala Carey and Simon Delaney, as the curtains came down on the 2025 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival. The festival is held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI).

Balally Players, directed by Declan Rudden, who performed ‘Ulster American’ by David Ireland, were placed second, and, Bridge Drama, directed by Susan Somers, who performed ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted by Simon Stephens, were placed third.

Mark O’Brien, Executive Director of the Abbey Theatre, said they were delighted to continue the partnership with the festival. He announced that after much deliberation, the winner of the Abbey Award for 2025 is Balally Players who presented ‘Ulster American’, and that the Abbey looked forward to hosting the group in the Peacock in a number of weeks.

There was great excitement when the results were announced. No strangers to Athlone, Ballyduff Drama Group has been performing on the 3 Act circuit for over forty years. During that time, they won the All-Ireland in 2004, and more recently, this is their third time to win in four years (2022, 2024). ‘The Blackwater Lightship’ is set in 1990s Ireland, and HIV/AIDS is still a terminal diagnosis. A sister, a mother, and a grandmother, along with two friends, have come together to tend to 29-year-old Declan, who has the disease.

Director Ger Canning also won the Best Director award. In addition, Mary Colbert, playing Dora Devereux, won the award for best actress, and Ronan Bennett as Larry took home the award for best actor in a supporting role. Ballyduff also won the award for best stage setting.

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.