Oneact drama festival in ballina later this year

The Amateur Drama League of Ireland (ADLI) has given approval to Ballina to run a one-act drama festival this year.

It is expected that the festival will take place in November. The exact date will be confirmed soon as part of ADLI's annual events calendar.

Over a three-night period, Ballina Arts Centre and Theatre will be the venue for each of the three nights, staging plays by drama groups from around the west of Ireland.

Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Michelle Mulherin said: “This is excellent news. The festival will attract many visitors in what is low season from a tourism point of view. It will give a real boost to the hotels, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants in Ballina.

“With the longstanding tradition and love for amateur drama in our communities for many decades in Ballina and surrounding areas, it is most fitting that we should host a drama festival in the area at last and that Ballina Arts Centre and Theatre - our very own community arts venue - should be the focal point for the festival.”

Deputy Mulherin complimented Eugene Loftus and his team, the drama festival committee - all of whom, she said, share a passion for amateur drama in the area - for following through on the proposition of a drama festival for Ballina.

“I just know they will get great support from Mayo County Council, Ballina Chamber of Commerce and all local stakeholders in the culture and tourism industry in organising this festival,” the Fine Gael Dáil deputy added.

“The drama festival joins a suite of other headline festivals and events proposed for Ballina this year, including the Mayo Stages Rally, an An Post cycle race stage, the River Moy Half Marathon, Ballina Salmon Festival and Ballina Quay Regatta among many in the north and east Mayo areas, and is very welcome news for tourism in 2015.

“In particular I congratulate all the volunteers for their work in making these festivals happen. They have my full support.”