The festival will run from Friday, 21st of March to Saturday, 29th of March in Glenamaddy Town Hall Theatre. Nine nights of excellent drama will take place in the beautiful Town Hall Theatre.

The Festival programme provides a range of fantastic theatre over the nine nights. The line-up is as follows: Friday, 21st of March: Big Guerilla Productions (non-competitive) ‘Indigestion’ by Seamus O’Rourke; Saturday, 22nd of March: Corofin Dramatic Society, Co  Clare (OPEN) ‘The Weir’ by Conor McPherson; Sunday, 23rd of March: Cornmill Theatre Group, Co Leitrim (OPEN) ‘A Whistle in the Dark’ by Tom Murphy; Monday, 24th of March: Phoenix Players, Co Sligo (CONFINED) ‘Translations’ by Brian Friel; Tuesday, 25th of March: Flavour of the Month Productions, Co Kerry (CONFINED) ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ by Martin McDonagh; Wednesday, 26th of March: Glenamaddy Players, Co Galway (CONFINED) ‘CLASS’ by Iseult Golden & David Horan; Thursday, 27th of March: Clann Machua Drama, Co Mayo (CONFINED) ‘The Snapper’ by Roddy Doyle; Friday, 28th of March: Kilmeen Drama Group, Co Cork (OPEN) ‘The Wasp’ by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm; Saturday, 29th of March: Ballyduff Drama Group, Co Waterford (OPEN) ‘The Blackwater Lightship’ by Colm Tόibín (adapted by David Horan).

This year’s adjudicator is Paula Dempsey ADA. The shows will commence at 8 pm sharp each night, except the final night where the show will start at 7.30 pm sharp.

Nightly tickets priced at €15 (+ booking fee) went on sale on Thursday, 6th of March. Please keep an eye on our social media for updates – ‘Glenamaddy Theatre Festival’ on both Instagram and Facebook.

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There is huge interest in this two-day event, which is taking place on Friday evening, March 7th, with a choice of a 5 or 8km walk or run, and continues on Saturday, March 8th, with a 70km leisurely cycle around Roscommon and East Galway. Roscommon Special Olympics and Roscommon Sports Park are this year’s chosen charities.

This community event is for everyone – walkers, runners, joggers, and cyclists of all abilities. If previous years’ Challenges are anything to go by, and with the level of interest in this year’s one so far, organisers are predicting that this could be the biggest one yet. There has been a huge response from members of the public who signed up for the associated training plan with 130 people joining in on the first night of the year.

Cycling clubs locally are using this spin out as their first event of the 2025 season, so all in, all the weekend promises to be one of fun and community.

The event will kick off with the choice of either a 5k or 8k walk or run, starting at 8 pm sharp from Roscommon Community Sports Park. A warm-up will be led by personal trainer Liam Hannon.

After your walk and run, it’s back into the sports park for some delicious post-event treats. You will be musically entertained throughout the night by resident DJ Ashe as she belts out the tunes.

As with last year, the last mile of this run will be dedicated to the memory of the late Maire Allen, a lady synonymous with Roscommon Special Olympics and indeed many other voluntary groups. Maire passed away in September 2023 but her legacy and good work in the area of special needs and disability will never be forgotten.

Saturday’s schedule

On Saturday, March 8th, the leisurely cycle will depart from the sports park at 9 am to enjoy 70km of mainly flat road that will see a tour of the general Roscommon-East Galway area with a refreshment stop in Kilkerrin. Then it’s back to the clubhouse to meet up for some fabulous post-cycle food from old friend Paddy Paella. Join in later on that evening for a post-event gathering in Foxe’s Pub in Roscommon Town.

Participants for both days are encouraged to register in advance on Eventbrite/Roscommon Community Challenge.

Without doubt, none of this would be possible without the encouragement and professionalism received from Roscommon Sports Partnership and organisers are extremely grateful to CEO Noel Feeley and his staff David Brady, Atalia Tavares, John Joe Nally, and Noelle Carling. A very special word of gratitude to Martin Hannon in the office.

Check out Roscommon Community Challenge’s social media for further information.

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It is envisaged that the Lough Ree Greenway will facilitate sustainable economic development within Athlone, Ballyleague/Lanesboro, Roscommon Town and the surrounding communities through improved connectivity and increased tourism potential.

Additionally, it will support a modal shift from cars to active travel while promoting sustainable transportation; environmental appreciation and preservation; and economic growth and revitalisation.

As part of the second Public Consultation and in accordance with the Code of Best Practice National and Regional Greenways, members of the public and interested parties are invited to participate in the public consultation phase.

This second Public Consultation will take place in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on Tuesday, March 11^th from 3pm to 8pm.

The purpose of the second public consultation is to present Route Corridor Options and hear feedback from the public, such as feedback on route corridors; the need for the project; locations, attractions, or facilities that may benefit the greenway and/or be attractive to greenway users, constraints or barriers to a greenway and any concerns or issues .

Speaking ahead of the event, Niall Morrissey, Senior Executive Engineer with Roscommon County Council said the consultation was “seeking to continue engagement at the public consultation, and I urge everybody with an interest to attend,” he said.

Members of Roscommon County Councils Greenways Team based in National Roads Regional Office along with Project Consultants (RPS) will be in attendance.  Mapping will be displayed and feedback encouraged.”

Closing date for receipt of feedback forms is Wednesday 02nd April 2025. Further information on the Lough Ree Greenway is available at: www.loughreegreenway.ie . The project team can be contacted at info@loughreegreenway.ie.

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The satirical comedy ‘I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell’ by Bernard Farrell is due for a three-night run at The Trinity Arts Centre in Castlerea.

The show will be performed by Castlerea Drama Group on Thursday, February 27th, Friday the 28th, and Saturday, March 1st.

The public can book their seats through Eventbrite. There will be limited tickets available at the door (see more ticket details in advertisement alongside).

Castlerea Drama Group was founded in 1966, and for many years, under the able direction of the late Michael O’Flynn, the group staged many productions both for the home audience and on the amateur drama circuit.

On three occasions, the group was runner-up in the All-Ireland Confined Festival of Drama with Lennox Robinson’s ‘The Far Off Hills’, Jean Anouilh’s ‘Ring Round The Moon’ and Walter Macken’s ‘Home is The Hero’.

In more recent years the group has staged a variety of plays, including Martin McDonagh’s ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’, Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ and John B Keane’s ‘The Field’.

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Located 14km northwest of Athlone, the project will have a generating capacity of 24 megawatts, enough to power 16,000 homes. If approved, it will feature up to four turbines (185m tip height) and include access tracks, a substation, battery storage, a meteorological mast, and a grid connection to the national electricity grid.

A Community Benefit Fund will be established, supporting local initiatives, similar to EDF Renewables’ projects in Wexford and Kilkenny, which provided nearly €50,000 to local groups last year.

Paul Gallagher, Head of Onshore Technologies at EDF Renewables Ireland, said: “Since 2020, renewable energy projects have cut electricity bills by an average of €320 per person. The more renewable energy projects we can deliver, the more we can drive down bills.”

He added: “We’re committed to being good neighbours in the communities around all our projects, and public consultation is a crucial part of that.”

According to EDF Renewables, Wind farms in Roscommon have already saved over 126,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, invested over €200,000 in community funds, and contributed €1.75m in  commercial rates.

The project was first announced in November 2023. Following this third round of public consultation with the local community, the project team intends to submit a planning application and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report in support of the project to Roscommon County Council in the summer of 2025.

The exhibition will provide details on environmental studies, project timelines, and visual impact assessments. No registration is required, and all are welcome. A virtual exhibition will also be available at www.edf-re.ie/our-sites/carrowkeel.

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Edward Hayden, Chairperson of the Drama League of Ireland, will be opening this year’s festival. Best known for his popular weekly cooking slots on Virgin Media’s Ireland AM, and as the presenter of ‘The Saturday Show with Edward Hayden’ on KCLR96fm, Hayden is an experienced radio and TV personality.

The multi-talented Hayden is also an acclaimed author, with three cookery books to his name: ‘Edward Entertains’, ‘Food to Love’ (which was awarded the prestigious Kerry Food Book of the Year), and ‘Food for Friends’. He also shares his culinary skills as a lecturer at Waterford Institute of Technology, where he leads the Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts Programme.

  The Roscommon Drama Festival Committee commented: “We are delighted to welcome Edward Hayden Chairperson of the Drama League of Ireland to open our Festival.” 

  The Roscommon Drama Festival takes place from Friday, 7th March. Tickets are on sale now at Roscommon Arts Centre (€17).

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The performance will trace the evolution of swing from the 1920s to today, featuring Big Band-era classics such as Sing Sing Sing and Puttin’ on the Ritz, as well as crooning standards like Fly Me to the Moon and Moon River. The setlist will also include New York, New York, a song synonymous with the genre’s lasting appeal.

Thomas has established himself as a leading figure in Irish swing music, with a career that includes two No.1 albums, three TV concert specials, and performances on The Late Late Show, Ireland AM, and The Six O’Clock Show. He has also performed eight times by request for President Michael D Higgins and appeared at Electric Picnic and The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.

The tour has drawn strong audiences across the country, with its mix of classic swing arrangements and contemporary energy. Tickets for the Roscommon performance are priced from €28 and are available from www.theswingcats.ie or the Roscommon Arts Centre.

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The Festival once again boasts a wide range of amateur talent from all over the country in both the open and confined sections. Many of the groups have gained national honours in the past and are hoping to do so again.

Mairead Nally, Chairperson of the Festival committee noted: “We are so lucky every year with the quality of the groups that perform here and this year promises to be no exception. We have the cream of Irish Amateur Drama with us and I am really looking forward to eight wonderful nights of entertainment”.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Children’s Story Writing Competition. A shortlist of four plays in the programme has been made available to the primary schools in the area and students in 5th & 6th classes are encouraged to participate and write a short story based on any one of them. This year’s winner will have their story printed in the Roscommon People. The competition has gone from strength to strength each year and great credit is due to the students, teachers and parents.

The presentation of prizes will take place at the Festival launch in Aras an Chontae on February 26th.

Tickets are now on sale at Roscommon Arts Centre priced at €17. A special five-night ticket costs €70, while a season ticket costs €96.

Demand for tickets is very brisk and you are advised to book now for what promises to be eight great nights of wonderful entertainment. Booking at Roscommon Arts Centre Box Office on 090 662 5824 or via roscommonartscentre.ie.

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Having dominated the play for long periods of the game the Roscommon girls led by seven points going into injury-time. But Terenure struck for two quick goals from their star player Helen Duignan (who scored 4-5 overall) and with the last puck of the match Duignan levelled the scores from a ’45. 

Earlier goals from Laura McSharry and Siofra Hession had Roscommon in control and they looked to be coasting to victory. But Terenure and Duignan had other ideas and a replay will be played next week. 

Final score: Mercy College Roscommon 2-13 Our Lady’s Terenure 4-7

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