Success for St Paul’s at Newry Irish Drama Festival
Drama, Irish, News, Seachtain na Gaeilge, Students, Success
The Irish Drama group from St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook were celebrating this weekend with news that their production of ‘Áras na Rún’ which was performed as part of Newry Irish Drama Festival, has been nominated for performance at the Ulster Festival in Armagh on 26 March.
Year 10 actor Shane McGirr was also named Best Actor at the festival, with his co-star Year 12 student, Neil Byrne, receiving a Highly Commended Award.
Adjudicator, Lynette Fay from BBC, praised the high production standards for the St Paul’s play, and remarked on the flawless acting abilities of the young cast. She was very impressed by how well the group interacted on stage and used their natural comedic abilities for humorous effect.
‘Áras na Rún’ is an adaptation of Ré Ó Láighléis’ play, as is the story of a class visit to a local museum. Shane McGirr plays the role of Pádraig Ó Dúgáin, a sleepy student who is surprised when the statues in the museum suddenly come to life. Neil Byrne plays local boxing hero Barra Mag Uiginn, with Anita Dennison impressing as the stern school teacher.
A gallery of photos from the performance in Newry Town Hall (and some behind the scenes images) are below. Best wishes to the drama group as they prepare for the Ulster Finals in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh at the end of the month.












































17 comments
A wonderful performance and a great day for everyone. Well done on all of your hard work and let’s look forward to Armagh and the Ulster Finals.
by S Quinn on 06/03/2010 at 11:35 pm #
well done guys what an incredible performance!Especially Neil Byrne(Barra) welldone on the commended achievement and how could i forget Shane(Pádraig)best actor award out of all the irish festival what an unbelivable achievment. It was definetly an unbelivable performance from everyone on stage and behind stage. I think when i say this i won’t be alone on it when i say that i don’t think we could have got this far with out the fantastic help from both Irish teachers Mr S Quinn and Miss C McCoy and the brilliant help from school drama teacher Ms Lynch! Thank you so much we couldn’t have done it without yous. And thanks to Mr Murray for takin his own time out and taken pictures of the cast well appreciated! Now let’s show the Ulsters what we are made of. Sorry for the very long reply!
by Anita Dennison on 07/03/2010 at 12:16 am #
well done
especially shane + neil! many thanks to mr quinn, ms mc coy + ms lynch! and all the team (: cant wait for ulsters. aw i missed the big group photo, wel im in others so its good
thansks to mr.murray 4 taking the photos too
by Dearbhla Wright on 07/03/2010 at 4:39 pm #
Well done everyone! It was a great experience to be part of. Cant wait for Ulsters. Thanks to Mrs Mc Coy, Mrs Lynch and Mr Quinn and well done to Shane and Neil you guys were brilliant.
by Emma on 07/03/2010 at 5:31 pm #
Iontach maith – great result to get to the Ulster final – added bonus to get the best actor award!!
by Dominic Bradley on 07/03/2010 at 7:04 pm #
shauna pentony’s mum says she feels as if she won as she got up every mornin to do my hair go you
by Shauna on 07/03/2010 at 7:40 pm #
Well done everybody. Comhghairdeas! I was very proud of everyone involved. All your hard work and patience has paid off. Special congratulations to Shane and Neil, an amazing achievement for you both. Roll on the Ulsters!
by C McCoy on 08/03/2010 at 1:08 pm #
well done.
my brother shane well done best actor
by chelsey on 09/03/2010 at 7:36 pm #
Aaaah! awesome! the play was a wonderful experience and i’m sure everyone had as much fun as i did participating in it.
Good luck everyone in the ulster finals!
by Jodie on 10/03/2010 at 9:52 am #
well i would like to thank everyone who supported the irish drama and would like to say well done to neil+anita neil for being giving best achivement award and for anita for being able to shout so loud and the statues because i wouldn’t be able to stand still that long.i still don’t think i deserved the reward though because there were other people who deserved it more but i would like to say thank you all for your positive comments and your support to all the irish drama and the teachers involved you were all great.thank you
by shane on 10/03/2010 at 10:03 am #
thanx guys 4 the good positive comments i realy appreciate it. cn i just say 2 shane dat u realy did deserve it. yes everyone else ws excellent but u wer amazing nd dats hw u wn it nd thnx i thnk lol 4 saying dat i cn shout loud ill tke dt on board nd try 2 shout jus a bt louder nxt tme witout hurtin mi throat lol even though i wsnt as good as evey1 is sayin i ws but thnx anywy thnx again 2 every1 involved and gettin us to da ulsters i realy do appreciate it !
by Anita Dennison on 10/03/2010 at 5:19 pm #
wel dne 2 day guys u wer all brilliant i knw hw hrd it must hve b 4 sme of u 2 perform in frnt of ur own classes nd can i just gve a bg thumbs up 2 quaelin (soz if i spelt ur nme wrong) 4 the fainne i prob spelt it wrong wel done! i would lke 2 apoligise to every1in particular mr quinn i feel that i should hve dne a lt better nd im sorry 4 lettin u all dwn im soz 4 messin up mi lne and if it wsnt 4 mr quinn 4 given mi da lne and shane tellin mi 2 gt bk 2 da rite position i would hve messed up even mre so thanx guys!
by Anita Dennison on 11/03/2010 at 3:54 pm #
Well done to everyone in the irish drama play
brilliant
by karyn feehan on 12/03/2010 at 6:19 pm #
Bualadh bos! What a great performance you all must have worked really hard!
HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Rebecca Martin on 17/03/2010 at 5:05 pm #
good luck 2 moro guys!!
by Anita Dennison on 25/03/2010 at 10:30 pm #
gaelige
guys comhghairdeas san fhéile Uladh, Ard Mhacha! luck maith sa hÉireann sa Mhuileann gCearr go léir! a ligean ar an iomlán na hÉireann a thaispeáint cad iad déanta againn de!
béarla
congratulations guys in the ulster festival in armagh!! good luck in the all irelands in mullingar! let’s show the whole of ireland what we are made of!
by Anita Dennison on 28/03/2010 at 4:34 pm #
ahhhhhhh!!
now theres a play well done to every body involved ecpecialy niel and shane i hope the one this year iam in will will be any better. i doubt that though a well. have to go .
byeeeeeeeee!!!!:)
by alannah on 25/01/2012 at 9:56 pm #