Society Travel To AIMS Seminar 2006

Unfortunately there was no success for the society at the recent AIMS Seminar which was held in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney over the weekend of 16 - 18 June. The highlight of the seminar is the annual awards banquet, which took place on the Saturday night. The banquet included an awards ceremony, which is the climax of the Adjudication & Awards Scheme, sponsored by VW and Finance Matters, Thurles.

Yet again, the awards ceremony was hosted by actor Simon Delaney. Castlerea were nominated in the category of Best House Management for our production of Oliver!, but unfortunately, Shannon Musical Society won the award for their production of The Wiz. However, the society are still very proud of our top-three position from an approx. 40 societies.

The society was well represented at the seminar, with approx. 18 members travelling for the weekend, and by all accounts, all thoroughly enjoyed a weekend that is renowned as a great weekend of entertainment and socialising with other society members and friends.

This year the awards for Best Overall Show went to Wexford Light Opera Society in the Gilbert section for their production of Jekyll And Hyde and to Next Stage Productions (Dublin) in the Sullivan section for their production of Assassins. Our congratulations go to fellow western region societies, Sligo and Athenry, on their respective wins. For Athenry Musical Society, Cathriona O'Connell won the award for Best Comedienne in the Sullivan section for her performance as Lady Jacqueline in Me And My Girl. Cathriona performed as Tina Turner in our Stars In Their Eyes fundraiser in March of last year.

Finally, the family of our former director, Joe Donoghue, were presented with the Spirit Of AIMS/Adjudicator's Special Award for the late Joe's contribution to musical theatre in Ireland.