Just under 20 members of the society recently travelled to the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney for the annual AIMS Awards weekend. As always, a great weekend was had by all as we got a chance to catch up with friends in other societies, and made new acquaintances in other societies.
The weekend got off to a great start during the 'Fairytale' themed fancy dress ball on Friday night, where the society won the award for best t-shirt!
The Awards ceremony itself took place in the INEC on Saturday night, with alomost 1,000 people in attendance. Our society Chairperson, Mary Heaney, in her second year as National President of AIMS, gave the main address to open the ceremony. To add to the excitement, Mary was also a nominee in the Best Stage Management category for our production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
The award eventually went to Anne Copas of Dundalk Musical Society for their production of The Wizard of Oz, the to be selected in the top 3 out of 38 productions is a great honour for the society,a dn only added to a wonderful weekend. Mary was represented on-stage by long-time society member Christy Glynn, due to Mary's Presidential duties.
However, there was other local interest in the winners list. Erica Flanagan from Castleplunkett won the award for Best Female Singer for her performance as Katisha in Hot Mikado with Nenagh Choral Society. Ballinrobe Musical Society also took home two awards - Best Technical (Lighting/Sets/Sound) and The Spirit of AIMS awards - for their production of Come The Dawn.