Amateur Drama groups are in Athlone for the All Ireland Drama Festival.
Over the next eight days, Amateur Drama nine groups will compete for national honours at the sold out Dean Crowe Theatre.
The opening night will see the the Ballyduff Drama Group stage a production of 'Curse of the Starving Class', a play by Sam Shepard. Ger Canning of the Ballyduff Drama Group, months of hard work go into what is eventually delivered on stage, something which she describes as being akin to having a baby.
A Finge Festival is also taking place in the town alongside the Drama Festival.
Joe McCarrick, Director of the All Ireland Drama Festival, says the competition brings up the standard of the acting and the productions at the festival and audiences know that they will get top class theatre.
Adjudicator Russell Boyce believes this is probably one of the best festivals for full length productions.
For full length, Athlone takes some beating.
This year's finalists are being mentored by RTÉ radio presenters and a Fair City actor's prize has been added to the list of awards.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 May 2014. The reporter is Ciaran Mullooly.
