Eleven amateur drama groups will take to the stage in the All-Ireland One-Act Drama Finals in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, over the next three days.
The finals, hosted by the Western Drama Festival in St Brigid's Hall Theatre, Tubbercurry, will run over four sessions from this evening until Sunday.
Gorey Little Theatre Group, Kilmeen Drama Group and Navan Theatre Group will take to the stage later today while Millrace Drama Group, Coachford Players and Compántas Lir will perform tomorrow.
Hoodwink Theatre Productions, Gunpowder Productions, Phoenix Players, Prosperous Dramatic Society and Bradán Player will compete in the final performances on Sunday.
The 11 groups qualified through the One-Act Festival Circuit over the past two months. Some will compete in a confined category, and others in an open category.
The open competition is for groups with significant experience and the confined competition is for newer, more inexperienced groups or groups with less resources.
A group decides which competition level to enter, however when a group wins the All-Ireland confined competition they must then move to the open competition.
Seána Haughey from Tubbercurry said that it means a huge amount to have the All-Ireland Drama Finals in the south Sligo town.
"It's very fitting that it's here in Tubbercurry. This is the spiritual home of amateur drama. The first amateur drama festival in Ireland was held here in St Bridget's Hall.
"Our local Phoenix Players have qualified, and they will be performing a classic Harold Pinter play on Sunday afternoon.
"They are celebrating 80 years, and their spiritual home is also St Bridget's Hall. It's a proud weekend on many fronts."
The All-Ireland One-Act Finals rotate annually between provinces under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and the Drama League of Ireland.
