Doonbeg has a long tradition of drama going back to the early 1960’s when there were three groups in the parish, Bealaha, Clohanes and Doonbeg.

After 1962 plays were performed intermittently until the present group was revitalized in 1981 by Murt McInerney and Mary J. Egan.

In the 1980’s the group concentrated on presenting productions locally, at the West Clare Drama Festival and occasionally venturing as far as Scarriff!

In 1990 the decision was made to enter the ‘Cauldron’ of the festival circuit and we were lucky to be accepted at three festivals – Doonbeg, Loughrea and Claremorris. Much to our astonishment and delight we qualified for the All Ireland Finals in Gorey, Co. Wexford with “The Field” by John B. Keane. What an adventure that was and what a weekend was had by all. Cue more delight as we were actually placed 3rd.

Since then the Doonbeg Drama Group have reached the All Ireland on eleven other occasions with productions such as “Canaries”, “ God’s Gentry”, “Many Young Men of Twenty”, “Attaboy Mr. Synge”, “The Honeyspike”, “The Weir”, “Cavalcaders”, “The Price” and “The Weir”. Our most successful have been “Many Young Men of Twenty” which was placed 2nd in the 2006 All Ireland and was produced by the legendary Murt McInerney, a veteran of drama in Doonbeg. In 2012, Mary J. Egan took up the mantle of producer and Doonbeg were again placed 2nd with “The Weir”.

In 2017, we were crowned All Ireland Confined Champions at the Western Drama Festival – Tubbercurry with the “The Night Alive” by Conor McPherson. We also won, Best Director: Mary J. Egan, Best Actor: Ken Blowers, Best Actress: Anne Marie Doyle, Best Supporting Actor: Declan Honan, Best Lighting: Pat & Margaret Aherne

Full Cast included: Ken Blowers, Anne Marie Doyle, Declan Honan, John Keane & Dave Hanley.

Any group cannot exist without the ‘backstage crew’ and we are fortunate to have a great crew: Pat Aherne, Margaret Aherne, Laura Keane, Charlie Killeen, Paddy O’Grady, Pat Egan, Peter Clarke, Bernie Capon, Margaret Dillon, Nuala Shanahan, Siobhan Behan,Sean Conway, Paddy Doyle, Roy Capon, Paul McCarthy, Colm McInerney.

We look forward to our first venture into the Open Section in 2019!

Since 2013, Doonbeg Drama Group has also performed on the One Act circuit and these performances were warmly received by our audiences.

New members are always welcome so don’t be shy, just ask!! Our aim is to continue to promote live drama in the community. Help us to do so by joining Doonbeg Drama Group.

Drama is alive and well in Doonbeg – find us on Facebook.