KILDARE: Leixlip’s Salmon Eile wins Best Play at the All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Glenamaddy

'The Pitchfork Disney' by Philip Ridley and performed by Salmon Eile has won Best Play at the  2023 All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Glenamaddy, County Galway.

The group from Leixlip were founded in 2015 by brothers Philip and Ken Byrne who hail from River Forest View.

They were named champions following a gala awards ceremony that took place in front of drama enthusiasts from all over the country.

The Co Kildare company fought off competiton from a strong field of nine qualified finalists who came from counties Mayo, Galway, Armagh, Dublin and Wexford.

Speaking to John Mulligan from Galway Bay FM in the immediate aftermath of the awards, Philip Byrne (who also won the award for Best Director) said: "This is what we put our work into all year and I was ecstatic to win."

The local company also picked up awards for Best Actor (Robert Gallagher, who will also appears in Clane Musical Society’s current production of” All Shook Up”).

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Best Supporting Actor went to Luke Devaney and in addition Salmon Eile garnered the awards for Best Lighting and Best Presentation. 

The four member cast was completed by Phoebe O’Leary from Ardclough and Paddy Gorry who is originally from Broadford.

The group were complimented by the adjudicator Geoff O’Keefe  for their ingenuity and creativity in the production of a very difficult play.

Salmon Eile’s national success is all the more remarkable as they did so without the use of a proper rehearsal or performance venue in the town of Leixlip.

Winning director Philip Byrne said: "It is sad that we have to go outside Leixlip to perform. We were very lucky that the Moat Theatre in Naas were extremely supportive of us.

"There is a long history of drama and musicals in Leixlip but it has been massively under resourced, but we will plough on doing what we love doing and enjoy this special success," he added.