While Skibbereen Theatre Society did not figure among the top three placings in the 2012 All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Shercock, Co Cavan, with their production of Poor Beast in the Rain by Billy Roche, Sarah Murphy won the Best Young Actress award – the prize being a scholarship to the Drama League of Ireland Summer School in the University of Limerick.

Cast members Carmel O’Driscoll and Donagh Long were both nominated by adjudicator Walker Ewart for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. The 2013 All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals will be held locally in Rossmore next year.

Well done to West Cork’s finest, the Kilmeen Drama Group, on winning the All-Ireland Open Drama Finals in Athlone with their production of The Weir by Conor McPherson, with Tim Coffey also winning the Best Director award for the second consecutive year. Back-to-back All-Ireland wins are a rarity.