Kerry Drama Festival Falls Victim to the National Shut Down

Front of house volunteers: Caroline O’Connor (left) and Jean Horgan at the opening of the 2020 Kerry Drama Festival at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Local artist, Kevin Barry with a selection of recent work from his exhibition at the opening of the 2020 Kerry Drama Festival at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

At the opening of the 2020 Kerry Drama Festival at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland were: David Scott, festival adjudicator; Jerome Stack, festival director and Joe Murphy, launch guest. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Long time front of house volunteer, Conceil Leahy with Bríd Ann Reidy at the opening of the 2020 Kerry Drama Festival at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Kerry Drama Festival Director, Jerome Stack pictured with local artist Kevin Barry with pieces from his exhibition at the opening of the 2020 Kerry Drama Festival at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI) has announced that it has cancelled the remainder of the 2020 Three Act Drama Circuit around the country.

This has impacted on the Kerry Drama Festival for its final night of the eight-play run on this Friday night.

Tonight’s Play is On

Tonights play, Skirmishes by Catherine Hayes, Performed by Corofin Dramatic Society has gone ahead but the curtain falls on the final night.

The victim of the cancelled, Castleisland based festival is Chapatti by Christian O’Reilly, which was to be staged by Palace Players and the final adjudication night has also gone by the wayside.

Based on Government Advice

The ADCI said that is was issuing the decision is based on government and health service advice released earlier today.

The council wished everybody well for the near future with the hope that they will all be back on the boards and on the roads again in 2021.

In the National Interest

“We are sorry that the Covid-19 Virus has brought us to this situation but in the national interest and to play our part we are taking this action,” said the council in its statement.

“Please take care of yourself during this unprecedented event.

Any queries to info@adci.ie and please share this post to make sure it reaches the complete ADCI community,” the statement urged.