Kiltyclogher Drama Festival line-up confirmed

Kiltyclogher Drama Festival is set to return this spring with another outstanding celebration of amateur theatre, running from Saturday, March 7 to Saturday, March 14, 2026. Now firmly established as one of the highlights of the cultural calendar in north Leitrim and beyond, the Festival continues to attract talented drama groups from across Ireland, along with loyal audiences who return year after year for a week of high-quality performances, warm hospitality, and a strong sense of community.

This year’s programme once again reflects the Festival’s commitment to variety, balance, and excellence. Featuring five new plays alongside three much-loved classics, the 2026 line-up offers something for every taste, from intimate relationship dramas and powerful social commentaries to humorous and nostalgic memory plays. Over eight nights, audiences will be treated to a carefully curated mix of Open and Confined Section productions, showcasing the depth of talent within the amateur drama movement.

The Festival opens on Saturday, March 7, with two new plays in the Open Section, both written by award-winning playwright Eugene O’Brien. The opening night sees last year’s winners, Balally Players, return to Kiltyclogher with Heaven. This sensitive and beautifully observed play explores the intimacy and complexity of long-term relationships, capturing moments of warmth, regret, humour, and quiet grace. Through finely tuned dialogue and emotional honesty, Heaven reflects on love, memory, and the small, often overlooked moments that define a life shared. The production contains strong language and adult themes.

On Sunday, March 8, the Festival welcomes a new group for the first time, Carlow Little Theatre Society, who will present Eden. This powerful drama follows Breda, who is determined that one particular weekend will save her struggling marriage. Her husband Billy, however, is distracted by his attraction to a younger woman, setting the stage for conflict, disappointment, and emotional reckoning. Set against the backdrop of ordinary life, Eden examines how fragile relationships can be tested in extraordinary circumstances. The play contains strong language and adult themes and is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over.

From Monday to Thursday, the Festival moves into its Confined Section, offering four highly respected productions that combine strong storytelling with impressive staging and ensemble work.

Monday, March 9, sees the welcome return of Promeroy Players with Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel. One of the most cherished works in Irish theatre, the play tells the story of five unmarried sisters living in rural Donegal during the 1930s. Their fragile world, shaped by poverty, faith, and routine, is disrupted by the return of their brother, Father Jack, from missionary work in Africa. Through memory, music, and quiet moments of longing, Dancing at Lughnasa explores family bonds, lost opportunities, and the tension between tradition and change.

On Tuesday, March 10, local audiences will have the opportunity to support Enniskillen Drama Society, who present Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley. Set in a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964, the play centres on Sister Aloysius, a strict and deeply principled school principal, and Father Flynn, a charismatic and progressive priest. When suspicion arises regarding the priest’s conduct, a moral and emotional battle unfolds. With razor-sharp dialogue and intense confrontations, Doubt challenges audiences to consider the nature of truth, certainty, and justice, and to reflect on the consequences of acting on belief alone.

Wednesday, March 11, brings another Brian Friel classic to the Kiltyclogher stage, as Dooega Drama Group from Achill Island perform Philadelphia, Here I Come!. The play is set on the eve of Gareth O’Donnell’s departure for America, where he hopes to build a new life. Through an innovative structure that divides the main character into public and private selves, the audience gains insight into his hopes, fears, regrets, and emotional conflicts. Despite his dreams of opportunity abroad, Gareth remains deeply tied to his father, his friends, and his hometown, and the play captures the bittersweet reality of emigration with warmth, humour, and poignancy.

On Thursday, March 12, Dunmore Amateur Society make a welcome return to the Festival with An Enemy of the People. This powerful drama examines what happens when one individual stands up against the interests of an entire community. When Dr Thomas Stockmann uncovers a serious threat to public health, his insistence on revealing the truth places him at odds with local authorities, business leaders, and even his own family. The play explores themes of integrity, environmental responsibility, economic pressure, and moral courage, all of which remain highly relevant in modern society.

The final two nights of the Festival return to the Open Section, bringing the week to a close with two emotionally resonant and deeply human stories.

On Friday, March 13, Clontarf Players present I Never Sang for My Father by Robert Anderson. This quietly devastating drama focuses on Gene, a successful writer, as he reflects on his relationship with his formidable and emotionally guarded father. Through a series of memories and conversations, the play examines love withheld, expectations inherited, and the lasting impact of what remains unsaid. Subtle, restrained, and deeply moving, the production offers audiences an intimate portrait of family life and emotional distance.

The Festival concludes on Saturday, March 14, with another first-time appearance, as Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group bring Da by Hugh Leonard to the Kiltyclogher stage. This much-loved memory play follows Charlie Tynan, a successful writer living in London, who returns to Dublin after the death of his adopted father. As he sorts through memories, regrets, and unfinished conversations, Charlie confronts the complex, frustrating, and ultimately loving relationship he shared with Da. Combining humour, tenderness, and emotional depth, the play offers a fitting and uplifting finale to the Festival.

The adjudicator for the 2026 Festival is Mary Meaney, an Associate Member of GoDA, who brings extensive experience and insight to the role. The official opening will be performed by Marie Loftus, Secretary of the Connacht Council of the ADCI, reflecting the Festival’s strong links with the wider amateur drama movement.

Organisers have expressed sincere gratitude to the main sponsors, Killasnett Co-op, Manorhamilton, and John F. McDermott Contract Sweepers, as well as to all supporting sponsors who continue to back the event year after year. Their ongoing support ensures that the Festival remains accessible, professionally run, and deeply rooted in the local community.

Beyond the performances themselves, the Kiltyclogher Drama Festival is also known for its welcoming atmosphere. Patrons are guaranteed a warm reception each night, with opportunities to meet friends, exchange views on the productions, and enjoy tea and home baking in a relaxed and friendly setting. For many, these social moments are as much a part of the Festival experience as the drama on stage.

Curtain-up time is 8.00pm sharp from Saturday, March 7, to Friday, March 13, with a slightly earlier start of 7.30pm on closing night, Saturday, March 14. Season tickets are priced at €70, with nightly tickets available for €15. Tickets can be purchased at the door or booked in advance by phoning 071 9854368 or 083 1847432, with payment on the night.

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