The total cost of the first Festival was £178.03 (€226.05).  Attendances have naturally enough fluctuated over the years.  Local groups and John B. Keane plays tend to draw bigger houses and keep the show on the road but also a number of generous people have consistently been supportive and they have, in a special way, ensured the survival of the venture through some lean years – as well as the years of plenty when their subscriptions were ploughed into equipment.  “Their names, my dear child” as the Bird O’Donnell would say “is wrote down in the Book of Life in red letters like blood”.  They are to be found in the Patrons Lists in the Festival Programmes.

The Clare County Council, too, have been generous and a special word of thanks is due to P.J. Kelly, M.C.C., who prompted us to ask in the first place and then facilitated the response; to the County Manager Joe Boland who has, in so many ways made this county a better place – fad saol cuige – for making provision for the grant aid and to the Councilors for their wholehearted co-operation.  The Arts fare better in this county than in many others.  Thanks are also due to our County Librarian, Noel Crowley and to Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare’s Arts Officer as well as her predecessors.  For many years Golden Vale, through the good offices of Stephen O’Brien, sponsored the prizes for Best Actors and Best Actresses in the various sections.  Later Bank of Ireland, Kilrush was a generous sponsor.  The Perpetual Trophies were provided by local and Kilrush business people.  Everything counts when you consider that the 2000 Festival cost almost £12,101.53 (€15,365.77) to run.

Catering for the groups before each performance, since the beginning, has been in the capable and generous hands of Mrs. Kitty Igoe.  Indeed her famous charm and wholesome meals are among the attractions of the Festival for the members of the casts who return to Doonbeg year after year.  Even President Hillary was impressed!  Her late, popular son Seán, (R.I.P.) assisted her for many years and since his death in 1999, her granddaughter Caroline carries on the tradition of generous hospitality.  Madge Hayes looks after the adjudicators who always depart looking all the better for her T.L.C..  The ladies of the Committee and the Gentlemen of the Committee have ensured the smooth running of the event over the years.

Lighting and stage equipment have been built up over the years from the six biscuit tin floods with 200 watt lamps and two dimmers given to us by Padraig de Barra in the early years to the thousands of pounds worth of floods, fresnel and mirror spots and modern lighting controls in which the next cue can be pre-set and faded in manually or on a time switch.  Incidentally, on occasion use is still found for the biscuit tins!  The Minister for Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Síle de Valera, provided a grant towards the upgrading of the stage lighting during 2001.

As is always the case, the bulk of the work falls to the Secretary.  The Festival has been fortunate in having two great Secretaries, Tom O’Gorman up to 1970 and Cissie McMahon since then.  There is splendid so-operation, and work is shared and enjoyed by all members of the Committees.

The Festival is a member of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and has participated in nominating groups to take part in All-Ireland Finals (rural/Confined) since 1968 and to the All-Ireland Finals (Open) in Athlone since 1973.

The Doonbeg One-Act Drama Festival takes place in November each year.  Over one hundred and sixty productions have been presented to date.  Cheese & Wine, Tea/Coffee & Biscuits are included in the admission price and candle lit tables, add to the sense of occasion.

In 1968 Traolach O hAonghusa wrote to the Committee: “Ar scath a cheile is ea mhaireann na daoine – especially in the field of Drama.  Only those who have direct contact with the presentation of stage entertainment can fully appreciate the immense difficulties, the heart-scalding frustrations and, yet, the wonderful sense of both satisfaction and achievement that are part and parcel of theatrical endeavour.  Intense labour leading to immeasurable reward is the lot of anyone who is so fortunate (or so foolhardy!) as to become involved in Drama."

“The Art of Drama includes such a diversity of components, all highly advantageous both to the participating individual (whether he be author, producer, actor, stage manager, committee member, programme seller or member of the audience) and to the community, that the full benefits deriving therefrom are incapable of assessment.  Successful operation in the theatrical field would daunt all but practical idealists.  Faith in their own vision and in their people, combined with unlimited capacity for hard work and co-operation, are basic requirements.  Though their aims may be local and immediate, assuredly the results of their efforts will be felt far beyond the confines of their own district and future generations will continue to reap the reward of present activity.  The prospective harvest is so immense that it behoves everyone to be a labourer.”

“Doonbeg has ploughed a good field, has sown the best of seed.  The patient, careful attention required by a growing crop is in capable hands.  God willing, the harvest will be bountiful.”

 Traolach said it all!                           
                                                             …Murt McInerney 

Festival Committee 1962: 

President
Very Rev. A.J. McNamara, P.P.
General Committee
Rev. Patrick Taaffe, C.C.
Micheál Aghas
Jack Downes
Joe Hurley
Murt McInerney
Tom  O’Gorman
Reception
Martin Cotter
Paddy Morrissey
Bernie Frawley
Sean Hayes
Desmond Hayes
Siney Behan
Paddy Fitzmartin
Programmes
Marie Conway
Betty Killeen
Carmel Greene
Mary Collins
Reservations
Michael Igoe
Sean Corry
Mick Doyle
Jimmy Dillon
Stage
Murt McInerney
Johnny Igoe
Senan Griffin
Ladies Committee
Cissie McMahon
Bernadette Hurley
Nancy Boland
Betty Morrissey
Bernie O’Gorman