Carmel Duffy Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre, Joe MacCarrick RTE Drama Festival Director, Aengus O' Rourke Mayor of Athlone, Michael O Brien Cllr posing with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

The Esso Trophy returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre.

2018 RTE All Irleand Drama Festival Winner's Prosperous Dramatic Society with the winning play ''Sylvia'' celebrate last Saturday night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Festisval Director Joe MacCarrick and wife Mary, Ita McGuire, Audrey McGrath RTE and Tom Mcguire RTE at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Anna Walker ADA Festival Adjudicator and Joe MacCarrick Fetival Director at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Ashleigh O Neill '' Prosperous Dramatic Society'' with Best Actress Award at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Tom McGuire RTE presents Lurlene Duggan'' Prosperous Dramatic Society'' with Best Director Award at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Committe pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

Last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Billy Kott former Festival Director, Mayor Aengus O' Rourke, Joe MacCarrick Festival Director at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Regina & Ronan Bushell RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Committe pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

Tom Martin, Ray Collins, Elish Connaughton whos husband Pat was the last Winner to lift the Trophy back in 1999, Olive Martin, Joe MacCarrick RTE festival Director, Mary MacCarrick pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

Tom McGuire RTE Radio speaking during last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Anna Walker ADA Festival Adjudicator speaking during last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Robert Massey'' Prosperous Dramatic Society'' with Best Actor Award at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Winner of the Esso Trophy 3 times Terry Byrne with RTE Drama Festival Director pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Committe pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

Doreen Holloway, Emmet Arrigan, Eileen Jennings, Margaret Egan, Mary Merrigan, Eunan Keyes RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Committe pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

Director Lurlene Duggan'' Prosperous Dramatic Society'' celebrating after last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Drama Ladies Mary Merrigan, Doreen Holloway, Eileen Lyons, Doreen O' Shea, Majella O' Dea, Mary Berry, Regina Bushell, Olive Martin at last Saturday's 2018 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards night in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone.

Tom & Olive Martin RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Committe pose with The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

The Esso Trophy as it returns to its spirtual home back in Athlone. The famous trophy is on dislplay at Athlone Castle & Visitor Centre

Pictured Bernie Harten former Chairperson ADL, John Travers Chairperson of ADCI making The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatre last Easter Monday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick speaking during the launch of 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick with his committee Ray Collin's, Majella O' Dea, Anthony Merrigan launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Drama Directors pictured B/R Padraig Broe '' Moat Club'' Donie Walsh'' Kileem Drama Group'' John Clancy ''Corofin Drama Society'' Killian McGuinness ''Cormill Dramatic Society'' Clarence Players'' Keiran Tyrell Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group'' F/R Emma Jane Nulty ''Dalkey Players'' Reidin Dunne ''Bradán Players'' Louerene Duggan ''Prosperous Dramatic Society'' attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Pictured Mayor of Athlone John Dolan, RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick, TD Kevin ''Boxer'' Moran attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Pictured Ronan and Regina Bushell, Shea Ellis Drama Festival Committee attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Pictured Bernie Harten former Chairperson ADL, John Travers Chairperson of ADCI making The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatre last Easter Monday.

Pictured John McGee, Eunan Keyes, Emmet Arrigan Drama Festival Committee attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Alan Shaw, Olive and Tom Martin Drama Festival Committee attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick with his committee Ray Collin's, Majella O' Dea, Anthony Merrigan launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick with his committee B/R Emmet Arrigan, Tommy Martin, Ray Collin's, John McGee, Billy Knott, Brian Doolin, Anthony Merrigan F/R Majella O' Dea, Joe MacCarrick, Eillen Lyons, Liam Kellegher launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Drama Directors pictured B/R Padraig Broe '' Moat Club'' Donie Walsh'' Kileem Drama Group'' John Clancy ''Corofin Drama Society'' Joe McCarrick Drama Festival Director '' Killian McGuinness ''Cormill Dramatic Society'' Clarence Players'' Keiran Tyrell Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group'' F/R Emma Jane Nulty ''Dalkey Players'' Reidin Dunne ''Bradán Players'' Louerene Duggan ''Prosperous Dramatic Society'' attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick with his committee Ray Collin's, Majella O' Dea, Anthony Merrigan launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick with his committee Ray Collin's, Majella O' Dea, Anthony Merrigan launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured Mayor of Athlone John Dolan and Festival Director Joe MacCarrick attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.

Pictured: John Travers Chairman of ADCI speaking during the launch of 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured: RTE All Ireland Drama Festival Director Joe MacCarrick launching the 2017 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in The Abbey Theatre, Dublin last Thursday.

Pictured Margaret Egan, Eileen Jennings, Mary Merrigan, Doreen O' Shea Drama Festival Committee attending The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival 2017 Draw in The Dean Crowe Theatere last Easter Monday.