.Sean McElligott, tara Dore and Clodagh Harrington who have received AIMS nominations.
THE nominations for the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) Awards came out on Sunday and three Tralee people have been nominated.
All three were part of the The Light Opera Society of Tralee’s production of ‘Evita’ in Siamsa Tire last November which was directed by Grainne O’Carroll.
The nominations were Clodagh Harrington for Best Female Singer for Eva Peron, Sean McElligott for Best Male Singer for Che and Tara Dore for Best Choreographer.
The winners will be announced on Saturday, June 17 at the AIMS National Awards Festival at the INEC in Killarney. Best of luck to the trio!
.The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. Photo: Tralee MS Facebook Page
THE Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) awards took place last night at the INEC in Killarney and Tralee Musical Society picked up an award.
Tralee MS was being nominated in four categories — Best Programme for “The Wiz”, Best Technical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, Best Stage Management – Des Hurley “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and the Spirit of Aims Award – for the perseverance and ingenuity in building the Chitty Car “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
In the end they picked the latter award Spirit of Aims Award. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang enjoyed a sellout run in April and huge work went into preparing the car. Well done to all involved!
.Aishling O’Carroll, Light Opera Society, Tralee winner of the ‘Best Female Singer Sullivan Section’ for her performance of ‘Cinderalla in Into The Woods’ receives the trophy from Olive Melville, President and Majella Flanagan, vice-president AIMS at the 50th anniversary of the Association of irish Musical Societies annual awards in the INEC, Killarney at the weekend. Photo: Don MacMonagle
WHILE the big prizes eluded most Tralee nominees at the the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) Awards on Saturday night, there was still much to cheer about.
The INEC was the venue as over 1,200 members waited with baited breath for the winners to be announced.
One of these winners was Aishling O’Carroll of the Light Opera Society, Tralee winner of the ‘Best Female Singer Sullivan Section’ for her performance of ‘Cinderalla in Into The Woods’.
She was delighted to accept her award on stage, but she wasn’t the only Tralee winner.
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John Hurley from Tralee Musical Society won the Spirit of AIMS award for his outstanding projections used in the Irish Premiere of Ghost which was staged in the INEC Killarney this season.
John Hurley from Tralee Musical Society winner of the ‘Spirit of AIMS’ adjudicator’s special award Gilbert Section for their production of ‘Sister Act’ receives the trophy from Olive Melville, President and Majella Flanagan, vice-president AIMS at the 50th anniversary of the Association of irish Musical Societies annual awards in the INEC, Killarney at the weekend. Photo: Don MacMonagle
Unfortunately, there was no luck for the other Tralee Musical Society nominees for their work on Sister Act’, namely Oliver Hurley (Best Director) and Jackie O’Mahony (Best Comedienne) and in their Best Chorus and Best Overall Show nominations.
It didn’t stop the large Tralee contingent present from having a great time though, as they always do at the AIMS.
Tim Landers with his AIMS award on Saturday night.
IT was a great night for the Hurley and Landers families on Saturday as they picked up awards at a ceremony in Killarney.
The annual Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) Awards took place in the INEC and were attended by just under 1,100 people representing societies throughout the country.
Tralee native, Tim Landers won best comedian for his role in Tralee Light Opera Society’s production of ‘The Producers’, in the Light Opera category.
“I’ve been going to the awards for 25 years and this was the first time I was nominated,” said Tim, who won the award for his portrayal of Franz Liebkind. “To hear my name called out was unbelievable, it was the greatest moment of my life. The reaction from the crowd was amazing and I was in floods, of course!” he added.
There was a double celebration in one household as Oliver Hurley and Geraldine Heaslip both claimed accolades.
Tralee couple Oliver Hurley and his wife Geraldine Heaslip who won AIMS awards on Saturday night. Photo by Don MacMonagle
Oliver won Best Director for his work with the Killarney Musical Society’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ while Geraldine won Best Ensemble, ‘Annie Christmas/No Matter What’ scene, for Tralee Musical Society from their production of ‘Whistle Down The Wind’ in the Gilbert Section, where she was Chorus Mistress.
Tralee Musical Society also had runners up in a number of categories; Alan Teahan for Best Male Singer; Janna Foley for Best Actress and brothers Des and John Hurley both took the stage for runners-up for Tralee MS and Killarney MS respectively.
Also a very moving and fitting tribute to Bryan Flynn – writer of ‘Michael Collins’ who passed away some weeks ago – societies from Tralee M.S., Teachers M.S. and Kilkenny M.S. performed a number from “Michael Collins, A Musical Drama,” bringing all those present to a standing ovation and recognising his immense contribution to musical theatre here in Ireland.
Over 90 musical societies are affiliated to the Association of Irish Musical Societies across the country and the awards celebrate the musical performances of the year.
