Ger O’Sullivan from Tralee (right) receiving his award.A TRALEE man won an award at the All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals 2026 held earlier this month in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone.
Ger O’Sullivan was part of the Memory Lane Theatre Group, Lixnaw, who received three nominations a for their production of ‘Heaven’ by Eugene O’Brien.
The nominations were for Best Presentation (Group), Best Stage Management (Siobhan Keane/Lowe) and Best Stage Lighting (Ger O’Sullivan), with Ger winning the top national award in his category, receiving the highly regarded Playlight Perpetual Cup.
Continued below…
Speaking after his win, Ger said he was “absolutely shocked and delighted” to receive the honour.
“I began working as a sound engineer in the early 1970s, and I’ve always had a deep love for the technical side of theatre. Stage lighting, in particular, has always fascinated me,” he said.
“Lighting has the power to completely transform a performance and bring a story to life. To be recognised at this level for something I truly love is very special.”
Ger also encouraged young people to explore technical theatre: “There is so much creativity in this area. Get involved, learn the craft, and follow your passion—it can be incredibly rewarding.”
He expressed his gratitude to the entire Memory Lane Theatre Group, adding: “This award would not have been possible without the dedication of the full team, and especially our director, Padraig Dennehy, whose vision and leadership made it all possible.”
The group has been selected to bring their acclaimed production to the stage at St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre, Listowel, on Thursday, 14th May — an opportunity for local audiences to experience the award-winning performance.
