Patrons

Thomas Mac Anna        Brian Friel        Sir John Gorman

Ballymoney prides itself on hosting the oldest Drama Festival in Ireland.

The curtain first went up on Ballymoney Drama Festival in February 1934 and, apart from
a break necessitated by World War II, actors and supporting teams have competed on the
Town Hall stage ever since, watched by informed and appreciative audiences
and adjudicators.

In 1949 The Ballymoney Festival Committee instigated meetings with other Provincial
groups, which led to the formation of the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals and
their organisation of the Finals Festival in Belfast.