A finely tuned speech in Irish and in English from Carmel Naughton marked the opening of Dundalk Drama International. The chairman of the board of governors of the National Gallery of Ireland and of CoOperation North stressed the number of artistic events that take place in the town during its annual lively festival.

Estuary Players of Dublin again won over their audience with Bernard Farrell's All In Favour Said No. A fine cast and direction kept the pace just right throughout. First into the Late Night Theatre slot was Gene Carroll with his one man show on Patrick Kavanagh. A contrast to the Abbey's spectacular Tarry Flynn, perhaps, but the poet's prose and verse won through and I saw one young man mouth a number of passages as they were being delivered.

There was an air of gentle elegance to Holywood Players' production of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard on Sunday night. The Co Down group's set and lighting conveyed the sense of place but costumes may have been a little too new for a family that had seen better days. Movement and groupings impressed but there was a distinct lack of passion and emotion at the pending loss of a beloved estate.

Linda Goss and her Victory Players from Holyoke, Massachussetts finished off the opening weekend with Service With A Smile at the Late Night Theatre. This was a tale of the Old West embellished by some vintage Robert Service and a handsome male vocalist with a catchy line in send up country music.

Dundalk Festival continues until Sunday when Biddy White Lennon will make her final adjudication.