A £1 million refurbishment scheme is under way in Athlone at the home of the All Ireland Amateur Drama Festival.
There has been a long association between Athlone and the drama festival, going back to 1953 when the event was held in the then Sportex Hall, opposite the old railway station.
The festival moved to the Dean Crowe Memorial Hall in 1959, and has been held there ever since. The Listowel Players won in 1959 with a little-known play called Sive by an emerging writer named John B. Keane. A member of the cast was Brian Brennan, the architect now in charge of the refurbishment.
The glory days of the hall were fast coming to an end in the 1980s when Athlone stood to lose the festival altogether because of the condition of the premises.
A few years ago, an ad hoc committee was formed in the town to see what could be done, but first it had to gain control of the building, which was owned by the Elphin Diocesan Trust. Fortunately, the local parish priest, Canon Patrick Murray, was in support, and it was agreed that the building should be handed over to the Dean Crowe Theatre Trust.
The estimate for refurbishing it was £1 million and by sheer hard work and determination, nearly half that sum has now been raised, enough to carry out two-thirds of the work.
This has involved the reconstruction of the front facade of the building, the foyer, toilets and the provision of bars and cafes. It has also created exhibition space for art exhibitions and other cultural activity.
Local people have been involved in fundraising activities, including the novel idea of sponsoring a seat for £200, some of which are still available.
Phase two has seen the provision of new seats and the general refurbishment of the auditorium. The stage and dressing rooms have yet to be completed.
According to Mr Kevin Farrell, the publicity and marketing manager of the theatre, the trust is hoping that the generosity of the people of the midlands will be matched by the Government.
"We are awaiting Government funding and we hope it will be forthcoming," he said.
"We cannot really go back to the people again looking for more money for the third phase. We are seeking Government help for this and we will not commence that work until the Government helps," he said.
He said the work had secured the future of the All Ireland Drama Finals due to be held again this year in the venue and the continuation of the John Player Tops of the Towns Competition and a midlands interschools competition, Feile Scoileanna.
The theatre can be contacted at 0902-72333.