Two out of three ain't bad!

Offaly took home two of the three awards it was in the running for at the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) awards at the weekend.

The awards took place in the INEC at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney last Saturday night. Attended by just under 1,100 people, awards at the ceremony were handed out by AIMS national president Olive Melville from Belfast and vice-president Majella Flanagan from Athlone.

Karen Martin won the Ballywillan Drama Group trophy for best comedienne in the Sullivan section of the awards, for her portrayal of Miss Hannigan in Tullamore Musical Society’s production of ‘Annie’.

She beat off competition from Vivienne Lee, who played the part of Lina Lamont in Claremorris Musical Society’s production of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and Aisling Reid, who played the part of Ado Annie in Ratoath Musical Society’s version of ‘Oklahoma!’.

Birr Stage Guild won the Mary Kitt trophy for best house management for their production of ‘South Pacific’. Competition in the category included Naas Musical Society and Tipperary Musical Society.

Fred Boulton was nominated by Birr Stage Guild for the Mary Kelly award for unsung heroes. On the night that award went to Billy Holmes of Kilkenny Musical Society.

The top award - best overall show - was won by Kilkenny Musical Society on the night, for their production of ‘Michael Collins, A Musical Drama’.