On Wednesday 15th September 2004, at the Newtownabbey Drama Festival’s AGM, Paddy Ormonde MBE, retired from the position of chairman that he has held for nearly a quarter of a century. During his farewell address, Paddy  described how he was immensely flattered to be invited by the founders of the festival to be the first chairman. Little did he realise that he would still be fulfilling that role 23 years later. Mr Ormonde reminisced about some of the earlier events, like the time when the committee members outnumbered the audience and were despatched to sit in the auditorium to ensure that the cast on stage would not feel that they were playing to an empty house. He said that the festival had come a long way since the early days of being held in school halls, through the move to the wonderful theatre in Ballyearl, to this year’s event, which played to almost full houses.
Last year, Paddy’s many years of work with, and considerable contribution to, the amateur drama movement were rewarded by a MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
He paid respects to the many people who had served with him on the committee over the years and said that every single one of them had shown they “would go the extra mile”. He mentioned especially the Honorary Secretary, Mrs Maureen Dunn, whose sterling efforts ensure that each festival is a great success. He is leaving the Chair, with a sense of regret but feels that whoever takes on the post will do it with aplomb.
For the election of officers, former councillor Mr Jim Rooney MBE took the chair and congratulated Paddy on the marvellous job he had done over the past 23 years. He said that Paddy had kept the show together, and indeed he felt that some people only came to the Festival to see Paddy and to listen to one of his anecdotes. On behalf of the committee and patrons he wished Paddy all the best in his future endeavours.
Mrs Ann Lorimer was elected to succeed him, and she in her turn thanked Mr Ormonde for steering the festival to its present level of success. She expressed her delight in being elected and hoped that she would do as good a job as Paddy.
The 2004 1-Act Drama Festival takes place on Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th November at 7:30 PM in the Courtyard Theatre at Ballyearl Arts & Leisure Centre.