Mayo school picks up seven national awards for stunning musical production
The crew from Davitt College celebrating their magnificent achievement
Davitt College, Castlebar, is celebrating outstanding national success following its 2025 production of Rock of Ages, which received seven awards at the Best of Ireland Secondary School Stage Awards 2026, held in Dublin on March 3rd.
The production, staged in November 2025, marked a significant milestone for the school as its 40th musical, and has now been recognised at national level for excellence in performance, direction and stagecraft.
More than 120 students were involved in the production across performance, backstage and technical roles, with the school auditorium transformed into a fully realised theatre space through the dedication and creativity of students and staff.
The production team was led by Producer Dave Mac Donnacha and Director Damien Gallagher, with Mr Gallagher receiving an award for Best Director. Musical direction was led by Claire Kennedy, while choreography was provided by Emma Coleman of ECM Dance.
Davitt College also received an award for Best Set Design, recognising the work of James Cunningham, Síle Hughes and their respective crews. The award reflects the school’s long-standing tradition of designing and building its productions in-house.
Student performers were also recognised for their outstanding achievements. Daisy Finnerty, who played Sherrie Christian, won an award for Best Acting (Female). Myles Girling-Moore, in the role of Lonny Barnett, received an award for Best Acting (Male). Bella Kearney, who played Denise Dupree, won an award for Best Acting (Co-Star Female), while Ben O’Brien, as Drew Boley, received an award for Best Vocals (Co-Star).
Davitt College was also honoured with an award for Best Acting Ensemble, reflecting the strength and quality of the cast as a whole.
A number of other students were shortlisted for awards on the night, further highlighting the depth of talent involved in the production. Oisin Toland was nominated for Best Acting (Co-Star Male) for his role as Stacee Jaxx, Jennis Ann Sarish was nominated for Best Vocals (Co-Star) for her performance as Justice Charlier, and Conor McDonagh was nominated in Comedy (Male) for his portrayal of Franz Klineman.
In total, Davitt College received nominations across a broad range of categories, including acting, vocals, comedy, costumes, direction, set design, promo and ensemble awards.
Speaking about the achievement, the school said the success of Rock of Ages reflects the commitment, creativity and teamwork of the entire school community, both on stage and behind the scenes.
For Davitt College, the annual musical is much more than a performance. It is a major collaborative project that gives students the opportunity to develop confidence, discipline, teamwork and creativity while working to an exceptionally high standard.
The success of Rock of Ages represents the latest chapter in a proud tradition of musical theatre in Davitt College, a tradition that has now spanned 40 productions and continues to play a central role in the cultural life of the school.
