We look forward to welcoming all our wonderful adjudicators to our live Feis Finals on March 26th at the Talbot Hotel Stillorgan.
ARTHUR WEBB MA, B.Ed, LRAM, GGSM, LGSM
After graduating from Queen’s University, Belfast with a B.Ed degree in English and Drama, Arthur studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London and subsequently completed an MA in Drama and Media at Ulster University.He taught in a large grammar school for 25 years where he was Head of the Creative and Expressive faculty. He is Chief Examiner for Drama in Northern Ireland and Examiner for A level Performing Arts with the Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum, Education and Assessment.
As Arts Education Adviser with Belfast Education and Library Board, Arthur was responsible for introducing Drama to the NI Curriculum as a discrete and statutory subject. He is an Associate with the British Federation of International Adjudicating and has adjudicated at many festivals in the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong. He is also an Examiner with New Era Academy, London and has examined in UK, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.
He was Director of the Youth Lyric Theatre for 16 years and Drama Coach for Children’s programmes with the BBC.
As a professional director for C21 Theatre Company, he has toured Northern Ireland and Scotland with 5 edited Shakespeare productions for schools.
He is looking forward to adjudicating again at SDToI Feis in 2023.
Mrs Louise Webb
B.ED, LGSM, DASE(S.E.N.), PQH(NI).
Louise graduated at Queen's University, Belfast with a
degree in Drama & English, after which she
completed a diploma from Guildhall School of Speech
and Drama, London. She subsequently taught in the
primary sector for eight years, where she specialised
in supporting young people with special educational
needs and completed a Diploma in the Advanced
Study of Education at QUB. For over 20 years Louise
taught in a large grammar school in Belfast, holding
the post of Head of Drama, Special Educational
Needs Co-ordinator, Senior Teacher and Head of
Senior School. During this time Louise completed the
Professional Qualification for Headship. She has
also been an associate lecturer at St Mary's and
Stranmillis University Colleges and Queen's University
Belfast, supporting undergraduate and post-graduate
students. She currently mentors and prepares young
professionals for examinations, interviews and public
speaking events and serves on a number professional
boards in Northern Ireland. For over two decades
Louise has worked closely with local operatic
companies and has significant experience of musical
theatre. She is currently a member of the Education
Advisory Panel at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast and has
frequently adjudicated at festivals throughout Ireland.
Anna Walker
Anna has adjudicated throughout the length and breadth of Ireland, and has been privileged to meet the most creative, talented and dedicated Theatre Practitioners, in the many unique Drama Festivals which welcome, support and nurture a host of travelling players and adjudicators.
Anna has an M.A. in Theatre Studies, and a diploma of Association and Licentiate from the Royal Irish Academy. Her working life embraces a wide range of Drama disciplines and activities. She is Senior Drama Examiner with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, tutors Drama Students, adjudicates Festivals and Feiseanna, and directs for a number of Acting Companies.
She is a regular visitor to London, where she engages in Courses with The Globe and The National Theatre. She has been a member of ADA for the past ten years, and is proud to have adjudicated The One Act All Ireland Drama Festival in Ennis in 2011, The Confined Three Act All Ireland Drama Festival in Castleblayney in 2016, and The Open Three Act All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone in 2018.
TONY FINNEGAN
Director/Actor/Adjudicator
Tony, a graduate from The Guildford School of Acting and Dance.
In 2014 Tony was the creative director for two “TV Specials” filmed by the BBC for PBS, America. Tony is proud of the fact that one of the Specials (The Music of Northern Ireland) won 4 Emmy’s in the 2015 awards ceremony in the USA.
Tony has adjudicated the Waterford International Festival and had an extraordinarily successful trip to Buxton, adjudicating the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Tony has been associated with winning the G and S Festival four years in a row – performing in all four winning shows and co-
producing the 3 Festival Productions, Dublin shows and directing the winning Pirates of Penzance for New Lyric Opera Company in the 4 th year.
In 2017 he made his debut in Ireland’s National Theatre – The Abbey directing FLYNN – a world premiere – in The Peacock Theatre.
In 2018 Tony was thrilled to adjudicate the 25 th International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Harrogate.
Future work includes directing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Fiddler on the
Roof, Evita and Oliver! (Both in The Grand Opera House, Belfast)
AnnMarie BolesMy name is AnnMarie Boles and I’m a self taught visual artist. I’m 45 years old and have been living in Athlone Co. Westmeath the past 15 years with my husband Phillip and our three children.I’ve been painting since the age of Four years old and it has been my life long passion.After finishing school I went on to study Art & graphic design in Dublin Institute of Technology & worked for many years as a freelance graphic designer. However painting has always been my passion and I am now officially a full time Professional artist.My painting style is quite distinctive due to my strong use of vibrant colour through acrylic paint and also my ability to capture emotion through the artistic detail and movement in my work.I have a hugely supportive following through Westmeath, Ireland & abroad which I am very grateful for.
Karen Gallinagh Murphy
Karen has been teaching Speech and Drama for the past 16 years, running her own school, and teaching students privately, on an individual, and small group basis.
Karen also works on a freelance basis, delivering Drama Workshops, through the community, Donegal, Northern Ireland, and Dublin. Her work includes facilitating workshops with Youth Theatre Groups, Transition Year Students, Post Primary Students, Third Level Students, Women’s Groups, (In service days for Early Years Educators and is a member of The Speech & Drama Teachers of Ireland.
Karen enjoysMC’ing various events in Donegal such as Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Award Events. Karen is a Licentiate and Associate of the Irish Board of Speech & Drama, where she is also an examiner. Karen has adjudicated various Speech & Drama Festivals.
During Covid and lockdown as well as teaching her classes all online she
also completed a Leadership and Coaching Practice & Ethics QQI Level 6 Certificate.
Karen’s likes to use the memorable phrase of “Communication Skills are for Life & Work” and believes that all opportunities to speak, present, perform in public will help children, teenagers, and adults to prepare employability opportunities.
Ailbhe Murphy
Ailbhe Murphy is a graduate of UCD and also holds the RIAM Licentiate Teaching Diploma in Speech & Drama.
Over the last 15 years Ailbhe has taught many students both in the Royal Irish Academy of Music and also at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Instutite young actors program in New York. Ailbhe holds a position on the RIAM’s Examiner’s board for Diploma students and with the RIAM Local Centre, examining grade exams on a National level.
She is an active participant in the Irish Film and Theatre Industry. Ailbhe has worked as a Vocal Coach for Theatre and Film productions in Ireland, and has been inolved in a number of professional Theatre productions.
Terri CoonanTerri Coonan, a native of Tipperary, has been teaching since 1994 and was appointed an Examiner at Leinster School of Music and Drama in 2005.She teaches in Clane, Co Kildare.
Dorothy Scully
Dorothy is a graduate of the Leinster School of Music & Drama.
She has been teaching both in schools and privately for the last 27 years.
She has been examining on behalf of the Leinster School for over 20 years.