Drámaíocht sa Scoil.

Ó bunaíodh an scoil, leagadh an bhéim ar an drámaíocht, agus bhí sé mar aidhm againn go mbeadh deis ag páistí a bheith ar an ardán ar a laghad faoi thrí i rith a saol scoile.

As part of the opening ceremony for the school in December 1990 the children, then Junior, Senior Infants and First class, performed a nativity play in the school hall (now seomra rang 5). This play was the highlight of the ceremony, and the children, particularly the inn- keepers emerging from the presses, certainly stole the show from the many dignitaries present!

The following school year, in May of 1992, all children in the school, then comprising of Junior Infants, Senior Infants, Rang 1 agus 2 presented "Codladh Céad Bliain" as part of the annual Cór Fhéile festival in Athlone’s Dean Crowe Hall. All of the children in the school were involved in this production. While Warren Mac Giolla Fhaoláin and Clíodhna Ní Mhuireagáin, then in Rang 2, may have had the main parts, many will remember the Junior Infants, now since left the school, who took time out from the play to wave at mammy and daddy in the audience. The infant classes also entered the Cór Fhéile that year and presented the beautiful toy story "An Siopa Breagáin." Those children are now in Rang 6.

This Cor Fhéile performance was followed in May of 1993 by the staging of "An tAsarlaí ó Oz"-The Wizard of Oz. This again took place in the Dean Crowe Hall and again the whole school was involved in this production. Sharlene Ní Niocláis played Dorothy, the lead role, and Rebecca Ní Chomaoin, Carolín Nic Chionnaith and Warren Mac Giolla Fhaoláin supported her as the tin man, straw man and fearful lion respectively. Senior Infants of that year, children currently in Rang 4, presented the traditional "Na Trí Bhéar" as part of the Cór Fhéile in 1993, and this was well received by the audience.

I Nollaig 1994 cuireadh an chéad dráma na Nollag ar siúl. Bhí gach páiste sa scoil páirteach sna dramaí seo arís agus chuir na ranganna eagsúla dramaí nó ceoldhrama ar an ardan. Cuireadh ar siúl iad ar feadh dhá thréimhse, ceann i rith an lae do na naíonáin agus a dtuismitheorí agus in san oíche do ranganna 1 go dti a 4. I measc na ndramaí a cuireadh ar siúl bhí "Brontanas Nollag" ó na Naíonáin, "Scrooge" ó rang 3 agus a 4, scéal faoi Dhaidí na Nollag ó rang a dó agus scéal scoile ó rang 1. Bhain gach duine, idir thuismitheoirí, pháistí agus mhúinteoirí an taitneamh as na drámaí uile, agus bhí atmaisféar na cáirdiúlacht le braith ón scoil an t - am sin. The infant children went on to present their beatiful "Bronntanas Nollag" at that year's Cór Fhéile, directed by their teachers Eithne Ní Chonchubhair and Máire Uí Mhurchú.

An bhliain dár gcionn chuir Lorraine Ní Ghairbhíth Rang 1 isteach i gcomórtas Drámaíochta Slógadh. Their "animal stories" won first prize in the infants – rang 1 category.

The following year the school entered the Cumann Scoil Drámaíochta competition with three plays. Aladdin (Rang 4 le Lorraine Ní Ghairbhith), An Dall (Rang 3 le Orla Ní Chuinneagáin) agus Bealach na Bó Finne (Rang 2 le Daírine Ní Dhonnchadha). These three plays preformed in Mullingar in the first heat and then An Dall and Bealach na Bó Finne went on to the second stage of the competition in Ballymun, Dublin, and to the Cumann Scoil Drámaíochta finals held in Drumcondra that Easter.

An Dall was based on a traditional Irish tale of the blind prince who will only see when he hears music, and was highly praised by the judges for the "leiriú breá taitneamhach". All of the children in the cast were praised for the way they so obviously enjoyed the performance and for the clarity of their expressions on stage. Particular stars of this performance were Shane Mac Cathmhaoil and Eilís Ní Thréinfhir, who judging by their performances, may go on to better things in the acting world.

Bealach na Bó Finne, was a modern Irish musical which was written and directed by Daíríne Ní Dhonnchadha, the class teacher. The musical focused on the modern theme of environmental cleanliness and the dangers to the earth caused by pollution and litter. It was highly praised by the judges for its originality and suitability for all children. The uniqueness of the characters was also praised and the play saw characters as diverse as "An Realt Ó Thuaidh", all of the planets as well as the sun and Sirius.

Overall Bealach na Bó Finne won first prize in the Cumann Scoil Drámaíochta competition, and Dáiríne and two of her pupils, Ian Stacey and Saoirse Stronge, travelled to the Mansion House for the presentation of the award. The play went on to win the Oireachtas award for new Irish plays that year.

Breandán O Ruanaigh revived the tradition of presenting a Christmas play, when in December 1997 his third class presented the Nativity play for other children in the school and parents of children in that class. The following year Bláthnaid Ní Neachtáin presented "The King Counts Ten" with her class of Senior Infants was a huge success with pupils and parents alike, all enjoyed the infants natural acting ability.

Since 1996 when the first sixth class left the school, the sixth class present a play to mark the end of their primary school days. The first two groups presented "An Rí Carthannach agus An Féar Bréige" with Gearóid O Conchubhair and Sarah Aingléis playing the leading role in the first year, and Suibhne Mac Aogáin and Aislinn Ní hUiginn in the second year. Each year parents enjoyed the performance, some seeing their children in a new light for the first time !

In June of 1998, to mark the departure from the school of the first group of Junior Infants who entered the school, the children presented a variety concert, comprising of poems, songs, traditional dances and a play "Na Saighdiurí" le Gabriel Rosenstock. This play, writted in poetic form, had a main role for everyone, with the punchline being delivered by Daithí O Dolaraí and Hilary de Prís.

In 1999 the children leaving sixth class presented Labhraidh Loinsigh, with some adaptations, the highlight of which must have been Tómas Ó Toirdealbaigh appearing as an old woman! Again the night was thoroughly enjoyed by parents and pupils, and was a fitting way to end the school life of the children. The following year, sixth class entertained all with their excellent production of tAsarlaí ó Oz"-The Wizard of Oz to a packed school hall.

Drama will continue to play a central role in the life of the school, and who knows, the stars of the future may have given their first performance in front of the pupils and parents of Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí.