There were celebrations in Ballinrobe at the weekend when Ballinrobe Musical Society claimed two awards at the annual Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) Awards.

Ballinrobe had been nominated in six categories, including the coveted Best Overall Show category, for their production of Chess.

The award winners were for Best House Management (second year in a row) and the high-profile Best Modern Opera.

Lisa Connaughton accepted the Best House Management award on behalf of the society, at the gala AIMS dinner in Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Niall Conway, a cast member, was presented with the Best Modern Opera award.

The society was runners-up in the Best Overall Show category for the first time ever, losing out narrowly to New Lyric, Belfast, who staged The Witches of Eastwick.

“We were delighted to honoured once again. It is a huge tribute to the society, cast, sponsors, and the broader community to have the society nominated, given that other nominees tend to come from larger centres of population where state-of-the-art facilities are at their disposal,” said Ballinrobe society chairman Pat McGovern.

“Were it not for our loyal local sponsors, who in the current economic climate, still came up trumps and a great sense of community the show simply would not go on.

Also runners-up were Best Musical Director (Philip Short); Best Female Voice (Sinead Heneghan), and Best Programme (Liam Horan and Pat McGovern.)