Top AIMS award music to ears of Navan stage group

St Mary's Musical Society in Navan came out on top of its category with the best overall show award at the Association of Irish Music Societies (AIMS) annual awards at the weekend in Killarney, for its May 2012 production of 'Little Shop of Horrors'. The culmination of a year of musical theatre throughout the length and breadth of the country came to a climax with the presentation of awards at a ceremony in the INEC at the Gleneagles Hotel, attended by just under 1,000 members from Shannon to Tipperary and from Killarney to Belfast. The two shows to emerge as winners in their respective categories were 'Man Of La Mancha', staged by Tipperary Musical Society, and 'Little Shop of Horrors' staged by St Mary's in Navan. The categories are called Gilbert and Sullivan, and the Navan award was for best overall show in the Sullivan section. David Monaghan, PRO for the Navan society, said: "It was with great pride and excitement that St Mary's Musical Society accepted the honour bestowed upon them last Saturday night in Killarney by AIMS. "We were up against stiff competition from other musical societies such as Belfast, Sligo and Londonderry. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all involved: our producer Liam Butler, musical director Paul Byrne, and choreographer Adam Lynch and all the cast and crew who made this an award-winning show." Trim's Gwen Bagnall had also been nominated for an award for her portrayal of Mrs Lovett in Trim Musical Society's production of 'Sweeney Todd'.