Imelda McDonagh is a distinguished director and actress, with multiple awards for her contributions to the performing arts. She holds an MA in Theatre Studies and is a qualified make-up Artist. In addition, Imelda possesses a Licentiate in Speech and Drama from the London College of Music.

She took early retirement in 2012 from teaching English and Drama, and has just completed a four-year term as President of the Association of Drama Adjudicators. She has adjudicated the 1-Act, Confined and Open All-Ireland Finals, and the Macra na Feirme and UK 1-Act Finals. In 2026, Imelda will adjudicate the Glenealy 1-Act Festival, the West Waterford Drama Festival, the Northern Divisional Festival in the Orkney Islands, and the Ballina and Ballymahon 1-Act Festivals.

Imelda’s lifelong passion for performance has seen her take on a variety of memorable roles. including Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Blanche in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, Stephanie in Tom Kempinski’s Duet for One, Gertrude in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Kate in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. She has also excelled in monologue plays such as Baglady by Frank McGuinness, Jennifer Johnston’s Christine and Dermot Bolger’s The Holy Ground.

Imelda is equally accomplished in musical theatre. She won the Association of Irish Musical Societies award for Best Director for her production of Kiss Me Kate and for Michael Collins, a Musical Drama. She was also nominated for Best Director for the amateur premiere of The Ha’penny Bridge. Currently, Imelda is rehearsing for her twenty-fourth musical, Chess with the Enniscorthy Musical Society.

In addition to her artistic achievements, Imelda has been honoured with a Civic Merit Award by President Michael D. Higgins in recognition of her valuable services to the community.