PRESS RELEASE, 9/05

The inaugural Ted and Mary O' Regan Arts Bursary has been awarded to Waterford actor, Robert Sinnott. Tramore man, Robert, was today presented with the bursary, valued at 5,000 Euro, at a reception in City Hall, hosted by his Worship, the Mayor of Waterford, Ald. Hilary Quinlan.

L-R: James Cheasty (patron), Robert Sinnott, Bertie Rogers (chairperson),
Mayor Hilary Quinlan and Anna Manahan (patron)

The bursary is the brainchild of a group of friends and colleagues of the late Ted and Mary O'Regan and was created to honour their invaluable contribution to the artistic and cultural life of Waterford. Launched earlier this year, the bursary is financed by local arts organisations and statutory bodies as well as by the O' Regan family and by friends and admirers of the much loved couple. Among the organisations who have contributed to the bursary are Waterford Youth Committee, Waterford City Council, Waterford City Enterprise Board, Red Kettle, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Spraoi, WDS and Waterford Youth Arts. The Bursary, designed to assist local artists to pursue and advance their career in the arts, is administered by a group of trustees from the local arts community and is distinguished by the patronage of esteemed Waterford playwright, James Cheasty and internationally renowned actress, Anna Manahan.
Robert Sinnott has performed with many of Waterford's leading musical theatre companies over the last decade. In 1997, he won the Best Irish Singer Award at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera with Stage Fright's Production of Chess and he was a cast member of The Hired Man which took the overall title at the same Festival in 2002. In recent years, Robert chose to pursue a career in the Child Care profession, utilising his drama skills and training in his work with special needs children. Now with the assistance of the Bursary, he is returning to full time education and has been accepted for a place in the Drama and Theatre Studies Course at Trinity College. On completion of the four year BA Course, Robert hopes to work full time as a Theatre Director and also hopes to further his studies in the area of Drama Therapy.