Killinkere actor wins award for Eva Perón portrayal

A Cavan woman has won Best Singer at the national Association of Irish Musical Society (AIMS) Awards.

Jenny McCabe, who is originally from Drumlane and Killinkere, won the prestigious award for her portrayal of one of the most difficult lead female roles: Eva Perón in Evita.

The AIMS awards are the Oscars for amateur musical theatre in Ireland and culminate in a glitzy ceremony in the Gleneagles INEC in Killarney every year.

Jenny won her award at a suitably showbiz event on Sunday night. It was the sixth nomination and second win for Jenny who told the Celt how much the recognition means to her.

“None of us do it for awards, we do it because we love it but, I put so much into playing Perón and to be awarded for the effort is like the cherry on top,” said Jenny, who was still buzzing from her success.

Although the 46-year-old says she was a late-starter to the musical theatre stage, she also says it runs in both sides of her family with mam, Marion Leavey and dad, Micheál McCabe, performing on various Cavan stages as she was growing up.

Jenny thinks the first time she realised she could sing was when she was “probably 10 or 11”.

“I was always encouraged – never pressured – by both my parents because they both loved it, too,” she recalls. Still, it wasn’t until Jenny was 23 that she really began to pursue acting and singing in a serious way.

It is still only a hobby, however, as it is for many hundreds of people in musical societies across Ireland.

“I love my day job,” says Jenny who is a client relationship manager with Irish Life. “So, it’s pensions by day and in the evenings I love playing characters, dressing up in costumes, singing and acting with other people.”

And Jenny’s description of musical theatre makes it sound like a community that operates within in its own sparkly world.

“There’s no people like showbiz people and, unless you’re in that world, you just wouldn’t get it,” she says.

“There are all the actors and people with the amazing voices, then there are the talented set designers, choreographers, and lighting specialists. It’s like a community of people who just adore the world of theatre and love what they’re doing - as a hobby and a passion.

In order to take on the demands of Eva Perón, Jenny spent three months watching old footage of the former First Lady of Argentina to learn to mimic the way she walked and talked.

The stage production was also demanding in that Jenny had to play Eva Perón aged from 15 to 33 (“I think I got away with it”). She was also in almost every scene; had 17 costumes, three wigs and multiple shoe changes and had to take on one of the most difficult female lead vocals in ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’.

She praises the entire team who put together the production, which helped her shine in her role. “At some points in the musical there is a cast of 40 on the stage, the harmonies were spine-tingling, the choreography was second-to-none and the sets were just gorgeous.

Jenny also says Cavan showed her tremendous support.

“Well, for a start, my mam came to see it three times!” she said laughing. “My brother and my little niece, who also has the musical theatre bug, came over from Liverpool to see me and Kilinkere let their presence be known in the best possible way.”

Jenny paid special tribute to the Association of Irish Musical Societies who pull the musical theatres companies from around the country together in a unique space.

“I have met best friends through musical theatre, people have got married after they met through musical theatre,” Jenny reveals. “AIMS makes this possible. They have created such a safe space for people aged in their teens to their 80s to come and explore acting and express themselves. That’s a success in itself.”

As for what’s next for Jenny, she is looking forward to audition season for the country’s next round of productions and she is also the panto stepmother in Longford this year.

“You know you’re getting to a certain age in musicals when you get typecast as the evil stepmother,” Jenny laughs.

Tullyvin success

Meanwhile Tullyvin Musical Society also enjoyed double success at the AIMS Awards for their stunning production of Oklahoma! Stephen Hannigan of the society won Best Stage Management, while Tullyvin also picked up the award for Best House Management. TVMS was also named runner-up in two further categories in the Sullivan Section: The Mary Kelly Award (Jackie McQuillan) and Best Music Director (Dave McGauran).

“We are incredibly proud of our amazing cast and crew who put their full energy and commitment into each and every production,” said Jackie.

“A massive thank you to all our TVMS members, our audiences, our supporters, and our sponsors who helped make Oklahoma! such a special production.

“We can’t wait to get started on rehearsals for this year’s West End Hit show ‘Made in Dagenham’ in October 2025!”