Irish radio serial dedicates NY gold award to Chelsea Manning.

Leitrim based Benbo Productions recently won the Gold Medal for Best Drama Special for their music-drama serial Francisco and have dedicated the award to US Army whistle blower Chelsea Manning.

The show, based on the experiences of Spanish Armada survivor, Francisco De Cuellar, in Ireland, won the award at the New York Festival of World's Best Radio Programs on Monday June 23.

"In our drama, Francisco, a soldier of 16th century Spanish imperialism, comes to value truth above blind obedience," said the creative team in a statement. "We dedicate the Gold Medal to Chelsea Manning whose brave advocacy of truth is an example to us all.

De Cuellar, a Spanish Armada captain, wrote an account of his Irish experiences through the harsh winter of 1588-89.

The radio serial is inspired by this letter, and is a mixture of narration, music, rhythm and dialogue in English, Irish, Spanish and Latin along with performed poetry, a wide-ranging soundscape and a subversive epic story-line.

In October, the three-part serial, written and directed by Donal O' Kelly, won the Prix Europa for Best Radio Drama in Berlin. It was the first time a production entered by a local radio station had ever won the award.

The show was recorded in the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim and was entered for the awards by Ocean FM.

The cast of Francisco includes Jaimie Carswell in the titular role of Francisco along with Socrcha Fox, Darina Gallagher, Des Braiden and Donal OKelly. Four members of Kila have provided their talents for the music with sound supervision by Ray Duffy.

To listen to Francisco click here

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Irish radio serial dedicates NY gold award to Chelsea Manning.