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Local teen has eyes set on Hollywood

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HOLLYWOOD HERE I COME: Killarney teen Olamide Ojegbenro has his eyes firmly set on Hollywood. Photo: Michelle Crean

 

By Michelle Crean

 

Filmmaking has become a huge passion for one local teen – so much so that he is planning a Hollywood career.

Leaving Cert student Olamide Ojegbenro (18), known as Ollie, is keeping his eyes close to his books in the coming months – but he tells the Killarney Advertiser this week how setting up a local young filmmakers group is all about helping young people battle common issues such as bullying and mental health.

 

Killarney Young Filmmakers was formed in September and so far over 20 young people have been hard at work filming different scenes for their self-written films around the town.

 

“I love making films because I consider myself a storyteller,” Ollie, whose mom is Nigerian born, said.

“I try to tell a story in a way through young people. I went through bullying myself and it affected my mental health which is one reason I set up the group.”

 

However, filmmaking was never something he considered seriously before as he saw himself working as something totally different.

“I never wanted to become a filmmaker, I wanted to be a pilot – but I had this passion for storytelling. Three years ago I started a YouTube channel and also set up a podcast.

 

Ollie, who is inspired by Hollywood star and Killarney man Michael Fassbender, wrote a script in Irish about a broken home called ‘Briseadh’ and is hoping it’ll be featured in the Kerry and Galway film festivals, ‘Fresh’ in Limerick and ‘First Cut’ in Cork.

He also won an award for ‘Vantage’, a documentary filmed in Killarney about reusable clothes.

 

So it came as no surprise when Ollie won the Young Irish Film Bursary at the National Youth Film School in August.

 

“It was cool. I met the top 10 Irish filmmakers in Ireland. I want to go to Hollywood but why not make our own industry in Killarney. There’s a buzz taking a film from concept to the final film – to see it on the big screen gives me goose bumps.”

 

He added that the group receives good support from Killarney Library, but as they’re a self-funded group he’s hoping that Kerry County Council would help with future projects.

 

“We’ve no-where to go really. Killarney Library have been good to us. We’re working off no budget mostly. We’d like to get people from the industry to hold workshops and for that we need funding.”

 

 

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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