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Drama group try their hand at experimental theatre

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By Michelle Crean

One local drama group undeterred by the COVID restrictions has turned the tradition of appearing on stage on its head - and will instead come to directly to the audience!

It will be a case of experimental theatre for Killarney Drama Circle who plan to raise the virtual curtain on its latest production, 'The Secret Garden in Baa-lorglin', to be performed this week.

And the venue? Your living room - or the supermarket car park - or any other place that you happen to find comfortable on Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday 4 at 7.30pm.

The play, written by Uzbekistan-born director and producer Rayla Tadjimatova, takes the form of puppet theatre and is the second episode (the first being staged in 2019) in the lives of Rodger, an alien, and the friends he made in Baa-lorglin on his first visit to earth in search of company. Rodger has returned to Baa-lorglin only to find his friends, Bee and Baa, Katie Daly, Alice the Dreamer, Jazzy and Daniel O’Donnell distraught. What has happened to the earth during his short absence! It seems that only Lucy Lu, who helped Rodger on his first visit to the earth, can save them all.

Rehearsals for the 10-strong group have been taking place twice a week since September and, in the challenging times faced by all, many hours have been ploughed into performing in an unusual environment – via video link. The process is limiting in terms of theatrical space and only a director can properly acknowledge the frustrations of being unable to coach with the physical. Nonetheless, it is a product of the moment, and theatre is nothing if not experimental.

Director Rayla Tadjimatova, who has lived in Killarney for more than 20 years and who recently staged 'The Other War', has met the challenges head-on, rehearsing with actors via Zoom-link one-to-one and with the entire cast, which includes Sylvia Thompson (Narrator); Margaret Slattery (Daniel O’Donnell); Geraldina Harnett (Lucy Lu); Mary Wood (Katie); Michael Lynch (Jazzy); Terrie Shirtliff (Alice); Sheila Barclay and Carl Herpels (Bee and Baa), and Janet Murphy (Rodger).

"There has been a lot of laughter along the way and technology has provided much of it," Janet Murphy from Killarney Drama Circle said.

"Like everything in life, there are pros and cons to online theatre, and a big pro is being able to enjoy the experience on cold, dark evenings with your slippers on and a cup of tea or, perhaps, a small glass of wine, within your grasp."

Performances, supported by Kerry Arts Council, are by invitation only.

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Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

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Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

RETIREMENT NIGHT: Pictured at the retirement party held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday, October 3, celebrating a combined 185 years of service with An Post, are Connie Brady, James Foley, Terry Potts, Pat Cronin, and D.J. Cahill.


Five well-known local postmen celebrated their retirement at a special function held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday night, October 3.


The event brought together current and former An Post colleagues to mark the combined total of 185 years of service delivered across Killarney and surrounding areas.
Delivery Services Manager Terry Potts retired after 43 years with An Post. He began his career in Dublin, where he worked for 10 years, before moving to Killarney in 1993 for a further 33 years.
Pat Cronin completed an impressive 51 years of service between Killarney and Farranfore, spending 44 of those years delivering post on the Farranfore route.
James Foley served 35 years with An Post, delivering on routes across Killorglin throughout his entire career.
D.J. Cahill marked 32 years of service based out of Killarney post office, delivering mail across Killarney town, Killorglin, Kilcummin, and Headford.
Connie Brady retired following 24 years with the postal service, spending 17 years in Killarney town before completing his service in Killorglin.
The celebration offered local postal staff an opportunity to gather and catch up ahead of the busy Christmas rush.

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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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