News
Film set on the Lakes of Killarney hoping for international release
By Sean Moriarty
A Killarney film maker and director is hoping his new movie – set in his home town – will be picked up by various international film festivals in the Autumn.
Charlie O’Brien, though currently based in Mexico, grew up on New St.
An acclaimed musician, he also has narrated documentaries for TG4.
His film, Macalla Chill Áirne is set on a Victorian era boat tour through Killarney's lakes.
There are six people on board the boat, the boatmen speak Irish, the women English. One boatmen's brother is on the run from the police, one of the ladies has lost her wedding ring. The film features Irish language performance poet Seámus Barra Ó Súilleabháin as the main actor.
“In 2010 I presented and narrated the TG4 documentary, Saol John Riley’, which told the story of the San Patricio Battalion of the Mexican American War of 1847. I had written a song about those Irish Soldiers of Mexico and that’s how I was contacted to present the film,” O’Brien told the Killarney Advertiser.
“Since then I've made two other documentaries. ¨A Captain Unafraid¨ concerns an Irish-American sea captain who came to play a seminal role in the Cuban War of Independence. I wrote a song many moons ago about Captain ¨Dynamite¨ and the film eventually grew out of that. The other documentary ¨The Green Fields of Cuba¨ explored Irish music in Cuba along with the Irish American Tra group ¨The Green Fields of America.¨
He has entered the film in to several international festivals but he is still waiting for confirmation if he has been accepted or not.
“The festivals it has been in are online ones so far, so public release has yet to come. I'm hoping the film will be exhibited at many other film festivals over the autumn/winter,” he added. "I´ll find out in the next couple of months as they let me know -I´ve entered 20 or so.”
Local hospitality nominated for Good Food Ireland awards
Several Killarney hotels and restaurants have been shortlisted for the Good Food Ireland 20th Anniversary Awards 2026.
The annual awards recognise businesses that feature Irish food and drink as part of their visitor service.
In the luxury accommodation categories, Muckross Park Hotel and The Europe Hotel and Resort have both received nominations for 5 Star Irish Hospitality Experience of the Year and Hotel Restaurant Experience of the Year.
In the town centre, The Mad Monk has been shortlisted for Best Irish Seafood Experience.
The Brehon Hotel has been named a finalist in the Wild Atlantic Way category.
And the Kerry Creamery Experience has also been nominated for the Irish Culinary Tourism Innovation Award for its work showcasing local dairy heritage.
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at the InterContinental Dublin on Monday, November 16
Holy Cross Mercy announces return of Memory Tree initiative
Holy Cross Mercy National School has announced details for its 2026 Killarney Memory Tree, the annual Christmas fundraising hosted at the New Road school.
The initiative offers local residents the opportunity to purchase lights on the tree to commemorate loved ones over the festive season.
The official switch-on ceremony takes place at the school on Wednesday, December 9 at 7pm. Fr Seán Murphy will lead prayers, accompanied by festive carols by candlelight.
A special mass for all those commemorated on the tree will be celebrated in St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday, December 17 at 1pm. The service will be open to the public and streamed online via the Killarney Parish website.
The Memory Tree will remain lit each evening until January 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
Lights can be purchased directly from the pupils, staff, or the school office at Holy Cross Mercy National School on New Road, with all proceeds going towards school development.
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