News
Restored 1930s movie to be screened for charity
EXCLUSIVE
By Sean Moriarty
Ireland’s first talking feature length movie - written and directed by Killarney man Tom Cooper in 1936 - will be screened at Killarney Cinema from today (Friday).
‘The Dawn’ is a story of the Irish War of Independence and was shot entirely in Killarney with the cast made up of local people only.
The original reel was destroyed in the World War Two Blitz in London but the Cooper family were lucky to have a copy and they had it restored by Kerry ETB around five years ago.
CHARITY
Every few years they offer to show a film in aid of a local charity to help them with fundraising.
Tommy Copper’s grandaughter Kathrine Cronin is a volunteer member of HeartBeat Killarney, and as a result the movie will enjoy a week long stint at her family’s cinema, operated by the director’s grandson and Kathrine’s cousin Tommy, on East Avenue, from September 3 to 9.
“We will only show this film in Killarney and will only do it for charity,” Kathrine told the Killarney Advertiser.
Tommy Copper was a man ahead of his time and his prime motive in making the film was to showcase Killarney as a tourism destination.
“He was always in England promoting the town and that is where he bought the camera,” added Kathrine. “They made their own tripod out of an axle from a car. My sister, Michelle Cooper-Galvin, still has it.”
HeartBeat Killarney president Billy O’Sullivan is looking forward to watching the movie. He remembers previous generations of his family talking about the film and some of his family even starred in it.
“Everything was done on a shoestring, it was filmed right across the street from the cinema,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “The whole town was involved as extras but nobody wanted to play a Black and Tan.”
The audience will be limited to just 50 people for each viewing.
Church seeks creative Christmas trees for festival
The Methodist Church in Killarney is inviting local schools, community groups, businesses, and individuals to create and submit decorated Christmas trees for an upcoming festive event on Countess Road.
The Christmas Tree Festival will take place at the church from December 4 to December 6.
Organiser Revd Alison Gallagher explained that the initiative aims to build on the success of the church’s Summer Fête, which raised several thousand euro for church funds and designated charity ADAPT Kerry.
Revd Gallagher previously directed a similar festival in Inishowen, County Donegal, which featured more than 50 unique tree entries from local schools, daycare centres, supermarkets, jewellers, and local services.
Revd Gallagher said: “In August, we had a very successful Summer Fête, and hundreds of people attended. That event raised several thousand euro for the church and our designated charity, ADAPT Kerry. We are now hoping to build on that success with this forthcoming festival, which will hopefully showcase the creativity and talent that exists in the town and surrounding area.”
Anyone interested in submitting a tree for the display can contact Revd Gallagher on 087 263 2906 or by email at alison.gallagher@irishmethodist.org.
€6,000 Scrooge Giveaway!
Six lucky audience members will each walk away with €1,000 as the Gleneagle Arena welcomes an extraordinary international production to Kerry this New Year.
Fancy starting 2027 with an extra €1,000 in your pocket? That’s exactly what’s on offer when the spectacular Scrooge: Cirque Extravaganza arrives at Killarney’s Gleneagle Arena from January 1 to 3.
In an extraordinary twist, one lucky audience member at every performance will win €1,000 in cash, drawn live on stage as part of the show. With six performances scheduled, an incredible €6,000 will be given away over three days!
Every ticket holder is automatically entered into the Lucky Seat draw, adding another reason to book what promises to be one of Kerry’s biggest family entertainment highlights of the festive season.
And what a show the Gleneagle Arena is bringing to Killarney!
Forget everything you know about traditional Christmas theatre. This breathtaking production transforms Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol into a dazzling spectacle of flying acrobats, fire breathers, gravity-defying circus performers, spectacular costumes, music and comedy.
Fresh from a successful 2025 season at ICC Wales, the production features an international cast of circus stars and West End performers, including former Cirque du Soleil artist Harvey Donnelly.
Critics have praised its spectacular staging, with Wales Online describing the production as “the Christmas show for people who think Christmas shows aren’t for them.”
Produced by Jon Conway, whose credits include Elf The Musical, the show also features a special connection to Dickens himself. His great-great-grandson, Gerald Dickens, has been involved as a consultant, helping preserve the magic of the original story.
Securing this major international production is another fantastic addition to the Gleneagle Arena’s entertainment calendar, giving Kerry families and visitors the opportunity to experience world-class theatrical entertainment without travelling to Dublin or abroad.
With tickets starting at €27.70, it’s an ideal Christmas gift and a spectacular way to welcome the New Year.
Scrooge: Cirque Extravaganza runs from January 1st to 3rd, 2027, at Gleneagle Arena, Killarney.
Book your tickets now through Ticketmaster.ie or gleneaglearena.ie.
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