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Hot Press accolade for talented singer-songwriter

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By Michelle Crean

Reading through old copies of Hot Press Magazine in school - singer-songwriter Donal Lucey could only imagine back then that he'd one day make their pages.

His dream came to fruition last week when the young popular musician from Muckross Road was named in the '#hotfor2022 list!' in the iconic magazine.

Donal, son of Danny and Joan Lucey in Muckross, is currently writing and recording an EP which he hopes to release this summer. The third year student in MTU Cork School of Music has dreams to hit the big time but for now is concentrating on getting back gigging now that places are opening up.

He explained that the last two years have been tough with no live gigs to help him master his craft but is now, after releasing 'Another Love Song' in 2019 and 'Politics of the Heart' in 2021, he's looking forward to the future.

His musical frame of reference is diverse: he has been heavily influenced by modern singer-songwriters like Ed Sheeran and Dermot Kennedy; by hip-hop artists Eminem and Jay-Z; and by indie rockers like Bon Iver and The Lumineers.

Donal, who turned 21 on Wednesday, was featured as 'A New Local Hero' which was part of a feature of Irish Music Month a programming initiative for the month of October, which saw Hot Press join forces with 25 radio stations.

"I was on the train home from college when I heard I'd made the list," Donal told the Killarney Advertiser.
"I waited until I got home and kept it a surprise for my family. They were delighted."

English class in The Sem inspired him to one day make the iconic magazine's pages.

"The back of Seamus Grealy's English class in The Sem there were lots of old Hot Press magazines. There would be big names on it such as U2. I always dreamed that one day it'd be me."

For now he's happy to be listed as one to watch but is dreaming of gracing the front cover one day.

"I have another year in college and I've met so many who are like minded and are helping me with my EP. Things are working out. I'm hoping as things open up I can push on with it. Hopefully when I finish college I can play abroad or big venues. I've supported my brother [Tom Lucey] in the INEC but to play my own gig there would be huge. Any gig at all is huge for me. The whole Hot Press thing is a stepping stone and also a bit of hard work has to go behind it."

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Chamber pays tribute to late Dick Henggeler

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, USA surrounded by his Aghadoe-born wife Eibhlin (née Moriarty), their son Franz, and other family members.
Dick and Eibhlin purchased The Rose Hotel in 2015 in tribute to their late daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington DC in the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Chamber said Mr Henggeler would be remembered for his warmth, good nature and positive approach, as well as for being a forward-thinking and knowledgeable businessman.
“He knew how to run a good hotel and that was and still is very obvious at The Rose Hotel, which is a great success story,” the Chamber said.
It added that continuity of ownership will remain in place, with Eibhlin, Franz, daughter-in-law Amber, and grandchildren Conrad and Rowan continuing to honour Dick’s legacy and vision for the hotel.
“Dick took enormous personal pride in Tralee and all of Kerry and he was always available to generously support any community initiative or endeavour undertaken in Killarney,” the Chamber said.
“He will be greatly missed by all that knew him but he leaves a wonderful legacy.”

He will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, on Friday (October 17), from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral will arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning at 10:00am for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed at https://www.churchservices.tv/killarneycathedral.

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Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

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Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

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