Connect with us

News

Stunning “Hollywood” style home makes RTÉ final

Published

on

0221356_Episode-1-Tony-and-Imogen-McManus-Kerry-8.jpg

By Michelle Crean

A couple who brought “Hollywood Hills to Kerry” were thrilled when their stunning new home made the final of an RTÉ show on Tuesday night.

The house, which has a traditional exterior but a very modern and contemporary feel inside with a large open plan throughout includes an “American vibe with the carport and big garage”, a cinema room, a basketball area outside, and a gym in the garage, impressed the judges on Home of the Year.

Judges, architect Hugh Wallace, award winning architect Amanda Bone, and new judge, award winning interior designer Sara Cosgrove, who seek out creativity and clever design, loved it so much that they marked it 26 out of 30 beating two other competing homes in the first episode of the new series.

Hugh said there was an “American vibe with the carport and big garage”. And given that the owners Tony McManus, his wife Imogen and their son Kai, moved from LA back to Kerry, he was spot on.

Tony, originally from Ballyduff, emigrated to LA 20 years ago but “home was always where the heart is” and during a six month stay in Kerry to spend quality time with relatives, they decided to pack up their beach life to settle in Killarney.

And Tony is no stranger to town. His grandparents Dan and Josephine Foley, and mom Marie came from High Street and he himself was a boarder for five years in The Sem finishing school in the early ‘90s.

“We’re back to where we wanted to be,” Tony told the Killarney Advertiser this week. “We moved in January 2019 for six months for my son to spend time with his grandparents. Then my son and wife came to me and said they didn’t want to go back. We were looking for a while to buy a house and my wife wanted to be near Killarney National Park.”

The couple purchased a site on Ross Road and hired the services of Denis O’Sullivan of Crossmount Construction who managed to bring their vision to life. The build began in November 2020 and was completed in December 2021 with a three month shut down due to the pandemic restrictions.

“He was fantastic to work with,” Tony said.

“It turned out better than we hoped. We had nothing but the best of experiences with contractors and talented tradespeople. Without them we wouldn’t have our beautiful home. We love it, we’re so fortunate.”

The new series of Home of the Year airs on RTÉ One at 8.30pm on Tuesday nights for the next seven weeks, and will be available on-demand on RTÉ Player each week after broadcast.

Advertisement

News

New St author brings Fitzgerald’s story to life

Talented Killarney author Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, who has penned a fascinating book on the life and times of The Great Gatsby writer F Scott Fitzgerald, has said there is strong […]

Published

on

Talented Killarney author Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, who has penned a fascinating book on the life and times of The Great Gatsby writer F Scott Fitzgerald, has said there is strong anecdotal evidence that the great American wordsmith had Kerry roots.

There has been suggestions that Fitzgerald’s family can traced to Horse Island off Ballinskelligs and research is ongoing to determine if the famous novelist, essayist and short story writer gave any indication of his Kerry connection during his lifetime.
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, formerly of New Street, Killarney and now residing in Beaufort, is the author of Gatsby: Death of an Irishman which was released in March to coincide with the 100th anniversary of publication of Fitzgerald’s most famous work.
O’Sullivan Greene’s research found that Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was initially deeply ashamed of his Irish connection but his views softened when he took an interest in revolutionary politics.
The Killarney man’s book guides the reader through F Scott Fitzgerald’s troubled upbringing, his quest for status, his ambivalence towards his Irish heritage, the socio-political climate of early 20th-century America and the careless jazz era excesses portrayed in The Great Gatsby.
The book peels back the intricate layers of Fitzgerald’s character, revealing the underlying themes of identity and self-rejection in his work, his shifting views of Irish issues and how his personal battles influenced his writing and contributed to his tragic life.
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene will deliver what promises to be an engaging talk on the life and times of F Scott Fitzgerald in the ANAM Arts and Cultural Centre in Killarney on Thursday, July 3 at 6.45pm.
Part of the Celebration of Irish and American Friendship programme, the free lecture is titled Revolution, Rejection and Revival and it will mark a celebration of 100 years of The Great Gatsby.
The event will also include a glamorous 1920’s dance spectacular, tuition on how to dance the Charleston and a live performance by Killarney’s own Liberace, Jack Patrick Healy. The master of ceremonies for the event will be Radio Kerry’s Brendan Fuller.
The author will also share the story of how F Scott Fitzgerald’s grandson, Thomas Manhan, came to Ireland to learn Irish following his graduation in 1964.

Continue Reading

News

U2’s The Edge among new Irish Citizens

U2 guitarist The Edge, whose real name is David Howell-Evans, was among over 7,500 people granted Irish citizenship this week at the INEC. The ceremonies took place on Monday and […]

Published

on

U2 guitarist The Edge, whose real name is David Howell-Evans, was among over 7,500 people granted Irish citizenship this week at the INEC.

The ceremonies took place on Monday and Tuesday this week
Applicants from over 143 countries and across all 32 counties on the island of Ireland are making a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the State to become Irish citizens.
Seven ceremonies were held over the two days. Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, is joined by Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, and Minister of State for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice, Niall Collins.
“Today’s ceremony was very moving, the room was full of so many people, everyone from different backgrounds, with different stories. It was a privilege to be a part of it and to experience the collective joy as we all became citizens together. I moved to Ireland with my parents as a baby, so it’s not a stretch to say that this is long overdue! I have always felt Irish, Ireland will always be home to me and I’m so grateful for that,” said The Edge.
Ahead of the ceremonies, Minister O’Callaghan said:: “This ceremony marks an important milestone in the lives of those receiving Irish citizenship. For each new citizen it signifies a deep connection to Ireland, its values, and its people. Ireland welcomes our new citizens as full members of society, and their contributions will undoubtedly strengthen the fabric of our nation. I encourage all new citizens to continue to actively engage in their communities so that, together, we can build a thriving society.”
Minister Brophy congratulated the new citizens, adding: “Migration plays an essential role in Ireland’s development. It strengthens our economy, enriches our cultural diversity, and deepens our sense of solidarity. We are proud to welcome each new citizen as valued members of our communities.”
Judge Paddy McMahon was the Presiding Officer for the ceremonies. administered the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State, where new citizens commit to observing Irish laws and respecting its democratic values.
The Citizenship Division has seen a significant increase in applications, processing over 20,000 in 2023 and nearly 31,000 in 2024, up from around 12,000 annually just over two years ago.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport