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Deirdre O’Kane to be honoured at Kerry Film Festival

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The Board of Kerry Film Festival have revealed that the 2018 Maureen O’Hara Award will be presented to Deirdre O’Kane to acknowledge her contribution to the film and television industry and for her extraordinary talent, skill and determination.

The Kerry Film Festival inaugurated the Maureen O’Hara Award in 2008 in honour of the legendary O’Hara, one of Hollywood’s best-loved and most inspiring actresses. The award celebrates outstanding women working in film & television today.

Previous recipients include Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, French actress Juliette Binoche, writer/director Rebecca Miller, costume designer Consolata Boyle, actress Fionnula Flanagan and editor/director Emer Reynolds among others.

Deirdre O’Kane is an award-winning actress, comedian and TV presenter. She won an IFTA, Irish Academy Award, for Best Actress for her portrayal of humanitarian Christina Noble in Noble.

Her screen credits include Noble, Halal Daddy, The Lodgers, Festival, Intermission, Moone Boy (Sky), Younger (NBC US), and Paths to Freedom, while her theatre credits range from classical theatre to her acclaimed performance in the one woman show My Brilliant Divorce. She is one of Ireland's most successful stand-up comedians and is currently on tour with her brand new show, A Line of O’Kane. She also proved her superb dancing skills earlier this year when she danced her way into the finals of the popular Dancing With The Stars.

Deirdre’s talent and skills on screen has seen her secure key TV presenting roles in recent years across RTÉ and Virgin Media TV, and she has been the host of the annual IFTA Film Awards Ceremony for the past four years.

When presenting the 2018 IFTA Awards Ceremony, Deirdre paid tribute to her idol Maureen O’Hara in a widely acclaimed opening monologue, who had received the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award back in 2004.

On hearing that she is to receive the Maureen O’Hara Award, Deirdre said: “It is an absolute honour to receive this award which is named for such an inspiring screen legend. Maureen O’Hara achieved so much in her lifetime and was never afraid to speak her mind - she has paved the way for generations to come.”

Maeve McGrath, Artistic Director of the Kerry Film Festival said: “We are delighted to announce Deirdre O’Kane as the recipient of the 2018 Maureen O’Hara Award. Deirdre’s vibrant and creative talent, skill and persona epitomizes so many of the great qualities of Maureen O’Hara”

In presenting the Maureen O’Hara Award, the festival acknowledges the wealth of female talent in all sectors of the film and television industry, women in front of and behind the camera, who shine through for their exceptional talent and commitment to their craft.

The Kerry Film festival runs from October 17-21 in Killarney.

www.kerryfilmfestival.com  

www.facebook.com/KerryFilmFestival/

twitter.com/kerryfilmfest  

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Kia 261 preview event at McElligott’s

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McElligott’s are hosting The Kia 261 Preview Event on Saturday, October 11 from 10am to 5pm.

The one-day-only showcase will feature five of Kia’s newest and most anticipated models for 2026.

McElligott’s will be the first Kia dealership in the country to showcase these brand-new models.

This exclusive event offers visitors the chance to get up close with Kia’s latest innovations in both design and technology.

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Local families at risk of homelessness

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Fourteen families in Killarney are at risk of homelessness after eviction notices were issued.
The termination letters were sent by Xerico Ltd., a foreign landlord registered in Cyprus.

Every home in the Loreto Convent Estate has been served with a Notice of Termination which will make more than 40 people homeless. This includes infants, schoolchildren and people with disabilities.


The residents have set up a petition on change.org to fight against the eviction. ( Petition · Prevent a Mass Eviction by a Foreign Landlord – Protect Families and Killarney’s Heritage – Ireland · Change.org)


13 children currently attend the local national school, some of those students require additional supports.


Three of those students are looking to apply to secondary schools, however now they don’t know where to go.

For years, the neighbours have built a small, supportive community which is now under threat due to the eviction notices.


If the families are forced to move elsewhere, local businesses will lose also their employees.
Dorota Kowalczyk has lived in the estate for ten years and she described the situation as “very hard”.


“It’s a terrible thing to happen. We worry about it every day, especially for our children. We have loved living here; we love our neighbours. We looked after each other during Covid, we have barbecues, we celebrate birthdays, it’s our home.” She told the Killarney Advertiser.


The neighbours received their letters in stages, some in June and July. Dorota’s letter arrived in the mailbox at the end of September.


Ms Kowalczyk explained her life is in Killarney and she doesn’t want to go elsewhere, however it’s impossible to find a place to rent in the town.


In the current housing climate, Killarney faces a huge crisis, with limited stock available and soaring rents.


The residents say that forcing dozens more people into homelessness is not just unethical, it damages the towns stability and economy.


The families are calling on Kerry County Council and Killarney authorities to act immediately.


They believe the situation can be resolved by a Tenant-in-Situ purchase, an Approved Housing Body partnership or any other available mechanism.


They are urging the council to protect their families, safeguard their community, support local businesses and preserve Killarney’s heritage.


It is not the first time that the Cypriot property company has evicted several tenants.

The Dublin Inquirer reported last October that RTB figures revealed that tenants of Xerico Ltd. were issued eviction notices at a much higher rate than other landlords.

They also found that 191 eviction notices were issued in 2023, with a chunk of them cited as Part 4 tenancy ending.


The Killarney Advertiser has contacted the Home Club and Xerico Ltd. for comment.

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