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Donie’s influence lives on

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By Aidan Quirke

Killarney’s thespians and writers lit up the stage on Wednesday night in the Gleneagle Hotel in what was a fitting tribute to a much loved local actor.

STANDING OVATION: The 200-strong audience gave a standing ovation at the Four Esquire Productions performance in the Gleneagle on Wednesday night.

An audience of over 200 came along to appreciate the first live production post-pandemic by local troupe Four Esquire Productions.

It was poignant to many that this series of three short plays came just weeks after the passing of local actor, writer and director of West End House School of Arts, Donie Courtney.

His influence could be seen in the young faces that graced the stage, some who are also students at the drama school - a fitting tribute to the inspirational Killarney man.

The first play, 'The Letter D', was a farce based on a retired rug seller selling off his stock online. The only issue was he advertised drugs and not rugs which caught the eye of the local garda, drug dealer and party goer. It held up well with a great turn from emerging talent Killian Fleming and Ryan Jones. Brian Bowler as the local garda and Martin O’Brien kept everyone laughing.

The second play about a disillusioned hospitality worker was less farce and more introspective with two young actors, Dylan Shortt and Sean Gannon holding the audience’s gaze. Many will be watching with keen interest how these two talented actors will progress as both performances were excellent.

The best laughs were saved for last with ‘Bin Wars’ a darkly comic farce about two neighbours fighting over their wheelie bins. Events take a turn for the worst in violent comic fashion.

The timing of the lead actors was impeccable, Danny McClure, Paul Spitere, Anne Browne, and Otis Ikogho had the audience in stitches.

A standing ovation on the night left no one in doubt that Four Esquires Productions has come back in strong form.

It is a great shot in the arm for the arts in Killarney with young and old talent showing great commitment.

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Jessie Buckley to perform live on RTE this Friday 22nd September

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This Culture Night, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh will present an hour-long live music and arts programme from Dún Lúiche in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.  

Actress and singer Jessie Buckley has been added to the list of stellar musicians who will perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra on the night. Jessie will perform a special rendition of a Sinéad O’Connor song in tribute to the late artist. 

Jessie commented: “I am very honoured to return to Culture Night 2023 to remember Sinéad O Connor with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Sinéad was such a huge influence on so many women in Ireland and across the world, her courage, her mind, her politics and her intense beauty and soul. She was a warrior to humanity. I remember hearing her for the first time and feeling her uncompromising need to connect and affect. Recognising what couldn’t be said and speaking it out loud. I am so grateful for all her fire and all her love. It is such a privilege to return to Ireland for RTÉ Culture Night in Donegal to sing a song of gratitude for Sinéad and her family and friends.” 

Other artists performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra include The Murder Capital, R&B singer and 2FM Rising star Aby Coulibaly and Irish-based Ukrainian musician Olesya Zdorovetska.  

Friday 22nd September, 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player 

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N22 Killarney to Faranfore road further delayed

The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again. Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project […]

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The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again.

Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project were identified and were put out to public consultation in May 2021. These have now been whittled down to just one.

It was previously promised that the preferred route would be published late last year.

This dragged on in to the Spring and there is still no sigh of the preferred route being revealed.

A recent Kerry County Council meeting a council official explained that there are further funding requirements to allow the council complete various reports and investigations required before the road can move to its next phase.

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