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Double good news for Killarney filmmakers

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It might be Oscars week in Hollywood but grassroots filmmaking in Killarney has a strong future too.

FINALS: Young Killarney filmmakers Glen Bowler and Luke Courtney have been selected for the final at the Fresh International Film Festival next month.

This week, three different filmmakers from the locality won awards in two different competitions.

Rachel Griffin has won the First Cut Film Festival award for 'Best Music Video'.

Rachel composed the song ‘Two Fools, One Lie’ as well as performing in and directing the video. Featuring a group of her friends, it stars the talented Sinead Marie and Dylan Shortt in lead roles.

Made in Killarney last spring, it involved a lot of collaboration and organisation with other local film fanatics.

Patrick O’Connor-Mason from Kenmare filmed and edited the video and his film ‘Dyslexia and Me’ was also screened at First Cut.

Rachel and many of her friends are members of Killarney-based youth film group SONAR (Scannánóirí Óga Na Ríochta) which is directed by Kerry County Council Filmmaker in Residence Mieke Vanmechelen and based at ANAM Cultural Centre.

Many of the group are also part of Prom Queen, a Jukebox Musical which was staged at the INEC and is managed by Katrin Maria Pietzonka. Both groups are ambitious and garnering attention nationally, highlighting the positive impact of creative youth engagement and the benefits of mentorship.

"Rachel is a major driving force within our group SONAR," Mieke said. "She is so talented and radiates positivity and generosity, this is a well-deserved win."

Rachel’s award was presented to her by festival director Mary McGrath at The Regal Cinema in Youghal.

SONAR’s films will be on the big screen at Fresh International Film Festival taking place from March 27 to April 1 at the Belltable Arts Centre in Limerick.

Meanwhile, another film by young Killarney filmmaker Glen Bowler will also be shown at the Fresh International Film Festival.

His short film, ‘The Legend of Patrick Greenwood’ will go through to the 2023 Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year award at Fresh on March 30.

The final will be broadcast on RTÉ in April.

Luke Courtney, who was recently on work experience at the Killarney Advertiser, also received good news along with other students from Transition Year in St Brendan’s College.

They were awarded the audience award in the Virtual Regional Final of the Fresh Film competition for their film ‘When the Chapel Glows’.

Luke who also acted in ‘The Legend of Patrick Greenwood’ attended the premiere of ‘When the Chapel Glows’ at the Belltable Arts Centre in Limerick this week when the film was also shortlisted in the Munster section of the regional finals ahead of the main event later this month.

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Concerns over future of St Mary of the Angels

Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for […]

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Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for children and adults with profound disabilities and special needs.

The campus, set on lands generously donated by the Doyle family, offers 30 acres of grounds, existing buildings, and services, making it a valuable asset for the provision of respite care in Kerry. TD Michael Cahill emphasized that the Doyle family’s wishes should be respected, and that the grounds should be made accessible immediately.
“The special needs community in Kerry has a major respite crisis and families don’t have time to wait. Families need help — they are not asking for full-time residential care but respite care, a break, a helping hand,” Deputy Cahill said.
He added that a bespoke approach is needed to meet the individual needs of children attending St Francis Special School. “Many of the children in the county with profound needs need a safe haven where they can roam the grounds freely, and St Mary of the Angels offers this.”
Deputy Cahill has accompanied several Ministers to the Beaufort campus to highlight its value to Disability Health Service providers. A working group has been formed including St John of Gods, the HSE, representatives of residents at St Mary of the Angels, and St Francis Special School, to explore options for maintaining and expanding respite services.
“Parents are worn out and at the end of their tether. This needs to be dealt with expeditiously, in an environment of cooperation between the relevant Government Departments of Health, Disability, and Education. We need to get this across the line urgently and put it permanently in place,” he said.
Deputy Cahill pointed to the current shortfall of respite services in Kerry. “As of now, Cunamh Iveragh respite in Cahersiveen is only open Friday to Sunday, running at half capacity — two adults per night instead of four. The issue is staffing, and the HSE will not release funding to open full-time. The Beaufort campus is available and should be utilised as parents are crying out for overnight respite. Cooperation and compassion could see this done quickly.”
TD Danny Healy Rae echoed these concerns during a Dáil speech this week. “We are still short of respite beds on the southern side of the constituency. Families caring for people with disabilities just want a break, but there is nowhere available locally. Places are being offered only in Tipperary or Meath for those needing new residential care. It makes no sense. St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort has 40 or 50 acres of grounds that could be expanded, with facilities already in place such as swimming pools. It could be developed as a model for the rest of the country.”
Both TDs are urging the Government and the HSE to take immediate action to utilise the Beaufort campus for respite care, in line with the intentions of the Doyle family and the needs of Kerry families.

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Cardiac Response Unit’s ‘Restart a Heart’ training event

Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) is set to run a range of events as part of the global initiative Restart A Heart, which aims to increase awareness and actual rates […]

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Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) is set to run a range of events as part of the global initiative Restart A Heart, which aims to increase awareness and actual rates of bystander CPR worldwide.

The main event, titled RAH 2025, invites the public to learn life-saving skills and the basic steps in the chain of survival. This will take place on Saturday, October 18, at the Killarney Outlet Centre.
Members of the public are encouraged to join KCRU at the centre between 10:00 am and 5pm.
Key feature of the day will be the CPR Competition, offering “fantastic prizes to be won.”
For further information, visit www.killarneycru.ie/rah25

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