News
Double good news for Killarney filmmakers
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.
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.
Frustration mounts over morning gridlock at Coolcorcoran
Mounting traffic gridlock at the Coolcorcoran junction onto the N22 Killarney Bypass is causing daily delays for commuters, with local motorists calling on Killarney Municipal District and elected representatives to take immediate action.
Early morning traffic coming from the Tralee side has become severely backed up past BG Motors during the peak 8.15am commute.
Motorists attempting to enter the bypass from the Coolcorcoran side face long queues and increasing frustration as they struggle to join the main road.
Local drivers point to a specific design issue at the exit, where a raised kerb and a section of unused footpath prevent left-turning vehicles from merging smoothly into the traffic flow.
Road users are requesting a simple layout modification to resolve the bottleneck: converting the exit to left-turn only, removing the kerb obstruction, and directing driver traffic to loop via a U-turn at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre roundabout. Similar left-turn measures were previously implemented at the nearby Lewis Road junction to improve safety and traffic flow.
The request comes as broader plans for the N22 bypass upgrade and new link road infrastructure remain under progression by Kerry County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Motorists wishing to share their views on local road issues can email info@killarneyadvertiser.ie.
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