News
Double good news for Killarney filmmakers

It might be Oscars week in Hollywood but grassroots filmmaking in Killarney has a strong future too.
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.
News
Jessie Buckley to perform live on RTE this Friday 22nd September

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
News
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 […]

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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