Award-winning Irish actress Fiona Shaw will take centre stage in Killarney this month as part of the Kerry International Film Festival where she will be presented as the recipient of the 2025 Maureen O’Hara Award.

An exclusive event In Conversation with Fiona Shaw will take place at Randles Hotel on October 23.

The evening will include a drinks reception followed by an intimate conversation with Ms Shaw where attendees will get to hear directly from the actress herself.

Ms Shaw is widely recognised as one of Ireland’s greatest actors.

She is best known for her roles in the Harry Potter series, My Left Foot, The Butcher Boy, and many more.

The Maureen O’Hara Award was established by KIFF in 2008 to celebrate women who have excelled in the film and television industries.

Previous recipients include Brenda Fricker, Jessie Buckley, Fionnula Flanagan, and most recently producer Rebecca O’Flanagan in 2024.

KIFF will be closing the programme with Park Avenue on October 19 at Cinema Killarney, where Shaw plays a dazzling yet difficult mother whose secrets threaten to unravel her relationship with her daughter Charlotte.

Ailbhe Keoghan, chair of KIFF, is honoured to welcome Fiona to Killarney.

She said: “She is a generational talent and a national treasure; we’re fortunate to have her.”

Spaces are limited for the event. Tickets are €25 and can be purchased on kerryfilmfestival.com. The 26th KIFF runs from October 16 to 19.

Killarney library will be part of the Children’s Book Festival which is taking place across all libraries in Kerry this month.

Authors, storytellers, illustrators and artists will be in attendance at Killarney every Saturday from 11am to 2pm.

There will be stem toys and board games for families.

Many of the events this year have been inspired by authors and illustrators who have used their creativity to conjure up new and exciting worlds for young readers.

Many exciting events are on offer for both schools and families, from creative writing workshops to meeting famous Irish authors there is something for everyone.

In 2025 there will be visits from Emma Cullinane, Peter Donnelly, Tatyana Feeney, Claire Glynn, Shane Hegarty, Emma Larkin, Felicia Thomas, and Michael Smith.

More details can be found on Kerry library’s website.

The annual Children’s Book Festival helps spread the enjoyment of books and reading among children and families by authors and illustrators, teachers, and librarians all over Ireland.

The Kerry Library Children’s Book Festival Programme is funded by Kerry Library, Creative Ireland, and the Healthy Ireland at Your Library Programme.