Killarney took pride of place in both the film and literary categories of this year’s ‘Hot Press’ Readers’ Poll, with local connections winning two of the main national awards.

The Best Film award went to Hamnet , starring Killarney actress Jessie Buckley. Buckley’s performance as Agnes Shakespeare in the feature adaptation has been a major success, and Hot Press readers have now voted it their favourite movie of the year.

Meanwhile, author Joseph O’Connor won the Best Book category with his latest novel, The Ghosts of Rome.

O’Connor has a strong historical link to the area, as his recent books are based on Killarney humanitarian Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and his wartime exploits in Rome.

O’Connor has long championed the legacy of the Killarney native, whose memorial statue stands in the town centre.

The annual ‘Voices from the Friary’ charity concert will take place this Sunday, 24 May, with all proceedings going to support St Francis Special School in Beaufort.

The event, which starts at 8pm at The Friary, will feature the Kerry Concert Choir performing a varied program of choral music spanning classical and contemporary genres.

The evening will also include special performances by Sharon Lyons and the Kerry Scotia Ensemble.

The ensemble is currently preparing for an upcoming appearance at the Between Worlds Festival in Germany, which is organized by countertenor Nils Wanderer. Attendees at Sunday’s concert will be treated to a preview of the program selected for the German festival.

Alongside the music, a raffle will be held on the night featuring a variety of prizes, including a hamper worth over €100.

Tickets are priced at €20 for adults and €10 for children under 16. They can be purchased in advance via Eventbrite or directly at the door on the night. All profits from ticket sales and raffle proceeds will go directly to enhancing resources for the students at St Francis Special School.