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Students thought-provoking lockdown diary wins award

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AWARD: Students from The Sem, Gearoid Mulvihill, Kacper Bogalecki (Film Director), Colm Looney, Jason Lee, Patrick Kearney, Jack Lynch, Dara O’Callaghan, Cian McMahon, Jack O’Sullivan, pictured with Sean Coffey (Principal), are delighted to win a film award this week.

By Michelle Crean

A thought-provoking nine minute long video made by local students to share their lockdown experience has won a Youth Film Festival award.

Students from St Brendan's College learned of the news on Saturday last online that their entry won the First Cut! Youth Film Festival Best Schools Film Award.

"We were delighted to hear this and we're very thankful to all those who helped us make this film a reality," Fifth Year student Kacper Bogalecki told the Killarney Advertiser.
During last year's lockdown, the then group of TY students got together in hopes of making a thought-provoking film to answer the question, "Would it be ethical to return to how things were before COVID-19?".

"We met twice a week on Zoom for many months where we shared our lockdown experiences and simply used this moment to have a little chat. We wanted to get something done towards the end of our TY programme, and perhaps undertake a meaningful project. I think during lockdown we all had a chance to reflect on our lives and become more aware of what's going on around us."

Cognisant of the major on-going world problems which were present before the pandemic struck, he said that they wanted to bring the viewers' attention to these issues and why fundamental change is needed.

"With the help of Kerry Filmmaker in Residence, Mieke Vanmechelen, and our teacher Niamh Sheehy, we created the film titled, 'The Sem Film Project' highlighting the effects of climate change, war, and of course, the ongoing spread of COVID-19," he said.

"Through our film, we also wanted to illustrate the value of solidarity and the importance of community spirit by documenting our daily lives whilst living in isolation. Moreover, we hoped that our film would serve as a diary of how, and what young people were doing at the beginning of the pandemic when we were all first thrust into the new normal in which we live today."

The film can be watched on YouTube by searching 'The Sem Film Project'. 

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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