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Teresa McGrane to receive 2026 Maureen O’Hara Award
Teresa McGrane to receive 2026 Maureen O’Hara Award
Former Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland Teresa McGrane has been named as the recipient of the 2026 Maureen O’Hara Award.
The award, which celebrates women who have made outstanding contributions to the film and television industries, will be presented as part of a special interview event during the 27th annual Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF).
McGrane served as Deputy CEO of Screen Ireland for more than two decades, overseeing significant expansion in national film production and talent development. Since 2023, she has held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Wild Atlantic Pictures, whose recent credits include Lee Cronin’s The Mummy and Saipan. She was also awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry accolade by the animation sector in 2023.
Responding to the announcement, McGrane said: "I am delighted to be the recipient of this year's award. It comes at a time for me personally where reflection on the past 25 years of growth in the industry is enormously satisfying. I acknowledge the hard work, duty and service of past Chairpersons, Boards, CEO’s and wonderful staff at Screen Ireland who served the industry with enormous dedication and commitment. Heartfelt thanks to the Kerry International Film Festival for this beautiful award in this very special place."
The presentation and public interview, facilitated by producer Lesley McKimm, will take place on Friday, October 16, at 7pm in Randles Hotel.
KIFF launches REEL TALK industry series
Kerry International Film Festival has introduced REEL TALK, a new series of panel discussions, workshops, and industry sessions taking place across the four-day event.
The initiative aims to connect emerging talent, crew, and creative professionals with established industry figures to discuss practical career development, regional production, and independent filmmaking.
All REEL TALK events take place at ANAM on New Street and are free to attend, though advance registration is required via the festival website.
REEL TALK Schedule Highlights
Thursday, October 15
12.30pm | The State of the County: Seán Mulchinock from Screen Kerry delivers a presentation detailing regional production opportunities, local funding avenues, and skill development programmes.
1.00pm | The Kerry Crew Experience: A panel exploring inter-departmental collaboration on set. Featuring script editor Kate Leys, costume designer Michelle Navarro, and intimacy coordinator Bronagh McAuley.
2.15pm | Script & Story Masterclass: Script and story editor Kate Leys (Whitetail) breaks down the process of screenplay development and story engineering. Delivered in collaboration with NTA Crew South, an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland managed by Film in Limerick.
3.30pm | Making Diatribe: Building an Independent Feature: Director Shaun O’Connor, producer Mo O’Connell, and writer Paul Cahill share a case study of their independent feature shot entirely in County Kerry. Supported by the National Talent Academy for Film & TV.
Saturday, October 17
11.00am | Storyboard Masterclass: Hollywood storyboard artist John Coven (Jurassic World, The Lion King, Logan) leads a session on visual storytelling. Supported by the National Talent Academy for Animation.
3.15pm | Inclusive Filmmaking Case Study: Director Aisling Byrne and team unpack the creation of Oscar-qualifying psychological thriller Mary is Missing, produced by inclusive arts organisation Run of the Mill.
Festival launch set for September 22
Organisers of the Kerry International Film Festival have confirmed that the full 2026 screening lineup and schedule will be officially unveiled on Tuesday, September 22.
The festival takes place across multiple venues in town from October 15 to 18. This year’s edition is supported by principal funders the Arts Council of Ireland, Kerry County Council, and Fáilte Ireland, with headline sponsorship provided by Kerry Airport.
Ticket bookings for all announced events, including the free REEL TALK sessions, are now open on the official festival website at kerryfilmfestival.com.
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak Resource Awards, securing a spot on the national shortlist for environmental achievement.
The local waste management company has been nominated in the Best Recovery Operator Innovation category, sponsored by DNV, for its state-of-the-art residual waste recovery system.
The Killarney facility utilizes optical sorting, screening, and mechanical processing to extract recyclable plastics and organic material from municipal waste. In its first year of operation, the technology recovered more than 10 per cent of plastic packaging from residual waste for recycling and diverted almost 50 per cent of organic material toward composting.
KWD Recycling will compete alongside Dublin operators Panda and Thorntons Recycling for the category title.
Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh commended the Kerry firm for demonstrating environmental leadership and bringing local ambition to the national awards.
Category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, October 23, where each winner will also compete for the Overall Repak Resource Award.
Local businesses have a strong track record at the national event, with Killarney town venue The Killarney Park and The Ross previously taking home the overall title in 2023.
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
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