THE new boy wonder of Hollywood is to take cente stage in Killarney.
Rising star actor Barry Keoghan, fresh from standout performances in Dunkirk and The Killing of A Sacred Deer, has been confirmed as one of the celebrity judges for a novel fundraising initiative organised by Kilcummin and Glenflesk GAA Club.
The Night at the Oskars – the first time an event of its kind has been held in the county – will be staged in the INEC on Thursday, March 29 and proceeds will go to both clubs.
The young Dublin screen sensation will be joined on the night by fellow judges Maeve McGrath of the Kerry Film Festival and Killarney stage and screen actor, Donal Courtney.
Adding to the glitz on the night will be reigning Dancing With The Stars champion, Aidan O’Mahony, and his wife, Denise, who will cast their eyes over and choose the best dressed patrons on the night. Up to 2,000 people are expected to walk the red carpet and the audience will get to enjoy the premieres of seven short films, starring over 80 local actors from the two parishes.
The three main judges tasked with deciding the stand-out films and performances on the night. Rehearsals are well underway, filming is about to begin and tickets have gone on sale for what is expected to be a memorable night.
They will feature in excerpts from some of the classic films which will be all professionally shot on film for the big screen.
Barry Keoghan first came to prominence in TV crime drama Love/Hate and now he’s making movies with Christopher Nolan, Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell.
Maeve McGrath, the Kerry Film Festival’s Artist Director, brings extensive experience in film production and film festival management. She has acted in Colm Tobin’s Brooklyn and has several short and feature-length film credits to her name as well as playing the part of Lorraine Molloy in Irish soap Fair City.
Donal Courtney from Killarney has retuned numerous times to his native county recently with his outstanding one-man performance of God Has No Country. A master of both stage and screen, Donal’s own film and TV credits include Cutting Grass, There Gift, Fair City and Maru.
“We’re so pleased and honoured to have secured three judges who are all major forces in the world of acting and film,” said Niamh Dwyer of the Oskars organising committee.
“The bar has really been raised now and the level of commitment from all of the actors so far has been phenomenal. We can feel the excitement building and there’s no doubt but this will be a night to remember,” Niamh added.
The event is sponsored by KWD and tickets, priced at €25, have already gone on sale at several venues, including the INEC Box Office. Tickets can also be purchased at Kilcummin Post Office, O Brien’s, Glenflesk, Who’s for Shoes, High Street and Variety Sounds, College Street, Killarney.
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