Kelly award to ‘reaffirm Margaret’s path as an actor’

ACTRESS Margaret O’Sullivan has said the Eamonn Kelly bursary will reaffirm her path as an actor, after the Rathmore performer was named as the 2017 recipient of the prestigious accolade in Killarney last week.

The bursary, which is funded by Kerry County Council, has been in existence for over a decade and is named after legendary Gneeveguilla actor and Seanchaí Eamonn Kelly.

Its purpose is to support arts development in the Killarney Municipal District across the practices of music, song, dance, film, drama, and visual arts.

“I’m overwhelmed,” a thrilled Margaret said. “I’m really looking forward to attending the special is ed theatre training courses in Dublin and Cork that this grant will fund.

“It’s all about bringing this knowledge back home to Kerry, it reaffirms my path as an actor and helps me to progress my career as well as hopefully mentor and inspire others,” she added.

Eamonn Kelly’s sister, Bríd Sugrue, said ‘it was entirely fitting that the award went to an actor, and Ea mon would have been delighted to see the arts supported in his name’.

Killarney Municipal District Cathaoirleach Brendan Cronin presented the award, while Councillor Michael Gleeson and Killarney Arts Working Group members Aidan Reidy, Val Moynihan and Mary Murphy were also present.

Chairman of the Killarney Arts Working Group Councillor John Joe Culloty said “We will continue to ensure the Eamon Kelly Bursary remains part of the core arts support with Kerry County Council.”

Actor and playwright Michael Hilliard Mulcahy will provide free drama workshops in the town next month.

Michael is the current drama facilitator with the Killarney Municipal District, and he will offer the workshops on April 8 and April 9 after a successful run last month.

“We had a very successful series of workshops in February,” Michael said. “A great group came together to work on scenes and improvisation exercises,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces and new faces at the upcoming workshop.”

The workshops are open to anyone, from those with basic experience in acting to those who are as comfortable on stage as they are off it.

A maximum of 14 spaces have been made available. For more information or to book you place, please contact the Kerry County Arts Office at (066) 7183541, or through e-mail at arts@kerrycoco.ie.