HOLLYWOOD COMES TO CHARLEVILLE
FILM STARS ARE LAUDED AT GLITTERING GAA CLUB FUNDRAISER
THERE was a tremendous atmosphere in the Charleville Park Hotel on Friday night last as in excess of a thousand people gathered for the ‘Hollywood Comes to Charleville’ fund raising event in aid of Charleville GAA Club.
Hollywood’s famous red carpet had nothing on Charleville for the glitz and glamour that was on display on the night.
The promise of a fantastic night of entertainment was certainly realised as the evening unfolded, with the cast of each succeeding film being greeted with thunderous applause and cheers of appreciation, as the audience recognised their peers on screen.
The local actors and actresses participated in seven films such as ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘Sister Act,’ ‘ The Snapper,’ ‘ The Field,’ ‘A Few Good Men,’ ‘Forest Gump, ‘Father Ted’ and a hilarious blooper movie in which the out takes showed the funniest moments not previously screened.
The films were directed by John Quinn and Shane Barkey, and filmed at various locations in and around Charleville town.
Like all Oscar nights there were awards and a judging panel consisting of local lady Gemma O’Shaughnessy, the only member of the panel with genuine film experience, former All-Ireland hurlers and now RTE GAA pundits Tomas Mulcahy and Michael Duignan of Offaly, and another local man, John Twomey of Colmanswell. They judged the best movie to be ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ with Cillian Dore as McMurphy being declared the best actor, while the best actress was Emma O’Keeffe in ‘ The Snapper.’
Shawn Healy was named the best supporting actor for his role in ‘A Few Good Men’ and the best supporting actress award was jointly won by Mary Collins and Brenda Hanotin for their roles in ‘Sister Act.’
The Field won the best costuming award and Angeline Hanley, also in Sister Act, won the award for the best comedy performance, and Peter O’Toole was the best extra. The best scene/location award went to Fr. Ted and T. J. Crowley.
The highest grossing movie award went to ‘ The Field’ and the People’s Choice Award was won by ‘A Few Good Men.’
The event was organised by an all-female committee of Sharon Berry, Aisling Carroll, Treasa McAuliffe, Yvonne Roche, Amanda Crowley, Oonagh Bresnan and Aileen Browne, who only got together in January. Ms Bresnan thanked her colleagues on the committee, their many sponsors, especially their main sponsors the Charleville Park Hotel and Supermacs, and all who supported their exciting and unique venture.
Mike Keane, the chairman of Charleville GAA Club, extended his thanks to the ladies of the committee for their commitment to the fund-raising for the club which will go towards improving facilities at their pitches in Baker’s Road, Charleville. “When I got the phone call from them in January it was like manna from heaven, as we were searching around for a big fund- raising effort, especially after the busy year we had in reaching the All-Ireland final of the Intermediate series and we thank them and all the people who supported their efforts in this hugely successful venture,” said Mr Keane.
“The organising committee were very rightly referred to as ‘ The Magnificent Seven,’ and they have proved it here tonight by the results they have produced,” he added.
He also thanked the many people who had volunteered to be in the cast of the various films for providing such great entertainment.