Sneem rolls out red carpet for Oskars

LIGHTS, camera, and plenty of action was the order of things at the Sneem Oskars where the best in local acting talent combined to raise over €11,000 for special organisations.

Billed as an event not to be missed, the pre-Oskars hype certainly lived up to its reputation with space at a premium in the Sneem Hotel, and demand for tickets lasting right up until a few hours before the show started.

In the same way that Strictly Come Dancing gives people who are not dancers an opportunity to strut their stuff, A Night at the Oskars makes actors out of people unfamiliar with the genre.

Cameraman Brendan Galvin has been working on the Sneem Oskars since last October with Stephanie Cahill and Ann Browne. They filmed in areas like Blackwater, Sneem, Caherdaniel, and Castlecove.

The films assigned to the actors were The Commitments, Sister Act, Derry Girls, The Field, and Waking Ned. Once casting and rehearsals were done, the film crew got to work shooting the movie scenes.

“The films were done to a really high standard. For people who have never acted, seeing them all of a sudden playing fabulous parts, to such a professional standard, was amazing,” Brendan said.

“It was an absolutely epic event that was packed with an air of opulence. You know you’re onto something special around these parts when demand for tickets is on a par with looking for All-Ireland tickets,” Brendan said.

Seven Oskars in total were awarded on the night to the best actors and local advertisement. The best movie honour went to The Commitments. A scene from the famous Dublin-based movie shows a young boy bringing his horse into a lift. This very scene was re-created in Sneem.

“We actually did that same scene in the Sneem Hotel by bringing a horse into one of the hotel lifts! The level of commitment from all the people in the locality was incredible; everyone rowed together, which was wonderful to see. People are still talking about what a good night it was,” Brendan said.

The beneficiaries of the event are: Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children’s Foundation, Sneem National School, Caherdaniel National School, and Sneem Festival Fund.

Sneem Oskars MC Ollie Turner with the cast of Sister Act at the Sneem Oskars.

Photo by Michael Donnelly The three judges: Joe Conlon (Gaiety Theatre); Demi Isaac Oviawe (The Young Offenders) and Aidan Tierney (Tierney Talks) at the Sneem Oskars Night.

Photo by Mary D O’Neill Sneem Niamh & Breda Geraghty, Tracy O’Grady & George O’Neill. Tracy was nominated for best supporting actress for playing the Tinker’s daughter in The Field. George O’Neill won best actor for playing the Bull McCabe.

Photo by Mary D O’Neill The cast of Derry Girls with Ollie Turner MC at Sneem Oskars.

Photo by Mary D O’Neill Oskar for Best Actress Derry Girls.

Mary Falvey, George O’Neill & Nora Kelleher at the Sneem Oskars.

Photo by Mary D O’Neill Waking Ned cast with Ollie Turner, MC Sneem Oskars.

By Mary D O’Neill Eilish & Johanna Galvin at the Sneem Oskars. Photo

Photo by Mary D O’Neill Tracy O’Grady, Davy Breen, Betty O’Grady, Carmel & Niamh Breen at the Oskars in Sneem.

Photo by Michael Donnelly Kieran O’ Neill, Jimmy O’Sullivan, Davey Breen, Ollie Turner (MC), George O’Neill (best actor), Joan Egan (best supporting actress) at the Sneem Oskar Night.