Dingle to Croke Park, on a bike!

From Páirc an Ághasaigh to Páirc an Chrócaigh

Three Dingle men proved their commitment to their county last weekend by cycling from the gates of Páirc an Ághasaigh to the Hogan Stand in Croke Park, Dublin. Flying the flag proudly for Kerry on their bikes were local accountant Seán Ó Suilleabháin, engineer Jimmy Bambury and businessman Ricky Keane who left Dingle on Friday morning at 7am. John Ashe accompanied the men on their bikes as far as Inch, while Colm Bambury travelled with the pelaton all the way from Dingle to Dublin to provide support. The men stayed overnight in Roscrea before completing their amazing journey to the gates of the Hogan Stand at Croke Park at 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon where they were greeted by a large contingent from Dingle who had travelled to Dublin in advance of Sunday's big game against Tyrone. A reception was also held down the road at the Hogan Stand Bar, which is owned by Kathleen Ryan (who originally hails from Glens just outside Dingle) and her husband Phil. Despite the disappointment following Kerry's loss on Sunday, the trio were delighted with their achievement and are confident that the journey will encourage cycling in West Kerry. The trio are hoping to encourage cycling in the West Kerry region. Anyone interested in the creation of a local cycling club or in taking part in the 2009 cycle around Corca Dhuibhne can contact Jimmy at Moriarty and Bambury Engineers at 066 - 9152233.

An Fear 'Óg' Rua loses his hair for charity

Hair today, gone tomorrow!
A big hearted West Kerry teenager made the ultimate sacrifice last Friday (September 26th) as his lusious long head of red hair was shorn to raise funds for cancer research. Conchuir Ó Beaglaoi volunteered to take part in a fundraising head shave for cancer research in front of his class mates at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in Dingle. The event opens a weekend of fundraising events for cancer research in West Kerry; following Conchuir's brave gesture on Friday, hundreds took to the hills to scale Mount Brandon in the annual Siuloid Leighis (Walk for the Cure), which was this year dedicated to the memory of local woman Bernie O'Connor. Bishop of Kerry Bill Murphy will performed a blessing at the foot of the mountain before the walk begins from Baile Breac (a few miles west of Dingle), to the summit. Former All-Ireland winning Kerry Captain Dara Ó Cinnéide as well as RTÉ's Eileen Whelan and legendary broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh also took part. Anyone who would like to contribute to the cause can still do so by contacting organiser Jaeicí Ó Muircheartaigh at 087-2586374 or via e-mail at jaeici@hotmail.com. Pictured, l-r, Eve Ni Mhuircheartaigh, Jaeici Ó Muircheartaigh (event organiser), Conchuir Ó Beaglaoi, Keith Ó Muircheartaigh and Cathal Ó Muircheartaigh in Cuas an Bhodaigh near the foot of Mount Brandon.

Play on Patrick Kavanagh set for Díseart this October

Croft Productions in association with David Donegan presents their Irish tour of:
On Raglan Road

17th October, An Díseart, Dingle.

Written by Tom O’Brien, directed by John Dunne

Following a successful three-week run in London last year and a subsequent production in America, On Raglan Road hits Irish shore, and indeed Dingle, this October. On Raglan Road, explores Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh’s obsession with his muse and inspiration, Hilda Moriarty. The play also details Kavanagh’s rivalry with another Irish writer of the time, Brendan Behan.Patrick Kavanagh was born in the village of Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, in 1904 and is now regarded as Ireland’s most important poet after WB Yeats. The son of a shoemaker and small farmer, he moved to Dublin in his mid thirties where he lived in poverty for most of his life, surviving on handouts, the occasional bit of journalism, but mostly being supported by his younger brother, Peter.On Raglan Road was originally a poem about his love affair with Hilda Moriarty, which was doomed from the start. Always a controversial figure, he was hated as much as loved in Dublin, and his long-running feud with Brendan Behan is well chronicled. Written by Waterford playwright Tom O’Brien, the play is full of pathos and is mixed with poetry and song. The play is directed by John Dunne who has taken the essence of Kavanagh and placed him slap bang on stage.For further information contact: John Dunne, Croft Productions, The Croft, Wall Street, London N1 3NB, UK, or telephone: 0044 (0)207 226 0524. www.croftproductions.com
The play will receive its West Kerry debut on the 17th of October at An Díseart, Dingle, Co Kerry.

Dingle set for its first Burlesque show with Bijou Hunter

The Peacock Club @ The Hillgrove Hotel, Dingle on Friday, September 26th will see the staging of Dingle's first burlesque show with West Kerry based performance artist Bijou Hunter (in this clip) making her inaugural Corca Dhuibhne performance. Contact the Hillgrove Hotel at 066-9151131 for more information on times and tickets.

Dingle Film Festival Programme
September 11-14th 2008

To view the schedule just click on this image to enlarge.

For more information on the Dingle Film Festival visit: www.dinglefilmfestival.com

Gabriel Byrne to be honoured at Dingle Film Festival

Gabriel Byrne to receive the Inaugural Gregory Peck Award at Dingle Film Festival

The Dingle Film Festival have announced Gabriel Byrne as the first recipient of the Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in the Art of Film.

Gregory Peck once said the secret of film acting is complete candor with the audience, when you let them see the real you - and this perfectly captures the essence of Gabriel in his many roles and makes him an ideal choice for this new prestigious award said festival director Maurice Galway. Byrne, who is nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in HBO's In Treatment, will be in Dingle to receive the award during the festival, which runs from September 11 to September 14. It is an honour to accept the Gregory Peck Award in memory of a great actor whose work transcends time and continues to inspire said Gabriel Byrne.The award will be made in conjunction with Gregory Pecks family who are delighted that the award is being presented in Dingle.

"My fathers grandmother came from Dingle, his grand-uncle was the Hero, Thomas Ashe and any time he visited there, he always had a sense of coming home" says Pecks daughter Cecilia, "so the whole family is looking forward to attending the Dingle Film festival next month."

The festival has commissioned local artist John Holstead to design the award, which will be unveiled at the festivals opening reception in the Greenlane Gallery, Dingle on September 11th.

Kevin Moriarty, MD of Ardmore Studios, will present Gabriel Byrne with The Gregory Peck Award following a special screening of A Conversation with Gregory Peck on the Friday night of the festival in The Phoenix Cinema.

Its producer, Cecilia Peck and director Barbara Kopple will introduce the film to the audience.

Irish poet Medbh McGuckian has written a poem on Gregory Peck, which she will recite at the event.

Mr. Pecks wife, Veronique and son, Anthony will also be travelling from LA for this special occasion.

The festival will open with a screening of John Boynes best selling novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Winner of the audience award at this years Sundance Film Festival, Ben Kingsleys new film The Wackness is sure to prove popular with the Dingle punters.

A huge hit with audiences at film festivals around the world and described by Rolling Stone Magazine as this years great rock movie, Anvil: The Story of Anvil documents the story of an ageing rock band, who refuse to give up on the dream of someday being big enough to play stadium rock.

Two time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple will present a masterclass on her documentary film Wild Man Blues. She will also present, along with co-director Cecilia Peck, the award winning film Shut Up & Sing .The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the two filmmakers.

Another Oscar winner and inventor of the Steadicam camera Garrett Brown will be on hand to talk about The Art of the Moving Camera while producer Ned Dowd Apocalypto, Last of the Mohicans wiill give a production masterclass on the classic American film noir State of Grace starring Sean Penn, Ed Harris and Gary Oldman. BAFTA and Grammy winning producer Anthony Wall will be bringing it all back to Dingle with two films on Bob Dylan Dylan in the Madhous and The Other Side of the Mirror, Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival 1963 -1965.A visual film progamme, curated by Maurice Galway for the Siamsa Gallery and Cork Film Centre will also be presended along with locally produced films, Beal Tuinne and Vinyl Frontier. To close the festival Cecilia Peck will introduce a special screening of her fathers definitive role as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird for which he was awarded the Academy Award Oscar for Best Actor. Tickets details are on our website or available at our office in The Garden Cafe in Dingle.

Visit: http://www.dinglefilmfestival.com/ for more details.

Dublin exhibiton for West Kerry artist

'Elements of Black & White'

An exhibition of recent works by Kelly Hood
@ Gallery 53 Capel Street, Dublin 1

Gallery 53 will be hosting an exhibition of new work by West Kerry artist Kelly Hood. The paintings in this show are all oil & mixed media on linen canvas & are a blend of nature and p eople, indoors & outdoors, calm, turbulent, vivid, true.

Opening evening; Friday 5th September
Reception; 6.30-8.30pm
Venue; Gallery53, 53 Capel st Dublin 1

Contact; Louise Cody M; 0863260118 T; 01 8724274
E-mail; gallery53@hotmail.com
Exhibition runs until 7th October

--Click on the image above for more information on Kelly's work.

Comóradh Tomás Ághas

The annual commeration to Tomás Aghas- Comóradh Tomás Aghas, will beheld in Cinn Aird, Lios Póil, on the 25th of September at 7pm.

All are welcome to attend.