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Eileen Walsh.
KERRY International Film Festival (KIFF) has announced actress Eileen Walsh as this year’s recipient of the Maureen O’Hara Award.
KIFF also officially launched their 2023 film festival programme today. Celebrating its 24th edition, this year’s festival will take place October 19 – 22.
In 2008 KIFF established the Maureen O’Hara Award in celebration of women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media. Eileen Walsh’s notable roles include The Van, The Last Bus Home, When Brendan Met Trudy, The Magdalene Sisters, Pure Mule, Eden, and Catastrophe, to name a few.
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She is also a revered stage actor, having recently starred in the Lyndsey Turner directed film The Crucible (Winner of Best Revival nomination – Olivier Awards 2023), and Girl on an Alter directed by Annabelle Comyn.
She will be presented with the award on Friday, October at Randles Hotel Killarney, via their ‘In Conversation with Eileen Walsh’ event.
KIFF Programme Director, Declan Lynch, said; “Eileen is one of Ireland’s finest actors, her inclusion as a Maureen O’Hara award recipient is an opportunity for us to reflect on her unique and singular career to date. We look forward to welcoming Eileen to Killarney in October.”
Speaking about receiving the Maureen O’Hara Award Eileen Walsh said; “There’s a photo of me and my sister Bernadette sitting on a picnic bench. I had taken a chunk of my communion money and bought a beige t-shirt and matching skirt.
“I pulled my knee socks up and smiled for the camera. My parents had brought us for a day trip to see The Quiet Man house. I thought I was as beautiful as she was as I sat on the picnic table. My dad insisted he’d try the healthy water spring which smelt awful and tasted worse, although through his twisted face and appalled eyes he squeezed the words ‘Ah it’s not that bad’.”
“I’m so delighted to receive this Maureen O’Hara award, her films are one thing, but her lasting friendships and continued collaborations with directors and actors is a thing to admire and aspire to. As a proud Cork woman, I’m only sorry it’s the Kingdom of Kerry that got there first to give me such an award. Míle Buíochas,” she said.
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