September 2024
Irish-Australian Arts News
September 2024
This month’s roundup has once again been hijacked by Kneecap! – the sensational new Northern Irish, Irish language comedy that is now in cinemas in Australia!
The film has been chosen as Ireland’s entry for the 2025 Oscars and we have an update on their Australian tour’s ticket sales.
Plus our monthly wrap up of Irish movie news and for sports fans an update on the Irish at the Paralympics.
Last but by no means least is our diary of Irish events around Australia in our Events Diary at the bottom of this email. Beir Bua!
Save the Date for Irish Film Festival 2024
What do the above actors have in common?
They are all appearing in the Irish Film Festival 2024 which opens in Sydney on October 17th. The festival then travels to Melbourne on October 24th, Perth on Nov 1st, Brisbane on 15th November and Canberra on November 22nd.
Next week we announce the Opening Night film – tickets and full program will be available on September 26th.
Sign up to our mail list for details on www.irishfilmfestival.com.au
Kneecap is Ireland’s entry for the 2025 Oscars
It’s been a huge couple of years at the Oscars for Ireland with An Cailín Ciúin being nominated for International Feature Film in 2023 and Cillian Murphy taking home the gold for Best Actor in 2024.
Kneecap plans to continue this run as the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has announced that Kneecap is being presented as Ireland’s entry for International Feature Film for the 2025 awards ceremony.
IFTA Academy CEO, Áine Moriarty said: “The Irish Academy is delighted to announce Kneecap to represent Ireland in the Oscar International Feature Film category. What a brilliantly creative powerhouse of a film, with its bold and fearless storytelling and its raw and boisterous screen performances. Nowhere before has filmmaking brought together the Irish language and music in such rebellious and youthful defiance. We have no doubt that Kneecap will both surprise and entertain international audiences, and ultimately leave its unique mark on international Academy Members too”.
you can read more about the decision here: screenireland.ie/news/ifta-has-announced-kneecap-as-irelands-entry-for-oscars-2025-international-feature-film
Kneecap in Australian Cinemas
Last Wednesday night, film enthusiasts and Irish locals alike descended upon Dendy Cinemas Newtown, eager for a taste of Gaelic and some serious laughs. It was for none other than the Próvaí Preview of acclaimed Irish comedy-drama, Kneecap! The cinema foyer was buzzing with energy from the get-go – complementary whiskies in hand, attendees tapped their feet along to the beat of the DJ and chatted excitedly amongst each other. Finally, with a send-off from IFF director Enda Murray, I settled into my seat with a box of popcorn (precariously filled). It was almost impossible to go more than 5 minutes without boisterous laughter echoing throughout the cinema! The story of this Irish rap trio is so incredulous at times, I had to keep reminding myself that it is based on a true story. Better yet, that the actors of the film are the true members of Kneecap!
Overall, I left the cinema with a newfound appreciation for the Irish language, and tickets in my cart to Kneecap’s Australian tour next year.
Irish at the Paralympics
The 2024 Paralympics in Paris had its Opening Ceremony on the 28th of August and Ireland was represented by flag bearers Orla Comerford (para-athletics) and Colin Judge (para-table tennis)
Colin kicked of his campaign at 2:30am on September 2nd (AEST) and Orla competed in her heats at 7:00pm on September 3rd (AEST).
Team Ireland have had an impressive run with many athletes making the finals of their respective sport, there have been a few 4th and 5th place finishes, coming so close to the podium.
At this stage, Ireland have received five medals, one gold, two silver and two bronze. A huge congratulations to Katie-George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal who have won Ireland’s only Gold medal of the games so far in the Women’s B Individual Road Race. Róisín Ní Riain won Silver in the S13 100m Backstroke, and Katie-George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal also won Silver in the B 3,000m Individual Pursuit in Tandem Cycling. Róisín Ní Ríain also won a Bronze medal in the SM13 200m Medley, and Orla Comerford won Bronze in the T13 100m sprint.
You can see Team Ireland’s full competition schedule at paralympics.ie/team-ireland-paris-2024-competition-schedule/
Kneecap Tour/ Vale Nell McCafferty / New edition of Tinteán
- Vale Nell McCafferty
Described by Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris as “fierce, fearless and fiery”, Nell McCafferty was a writer, a journalist and a founding member of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement who fought for equal pay, gay rights and access to contraception. She died this week at the age of 80. Ár lámh dheis go raibh a anam dílis.
rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0821/1465962-nell-mccafferty/
- Kneecap Australian Tour
If you’re planning to go see Kneecap on their Australian tour and haven’t bought tickets yet, you’ll want to do so ASAP. Brisbane have sold out, Melbourne has also sold out 1 show and added a 2nd while Sydney have upgraded to a bigger venue. Get tickets now!
frontiertouring.com/kneecap
- New edition of Tinteán
Melbourne based Irish Online Magazine Tinteán dropped a new edition on the 10th of August and all the articles are now available to read on their website.
tintean.org.au/
SEPTEMBER EVENTS DIARY!
Click on the link above to check out our events diary for September 2024 onwards which includes some exciting news on Irish music national tours and other riveting stuff.
Add your event to our Monthly Newsletter
We have had some enquiries from Irish organisations about publicising their events in our newsletter. If you have an event coming up then get the info to us by the 21st of the month and we will do our best to include it in our newsletter. It helps if you can provide the text ‘ready to go’ and remember – a picture tells 1000 words so send some pics too!
Slán agus beannacht
Natalie O’Neill & Enda Murray (director)
Irish Film Festival
