𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗼𝗲 & 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱: 𝗔 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘇, 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 & 𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!

𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗼𝗲 & 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱: 𝗔 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗚𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘇, 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 & 𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!

There are so many words to describe the Clogherinkoe Broadford Film Awards, but none can truly capture the magic of what unfolded on Saturday, March 15th, at Johnstown House Estate. Phenomenal. Mesmerising. Electric! But honestly, you had to be there. The fashion, the excitement, the sheer joy of 900 people gathered to celebrate months of hard work and creativity—it was an atmosphere unlike any other.

From 6 p.m., guests arrived in dazzling style. The Father Ted crew made an unforgettable entrance, chartering a bus after being humorously “denied” helicopter landing rights. Inside, cast members were ushered into the exclusive Green Room, where East Coast Fm’s Dave Harrington, MC for the night, caught up with them, gauging their nerves and revisiting their journey since January—an experience that now felt like a lifetime ago.

With anticipation at fever pitch, Richard Bradley took to the stage, sharing the incredible journey that led to this night. What began as a way to raise funds for vital pitch improvements evolved into a massive community-driven production, leaving behind not just a financial legacy but lifelong memories and friendships. A special thank you was given to all the actors, who had brought their talent and hard work over recent weeks to make the 8 films as well as collecting the sponsorship. A moment was given to thank the 150 businesses that supported the event, all recognised in the night’s event brochure. Among them, Clonmel Enterprises stood tall as the main sponsor, alongside eight film sponsors and an incredible 33 award sponsors. Their generosity made the dream a reality.

Then, the main event. The judges—Ruth Brennan, John Maguire, Hugh Wallace, and Aisling O’Neill—were introduced, and as the trailers rolled, it became clear they faced an impossible task. Each film was a masterpiece in its own right.

With the lights dimmed and excitement soaring, the first film hit the screen—The Snapper. The audience erupted, with the frequent laughs and great performances setting the tone for an unforgettable cinematic journey. Calendar Girls tugged at heartstrings, while Squid Game surprised with its gripping drama. The Field ignited the room with chants of “The Bull! The Bull!”, while Derry Girls delighted with its wit and nostalgia. Forrest Gump was a flawless stunning spectacle, and Father Ted had the audience in stitches. Finally, The Green Mile brought the night to an emotional close. As the audience debated their favourites, the judges were locked in deliberation, facing impossible choices.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for—the awards. First up, the prestigious Highest Paid Actor award went to Rachael Doherty, not only for her incredible fundraising efforts but also for her generosity in providing treats for her fellow Father Ted castmates!

Next, the Highest Grossing Movie award went to the unstoppable Father Ted team, led by Brian Gavin and David Cully. The excitement continued as Neil Bergin took the stage to reveal the grand total raised—€137,000 after costs! The room erupted, a testament to the community’s extraordinary efforts.

From there, the accolades rolled in:

• Best Props & Settings: The Green Mile

• Best Location: Forrest Gump

• Best Turned Out Film: The Snapper

• Best Comedy Scene: The Hut Scene (Father Ted)

• Best Dramatic Scene: The Execution Scene (The Green Mile)

Then came the fiercely contested acting categories.

Best Female Supporting Actor was hotly contested and went to Mairead Lynam (Michelle, Derry Girls), narrowly edging out a stellar performance from co-star Rachael Cormican (Orla, Derry Girls), who nailed every mannerism and accent. Sinead Power’s moving turn as Chris in Calendar Girls also made her a strong contender. Darah Bradley’s portrayal of Kay Curley in The Snapper was pitch perfect and included delivering a slap that we all felt in the audience! Ann Bergin as Mama Gump had us all deeply feeling the emotion as she explained to Forrest that she was dying.

Best Male Supporting Actor was claimed by Chris Barea, whose role as The Salesman in Squid Game left a lasting impression. An outstanding win given the competition he faced from David Cully’s perfected facial expressions as Dougal in Father Ted and speaking of facial expressions, Mick Maguire was outstanding as The Bird in The Field. Robbie Dunne also edged hinself into contention with a stunning performance as Lietenant Dan.

Then, the biggest acting awards of the night. Best Female Actor was a thrilling showdown, with Aoife Keogh’s brilliant performance as Sharon in The Snapper making it an incredibly tight race. But in the end, Emer Donnelly’s heartfelt portrayal of Annie in Calendar Girls stole the show.

And then the award which could have gone to several people —Best Male Actor. The competition was nothing short of legendary. Ben Kenny transformed into Forrest Gump with an American accent so flawless, the audience forgot he was from Clogherinkoe. Paddy Loughran and Denis Duggan brought hauntingly powerful performances in The Green Mile that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Hollywood. Dec O’Connor’s comedic genius as Father Ted had the crowd roaring with laughter, while Darren Daly’s brilliant take on Dessie was pitch-perfect. Keith Wilkinson’s portrayal of 456 in Squid Game was gripping. But the ultimate winner? Ollie Conlan, whose portrayal of The Bull McCabe in The Field was simply unforgettable. The crowd roared as he took to the stage, the weight of the moment palpable.

Finally, the ultimate prize—Best Film. Every movie was worthy, each bringing something unique. The Green Mile and The Field emerged as audience favourites, but after careful deliberation, The Field was crowned the night’s best. A fitting tribute to a film that captured the hearts of so many.

As the cheers settled, Film Leaders Ollie Conlan and Kathleen Lynch along with their cast, stepped forward to accept the Best Film Award. In a touching moment, he dedicated the win to his late wife Jackie, whose support in 2015 had helped secure the very field that this fundraiser was now improving.

With the awards presented and the emotions running high, the celebrations kicked into overdrive! Trophies were passed around for photos, cast members reminisced about filming, and Damien Coyne of So Fresh Entertainment kept the party going into the early hours, Oscars-style!

There was even talk of renaming Ballindoolin as “Olliewood”, given how central the Conlan family homestead was to so many productions!

But the night wasn’t just about fun and fundraising—it was a testament to talent, hard work, and most of all a celebration of the amazing community we live in. The film awards may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime. And as the countdown begins for the Appreciation Night on March 22nd, one thing is certain—this was a night that will never be forgotten!