'To grace the festival with her presence is nothing short of a coup for the Fastnet Film Festival and adds glamour '
ALL of Schull was in a state of heightened excitement on Wednesday night as hundreds of people waited to catch a glimpse of Hollywood star Saoirse Ronan at the opening night of the Fastnet Film Festival.
The award-winning actress was, unfortunately, a no-show at the opening night celebrations – which continue to be brilliantly hosted by Grove House at Colla Road – but Saoirse will be attending a Q&A interview with the former film censor, and festival chairman, John Kelleher, tonight.
The Irish actress will be in good company: other luminaries – such as Roddy Doyle, Carmel Winters, Kevin Brownlow and Carl Davis, as well as more than 200 filmmakers – have already descended on the village to showcase their short films and features over the action-packed four-day programme.
Saoirse Ronan is no stranger to West Cork. She has discreetly visited the area a number of times in recent years and has managed in that time to select a few personal favourite restaurants and watering holes. ‘But to grace the festival with her presence is nothing short of a coup for the Fastnet Film Festival and adds glamour – if any more glamour were needed – to an already illustrious event,’ said Hilary McCarthy, festival director.
