About us

“Samhlaíocht Chiarraí – a metaphor for magic – a picture of possibilities”
Brendan Kennelly – April 1992

Samhlaiocht is a non-profit, Arts organisation which was founded in 1991, when artists, the County Arts Officer and other interested parties came together to plan an Arts Festival and to launch an Art Gallery for Co. Kerry.

The phenomenal success of the first Samhlaíocht Easter Arts Festival gave impetus and encouragement to those involved to maintain and develop the Festival into an annual event while breathing life into the push for a dedicated Gallery Space. With the founding of the Samhlaiocht Gallery, which promotes the work of professional and emerging artists from around the county and beyond, the founders dream was realized.

Samhlaiocht launched Ireland’s first Short Film Festival in 2001, The Kerry Film Festival (KFF), which has gone from strength to strength. Past adjudicators have included Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Mike Leigh, Jim Sheridan and many others. In 2008 the Festival awarded the inaugural Maureen O’ Hara Award to Oscar Winning Actress Brenda Fricker.

From an inauspicious beginning in 1991, Samhlaíocht Chiarraí is now the leading Arts Organisation and Gallery in County Kerry, running three festivals (The Easter Arts Festival, The Bumblebee Children’s Festival and The Kerry Film Festival) and a year-round education outreach programme in addition to its Gallery Programme.

Samhlaíocht, which means ‘Imagination’, as Gaeilge, is funded by The Arts Council, Kerry County Council, Culture Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, The Irish Film Institute, Cork Film Centre and many more.

Samhlaiocht is indebted to Kerry Group for its generosity. Kerry Group has been Samhlaiocht’s main corporate sponsor since 1991 and has played an instrumental role in the continuing success of the Arts Organisation.

Awards & Achievements
Samhlaíocht was awarded the AIB Better Ireland Award 1998 in the category Arts / Communications.

In 2003 Samhlaíocht won The Eircom Best Festival Website in Ireland Award at the Association Of Irish Festivals and Events (AOIFE) Conference.

In 2006 Samhlaíocht received a highly commended award from Business2Arts for its ongoing partnership with Ardmore Studios.

In 2007 Samhlaiocht won the prestigious Community Arts and Culture Award in recognition of its invaluable work in enriching Artistic Life in the community. The award acknowledged the key role Samhlaiocht plays in the Arts and Cultural life of Kerry.

In 2008 Samhlaiocht won The Best Festival Entertainment Award from the Association Of Irish Festivals and Events (AOIFE).