Oonagh Kearney
Selected credits
- Obituary (Eps 4,5,6)RTÉ/ Magamedia/ Hulu/ AMC
- Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom DramaChannel 4/ Chalkboard TV
- Five Letters To The Stranger Who Will Dissect My BrainTyrella Pictures/Arts Council Ireland
- On The HemlineTyrella Pictures/TV Drama/RTE
- Wonder HouseIrish International Film Festival/ICA London Open City Docs
- The ChristeningUnderground Films/Irish Film Board
- Love at the End of the WorldTyrella Pictures/Galway Film Fleadh
About
Oonagh Kearney is an Irish Director and Writer based in Cork. She is currently in post-production for Obituary, a new TV series for Magamedia/ RTÉ/ Hulu/ AMC.
Oonagh most recently directed Obituary (Eps 4,5 & 6), a new TV series for Magamedia/ RTÉ/ Hulu/ AMC and Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama for Channel 4/ Chalkboard TV, staring Michael Sheen, which was nominated for Best Drama Mini Series at the British Press Guild Awards 2022. She also directed 2nd Unit with Dearbhla Walsh on the award winning first series of Bad Sisters for Apple TV/Merman.
She has directed many award-winning short films including Five Letters to the Stranger who will Dissect my Brain which won Best Director of an Irish Short at Cork International Film Festival, Best Irish Short and a Discovery Award at the Dublin International Film Festival, and Best Short Screenplay at the Irish Writers Guild Zebbie Awards.
Oonagh was born in Bristol and raised in Cork. She began her film career as a casting director for Ken Loach on his Palm d’Or winning film The Wind That Shakes the Barley. She subsequently moved to London, studied Fiction Direction at the National Film and Television School and made the move to become a Director and Writer.
Featured work
Obituary
RTÉ/ Magamedia
Written by Ray Lawlor
Directed by Oonagh Kearney (Episodes 4,5,6)
Produced by Nell Green
Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama
Channel 4/ Chalkboard TV
Written by Chris Atkins
Directed by Oonagh Kearney
Dubbed the Wagatha Christie case when it first unfolded on social media in 2019. The two-part film recreates the high drama, high stakes High Court defamation case that followed. Created from the real court transcripts, Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama promises to bring viewers all of the incredible and unbelievable moments from a case that kept the public and media gripped.
Five Letters To The Stranger Who Will Dissect My Brain
Inspired by the poem by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
Directed/written by Oonagh Kearney
Produced by Roisín Geraghty for Tyrella Pictures
Cinematographer: Eleanor Bowman
Editor: Cara Holmes
Music: Irene Buckley
Starring Venetia Bowe, John Connors, Marion Cronin
“Oonagh is fast becoming one of the most interesting and distinctive voices in Irish film. We are very excited to see what Oonagh will do next.”
Discovery Award Jury, DIFF 2019
On The Hemline
Directed/written by Oonagh Kearney
Produced by Barbara Healy for Tyrella Pictures
Cinematographer: Richard Kendrick
Editor: Cara Holmes
Music: Michael John McCarthy
Starring Eileen Walsh and Cathy Belton
Commissioned as part of the RTÉ Storyland Scheme 2017.
Wonderhouse
Directed/written by Oonagh Kearney
Cinematographer: Suzie Lavelle
Editor: Maya Maffioli
Music: Gunnar Óskarsson
Produced by John Kelleher for JK Media
Starring Sophie Scully, Niamh Shaw, Mya Turner
“We want to draw special mention to WONDER HOUSE, probably the most ambitious film in the shortlist. We very much appreciate the originality of ideas expressed and applaud the beauty of the piece” Briony Hanson, Head of Film, The British Council.