Oonagh Kearney
Selected credits
- The Au Pair (4 Eps TV series)MK1/Pernel Media/ITV Studios/Canal+/C5
- Obituary (Eps 4,5,6)RTÉ/ Magamedia/ Hulu/ AMC
- Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom DramaChannel 4/ Chalkboard TV
- Never Kill A Femboy on the First DateNewgrange Pictures/ Virgin Media Discovers
- 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 award winning Irish Director and Writer based in Cork. She has just completed a 4 part psychological thriller with MK1 Studios and Pernel Media, for ITV Studios, Canal+ and Channel 5 to be aired in early March 2025.
Oonagh also recently directed drama series Obituary (Eps 4,5 & 6), for Magamedia/ RTÉ/ Hulu/ AMC, nominated for Best Drama IFTA 2024, Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama for Channel 4/ Chalkboard TV, staring Michael Sheen, nominated for Best Drama Mini Series at the British Press Guild Awards 2022, and 2nd Unit with Dearbhla Walsh on the award winning first series of Bad Sisters for Apple TV/Merman.
As writer-director, Oonagh is developing a new TV drama series with Keeper Pictures and RTÉ, and has features in development with Screen Ireland, Blinder Films and EZ Films.
Her many short films include Never Kill A Femboy on the First Date with writer Lee-Loi Chieng for Newgrange Pictures/ Virgin Media Discovers and 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 Awards.
Her film career began as a casting director for Ken Loach on his Palm d’Or winning film The Wind That Shakes the Barley. She later studied Fiction Direction at the National Film and Television School.
Featured work
Obituary
RTÉ/ Magamedia
Written by Ray Lawlor
Directed by Oonagh Kearney (Episodes 4,5,6)
Produced by Nell Green
To live, she writes. To write, she kills.
OBITUARY is a soot black comedy that tells the story of ELVIRA CLANCY, an underpaid obituarist in a tiny coastal town who resorts to murder when the work dries up. Just as she finds her voice, she falls for the new crime correspondent who is both onto to her and into her.
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.
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.
Never Kill A Femboy on the First Date
Newgrange Pictures/ Virgin Media Discovers
Written by Lee-Loi Chieng
Directed by Oonagh Kearney
Produced by Aoibhín Murphy
An Asian Irish crossdresser’s bold plans to seduce a closeted GAA player take a risky turn when three lads watch them having sex from afar.
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
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.