THE inaugural Kilkenny Cream of Irish Awards will be made on November 14th. Shortlists under eight headings were announced recently: visual arts (Diana Copperwhite, Paul Nugent, Gerard Sweeny), Performing arts (Marina Carr, John Crowley, Martin McDonogh), literature (Angela Bourke, Luke Gibbons, Mike McCormack), film (Ed Guiney, Sean Hinds, Gerry Stembridge), contemporary music (Altan, Sinead Lohan, Whipping Boy), photography (Alan Betson, Colm Henry, Tony O'Shea), as well as fashion and design. The winners in each category will receive a sculpture commissioned from silversmith, Kevin O'Dwyer The panel of judges is described as "distinguished", which it certainly is, with members like Paraic Breathnach (performing arts), Mike Bunn (photography), Ciaran Carty (film), and John Waters (literature); certainly no-one would deny that Ciaran Mac Gonigal, Director of the RHA Gallagher Gallery, who judged the visual arts section, is distinguished, but he is not the Chairman of the Arts Council, as the press release states that honour goes to Ciaran Benson,