Mel Gibson fulfils Braveheart superfan's 25-year dream with unforgettable meeting

Extra.ie​

3 days ago

A Mel Gibson and Braveheart superfan capped off a 25-year quest and bagged a unique memento when he met the man who brought William Wallace to life.
Gibson was in Trim, Co. Meath, where much of Braveheart was filmed, to celebrate the Oscar-winning picture's 30th anniversary.
The event was part of the town's King John Summer Prom festival. Maxim Deasy (right) with Mel Gibson at Trim's meet and greet. Pic: Michael Chester
The superstar actor, director and producer signed posters and posed for selfies with a few hundred fans, who had secured their meet-and-greet in advance by purchasing special posters.
And the day was the cherry on top of a decades-long mission for one superfan Scotsman, whose Wallace-like rebelliousness scored him an extra special keepsake.
Along with the pre-bought poster, Paul Wilson from Irvine brought along a widescreen print of himself standing atop Aonach Eagach mountain ridge in the Scottish Highlands, wearing a kilt and with his back to the camera. Paul Wilson, from Scotland, takes a selfie with Mel Gibson. Pic: Michael Chester
The pose is a recreation of a scene from Braveheart filmed on the same mountaintop.
'It took me 25 years to find this location,' Mr Wilson told Extra.ie. Paul Wilson with his recreation of a Braveheart scene. Pic: Michael Chester
'After years of hiking in the Highlands, I was sitting watching Braveheart for the umpteenth time and thought 'I recognise that – I've been there', and roughly decoded it and eventually found it about five years ago.' as him,' Mr Wilson ' Fans were sternly warned that only pre-bought posters would be signed, but €300 compared Mr Wilson said Gibson day's meet and was 'very nice about been foiled by it' when it came time tions. to ask. The superfan, 'I just placed it and Scotland right in front of Ireland especially him and told him said it took me 25 a nation' years, and out, then he told a me it was the wrong spot,' he laughed.
'Then he said it was spot on.
'I did ask him if it was really him that stood up there or a stunt double. He wouldn't tell me. I'll take it as him,' Mr Wilson said. The Braveheart star strikes a pose with Rian Egan from Gorey. Pic: Michael Chester
A previous effort to get the print signed by Gibson – which cost him €300 compared to €55 for yesterday's meet and greet cost – had been foiled by pandemic restrictions.
The superfan, dressed in a kilt and Scotland jersey and visiting Ireland especially for the event, said Braveheart 'inspired a nation' when it came out, 'because it gave us a voice again'.
Trim's 12th-century castle doubles up as York in the 1995 blockbuster, and locals still warmly recall the summer Hollywood came to town – and gave parts to half the residents.
Ross Englishby from Trim was around 12 when the shoot happened. Maxim Deasy (right) with Mel Gibson at Trim's meet and greet. Pic: Michael Chester
He told Extra.ie: 'I didn't make the cut unfortunately, but because the cast was so centrally located and the town had loads of viewing points, we pretty much saw everything that went on the whole summer.
'It was great craic for the three or four months they were here.'
The castle, which is largely in ruins, was 'rebuilt' for the shoot, Mr Englishby recalled.
'Pretty much every local was in it at some stage,' he said.
'The scene at the end when he's on the cross, that's all done in Trim, so they're all local people – all the kids at the front throwing vegetables. You can see them clearly. We often look at it and laugh.' Tom King, who attended dressed as a medieval warrior. Pic: Michael Chester
Tom King, who attended dressed as a medieval warrior, told Extra.ie he had 'come to pick a fight'.
Mr King, from nearby Bohermeen, wears ancient costumes for a living, operating immersive history experiences nearby as a traditional smith and craftsman.
'It's so wonderful to see what Braveheart has done for our tourism industry and our local economy,' he said.
'That seed was planted 30-odd years ago, and look what has grown since. It has just flourished. And everybody's morale and everybody's mood, everybody's excitement…'
The poster sales made €10,000 for Irish Equity, a union for actors.