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Extra.ie
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Mel Gibson fulfils Braveheart superfan's 25-year dream with unforgettable meeting
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 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 '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 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.
The Journal
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans in Trim to mark 30 years of Braveheart film
MEL GIBSON POSED for selfies and signed posters in Co Meath to mark 30 years since Braveheart was filmed in Ireland. Fans travelled from all over Ireland to get a chance of meeting the Oscar-winning actor and director, who starred as the Scottish hero in the historical epic. The film was mostly shot in Ireland – despite the story being set in Scotland – after the Irish government lobbied and offered to supply 1,600 army reserves as extras. People queued at Trim Castle Hotel to meet Gibson and other Braveheart cast members. The event was held as part of the local King John Summer Prom festival, with proceeds raised for the Irish Equity Support Fund. Maksim Okhotnikov, eight, dressed up as Braveheart hero William Wallace in a costume created by his mother, who also sketched a charcoal drawing of Gibson. 'I didn't watch all of the film, I just watched pieces because it's (rated) 16+,' Maksim told the PA news agency. Asked what he likes about the film, he said: 'I like himself'. Gibson signing posters for fans Maksim Deasy aged 8 from Bettystown at Trim Castle Hotel. Adam Walker and his son, Nathan, seven, from Dublin, were among the first people into the room to meet the cast. 'Obviously he's too young to watch the full movie, so I was trying to show him the quotes, the big freedom speech at the end of the movie. We were watching that, we were watching the mad Irishman of course: David O'Hara who plays Stephen of Ireland,' Mr Walker told PA. 'We were at the Q&A yesterday and a lot of the lads pointed out that the actors said the thing that it did was it really changed things, Ireland seemed to really latch onto it, there was a lot of similarities between the Irish and the Scottish, but it seemed to call out to everybody. 'We were looking for a wedding venue 12 years back and we were looking everywhere and we found here, it was lovely, the prices were great, and then I read at the end the castle was where Braveheart was filmed. 'I said to my wife 'we're doing it' so we got married in the room just there and we had the castle as the backdrop. 'So it's very interesting to be able to come back 12 years later and actually meet Mel Gibson here, and this little lad wasn't even alive at the time.' Advertisement Elaine Coyle, who travelled with her mother from Dublin, said watching Braveheart was a family tradition. 'My dad would be a big fan, it's what we grew up with. It's a Christmas tradition in our house,' she said. She said of the film: 'You can relate to it as an Irish person a little bit too, it's iconic. 'It definitely opened the door to the Irish economy around films, it completely changed how the industry worked going forward, but I think in general people recognise that it made such an impact on Ireland, and we can also relate to the history of it. It's generational.' Cousins Eileen Shields and Anita McGrath travelled from Galway at 6am to meet the star. They said they are fans of Gibson's films Lethal Weapon and Daddy's Home 2. 'He has a wicked wink in his eye,' Eileen Shields said. 'It was lovely to meet him, short and sweet but it's nice to have the opportunity. 'Hopefully we see a lot more of him in Ireland. You know his family are from Longford, he was named after St Mel's Cathedral.' Anita McGrath said: 'I crocheted a shamrock for him, for good luck, so I gave it to him and he said 'thanks very much'. Just something different.' Ms Shields added: 'He wiped his brow with it.' Sevinc Ozogul, who lives across the road from the hotel, said she was excited to see the castle from Braveheart when she moved to Trim. She said Gibson is also one of her favourite actors, adding: 'I was so excited to see him.' She added: 'He was a bit tired but he looks great.' Mel Gibson has become a controversial figure in recent years, having faced accusations of anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, and domestic abuse.
South Wales Guardian
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans to mark 30 years of Braveheart film
Fans travelled from all over Ireland to get a chance of meeting the Oscar-winning actor and director, who starred as the Scottish hero in the historical epic. The film was mostly shot in Ireland – despite the story being set in Scotland – after the Irish government lobbied and offered to supply 1,600 army reserves as extras. People queued at Trim Castle Hotel to meet Gibson and other Braveheart cast members. The event was held as part of the local King John Summer Prom festival, with proceeds raised for the Irish Equity Support Fund. Maksim Okhotnikov, eight, dressed up as Braveheart hero William Wallace in a costume created by his mother, who also sketched a charcoal drawing of Gibson. 'I didn't watch all of the film, I just watched pieces because it's (rated) 16+,' Maksim told the PA news agency. Asked what he likes about the film, he said: 'I like himself'. Adam Walker and his son, Nathan, seven, from Dublin, were among the first people into the room to meet the cast. 'Obviously he's too young to watch the full movie, so I was trying to show him the quotes, the big freedom speech at the end of the movie. We were watching that, we were watching the mad Irishman of course: David O'Hara who plays Stephen of Ireland,' Mr Walker told PA. 'We were at the Q&A yesterday and a lot of the lads pointed out that the actors said the thing that it did was it really changed things, Ireland seemed to really latch onto it, there was a lot of similarities between the Irish and the Scottish, but it seemed to call out to everybody. 'We were looking for a wedding venue 12 years back and we were looking everywhere and we found here, it was lovely, the prices were great, and then I read at the end the castle was where Braveheart was filmed. 'I said to my wife 'we're doing it' so we got married in the room just there and we had the castle as the backdrop. 'So it's very interesting to be able to come back 12 years later and actually meet Mel Gibson here, and this little lad wasn't even alive at the time.' Elaine Coyle, who travelled with her mother from Dublin, said watching Braveheart was a family tradition. 'My dad would be a big fan, it's what we grew up with. It's a Christmas tradition in our house,' she said. She said of the film: 'You can relate to it as an Irish person a little bit too, it's iconic. 'It definitely opened the door to the Irish economy around films, it completely changed how the industry worked going forward, but I think in general people recognise that it made such an impact on Ireland, and we can also relate to the history of it. It's generational.' Cousins Eileen Shields and Anita McGrath travelled from Galway at 6am to meet the star. They said they are fans of Gibson's films Lethal Weapon and Daddy's Home 2. 'He has a wicked wink in his eye,' Eileen Shields said. 'It was lovely to meet him, short and sweet but it's nice to have the opportunity. 'Hopefully we see a lot more of him in Ireland. You know his family are from Longford, he was named after St Mel's Cathedral.' Anita McGrath said: 'I crocheted a shamrock for him, for good luck, so I gave it to him and he said 'thanks very much'. Just something different.' Ms Shields added: 'He wiped his brow with it.' Sevinc Ozogul, who lives across the road from the hotel, said she was excited to see the castle from Braveheart when she moved to Trim. She said Gibson is also one of her favourite actors, adding: 'I was so excited to see him.' She added: 'He was a bit tired but he looks great.'
North Wales Chronicle
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans to mark 30 years of Braveheart film
Fans travelled from all over Ireland to get a chance of meeting the Oscar-winning actor and director, who starred as the Scottish hero in the historical epic. The film was mostly shot in Ireland – despite the story being set in Scotland – after the Irish government lobbied and offered to supply 1,600 army reserves as extras. People queued at Trim Castle Hotel to meet Gibson and other Braveheart cast members. The event was held as part of the local King John Summer Prom festival, with proceeds raised for the Irish Equity Support Fund. Maksim Okhotnikov, eight, dressed up as Braveheart hero William Wallace in a costume created by his mother, who also sketched a charcoal drawing of Gibson. 'I didn't watch all of the film, I just watched pieces because it's (rated) 16+,' Maksim told the PA news agency. Asked what he likes about the film, he said: 'I like himself'. Adam Walker and his son, Nathan, seven, from Dublin, were among the first people into the room to meet the cast. 'Obviously he's too young to watch the full movie, so I was trying to show him the quotes, the big freedom speech at the end of the movie. We were watching that, we were watching the mad Irishman of course: David O'Hara who plays Stephen of Ireland,' Mr Walker told PA. 'We were at the Q&A yesterday and a lot of the lads pointed out that the actors said the thing that it did was it really changed things, Ireland seemed to really latch onto it, there was a lot of similarities between the Irish and the Scottish, but it seemed to call out to everybody. 'We were looking for a wedding venue 12 years back and we were looking everywhere and we found here, it was lovely, the prices were great, and then I read at the end the castle was where Braveheart was filmed. 'I said to my wife 'we're doing it' so we got married in the room just there and we had the castle as the backdrop. 'So it's very interesting to be able to come back 12 years later and actually meet Mel Gibson here, and this little lad wasn't even alive at the time.' Elaine Coyle, who travelled with her mother from Dublin, said watching Braveheart was a family tradition. 'My dad would be a big fan, it's what we grew up with. It's a Christmas tradition in our house,' she said. She said of the film: 'You can relate to it as an Irish person a little bit too, it's iconic. 'It definitely opened the door to the Irish economy around films, it completely changed how the industry worked going forward, but I think in general people recognise that it made such an impact on Ireland, and we can also relate to the history of it. It's generational.' Cousins Eileen Shields and Anita McGrath travelled from Galway at 6am to meet the star. They said they are fans of Gibson's films Lethal Weapon and Daddy's Home 2. 'He has a wicked wink in his eye,' Eileen Shields said. 'It was lovely to meet him, short and sweet but it's nice to have the opportunity. 'Hopefully we see a lot more of him in Ireland. You know his family are from Longford, he was named after St Mel's Cathedral.' Anita McGrath said: 'I crocheted a shamrock for him, for good luck, so I gave it to him and he said 'thanks very much'. Just something different.' Ms Shields added: 'He wiped his brow with it.' Sevinc Ozogul, who lives across the road from the hotel, said she was excited to see the castle from Braveheart when she moved to Trim. She said Gibson is also one of her favourite actors, adding: 'I was so excited to see him.' She added: 'He was a bit tired but he looks great.'
Rhyl Journal
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans to mark 30 years of Braveheart film
Fans travelled from all over Ireland to get a chance of meeting the Oscar-winning actor and director, who starred as the Scottish hero in the historical epic. The film was mostly shot in Ireland – despite the story being set in Scotland – after the Irish government lobbied and offered to supply 1,600 army reserves as extras. People queued at Trim Castle Hotel to meet Gibson and other Braveheart cast members. The event was held as part of the local King John Summer Prom festival, with proceeds raised for the Irish Equity Support Fund. Maksim Okhotnikov, eight, dressed up as Braveheart hero William Wallace in a costume created by his mother, who also sketched a charcoal drawing of Gibson. 'I didn't watch all of the film, I just watched pieces because it's (rated) 16+,' Maksim told the PA news agency. Asked what he likes about the film, he said: 'I like himself'. Adam Walker and his son, Nathan, seven, from Dublin, were among the first people into the room to meet the cast. 'Obviously he's too young to watch the full movie, so I was trying to show him the quotes, the big freedom speech at the end of the movie. We were watching that, we were watching the mad Irishman of course: David O'Hara who plays Stephen of Ireland,' Mr Walker told PA. 'We were at the Q&A yesterday and a lot of the lads pointed out that the actors said the thing that it did was it really changed things, Ireland seemed to really latch onto it, there was a lot of similarities between the Irish and the Scottish, but it seemed to call out to everybody. 'We were looking for a wedding venue 12 years back and we were looking everywhere and we found here, it was lovely, the prices were great, and then I read at the end the castle was where Braveheart was filmed. 'I said to my wife 'we're doing it' so we got married in the room just there and we had the castle as the backdrop. 'So it's very interesting to be able to come back 12 years later and actually meet Mel Gibson here, and this little lad wasn't even alive at the time.' Elaine Coyle, who travelled with her mother from Dublin, said watching Braveheart was a family tradition. 'My dad would be a big fan, it's what we grew up with. It's a Christmas tradition in our house,' she said. She said of the film: 'You can relate to it as an Irish person a little bit too, it's iconic. 'It definitely opened the door to the Irish economy around films, it completely changed how the industry worked going forward, but I think in general people recognise that it made such an impact on Ireland, and we can also relate to the history of it. It's generational.' Cousins Eileen Shields and Anita McGrath travelled from Galway at 6am to meet the star. They said they are fans of Gibson's films Lethal Weapon and Daddy's Home 2. 'He has a wicked wink in his eye,' Eileen Shields said. 'It was lovely to meet him, short and sweet but it's nice to have the opportunity. 'Hopefully we see a lot more of him in Ireland. You know his family are from Longford, he was named after St Mel's Cathedral.' Anita McGrath said: 'I crocheted a shamrock for him, for good luck, so I gave it to him and he said 'thanks very much'. Just something different.' Ms Shields added: 'He wiped his brow with it.' Sevinc Ozogul, who lives across the road from the hotel, said she was excited to see the castle from Braveheart when she moved to Trim. She said Gibson is also one of her favourite actors, adding: 'I was so excited to see him.' She added: 'He was a bit tired but he looks great.'
