Latest news with #TrimCastle
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Braveheart faithful join cast and Hollywood star Gibson to mark 30th anniversary of production
As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the film Braveheart, a large crowd descended on Trim to meet cast members, including Mel Gibson. In Trim Court Hotel, across from Trim Castle, fans and extras from the film queued for up to 90 minutes to get film posters and other memorabilia signed by the cast. The celebrations were part of the King John Summer Prom being held in the town over the weekend. Paul Wilson with his poster. Photograph: Stephen Farrell Some people travelled from abroad to be there , including Paul Wilson (42) from Irvine, Scotland. He explained that, as well as getting a Braveheart poster signed by the cast, he also had a photograph he took of the valley in Glencoe, Scotland, where Gibson stood during the film, signed by the star. 'That meant an awful lot to me,' said Wilson. READ MORE He has always had an interest in the history of Scotland and feels the film has had a profound effect on the people there. 'Thanks to Braveheart, it gave Scots a sense of pride and patriotism, it inspired more people to think about independence. That is still there,' he said. William Wallace, who is the subject of the film and is played by Gibson, was a national hero in Scotland in the late 13th and early 14th centuries and helped inspire resistance against England's King Edward I. Locations in Ireland used for the film include Trim Castle, Bective Abbey, which is to the east of Trim, and the Curragh in Co Kildare. During filming, members of the FCA (Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil), the previous name for the reserve force of the Irish Army, were used as battle scene extras, including Gary Downes (47) and Vinnie McConnell (47), who were also in Trim today. Gary Downes and Vinnie McConnell with their signed photographs. Photograph: Stephen Farrell Downes, who is from Dublin but lives in Alicante, Spain, said that during filming, he and McConnell received a photograph of Gibson in full battle dress and blue face paint which the actor signed today. 'When Mel heard we had the photos, we met him at 10 o'clock this morning. He's a gentleman, he took time out to meet us. When he saw the photos, he said, 'oh my god, the Panavision camera!',' said Downes. Panavision cameras were used to shoot various scenes in the film. McConnell, who is from Firhouse, Dublin, and who was a member of the FCA in Cathal Brugha Barracks, said that he and Downes were 16 years old at the time of the film. 'We put peat moss on any exposed skin to reflect the dirty look,' he added. Downes recalled some of his memories of being on set. 'It was one of the hottest summers, we would be up at 4am, Mel was a very good horseman, the craic in the barracks at night time was great.' Another extra present for the signing this morning, and who was also an FCA member, was Eamonn Moloney (49). 'I got my Leaving Cert results on the Curragh. I was a member of the 22nd Infantry Ennis, F platoon. There were three of us on the shoot [and] we called ourselves F platoon. We were the last to get our costumes, we got the same coloured tartan as Mel,' he said. He recalled that despite being extras, they were up close and personal with the stars. Stunt performances were a standout memory for Moloney, who recalled being 'surrounded by sheets of fire in Ballymore Eustace'. He was also at the signing to extend his thanks to Gibson and the cast, as his experience gave him a great sense of confidence. 'I'm still proud 30 years later to have been part of it,' he added. John Mitchell: 'I can visit all the monuments and cairns to William Wallace that stand to this day.' Photograph: Stephen Farrell Another Scot who travelled over for the celebration was John Mitchell (50), from East Renfrewshire, in Scotland. 'I can visit all the monuments and cairns to William Wallace that stand to this day,' he said. It is reputed that Wallace was born near Paisley, which is about 10km west of Glasgow, in about the year 1270.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans 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'. 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.'
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans in Co Meath 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. Advertisement 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. Actor Mel Gibson signs posters in aid of the Irish Equity Support Fund at the Trim Castle Hotel, Co Meath (Conor O Mearain/PA) 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. Advertisement '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'. Actor Mel Gibson meets fans Adam Walker and his son Nathan, from Dublin (Conor O Mearain/PA) Adam Walker and his son Nathan (7) 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. Advertisement '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 Maksim Okhotnikov wore a costume created by his mother (Conor O Mearain/PA) 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.' Advertisement 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. Actor Mel Gibson records a video message for Rian Egan, from Gorey, Co Wexford (Conor O Mearain/PA) '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.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mel Gibson poses for selfies with fans 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'. 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.'
