Actor and director Mel Gibson is in Trim as a series of events begin to mark the 30th anniversary of the making of the Oscar-winning film, Braveheart, part of which was filmed in the historic Co Meath town.
A host of other actors from the film are also in town as part of the King John Summer Prom Festival, which takes place this weekend.
Mr Gibson, who directed, produced and starred in the 1995 film arrived in Ireland yesterday from Italy, where he is preparing to shoot his sequel to The Passion of the Christ.
Other Braveheart actors who will also attend the festival over the weekend include David O’Hara (Stephen, the Irishman), Angus Macfadyen (Robert the Bruce), Mhairi Calvey (Young Murron MacClannough), John Murtagh (Lochlan) and Andrew Weir (Young Hamish Campbell).
Mr Gibson, who portrayed the character of Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England, will sign 200 limited edition posters in Trim this morning.
Organisers said that all proceeds from the sale of the posters will be donated to the Irish Equity Benevolent Fund, with the money ultimately being given to actors who have fallen on hard times.
A matinee concert with the 65-piece Irish Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Niall O’Sullivan, celebrating the music of some of cinema’s greatest composers, will take place this afternoon at the big top on the outskirts of the town.
This evening, Mr Gibson and his fellow cast members will attend a special 30th anniversary outdoor screening of the movie, which is often credited with kick starting the Irish film industry.
The events form part of the King John Summer Prom Festival with organisers promising a weekend of “cinematic soundscapes, soaring vocals and symphonic wonder”.
With around 300 performers from home and abroad, those behind the event said the weekend is expected to be the “largest orchestral festival on the island of Ireland”.
Eric Lawlor from the festival committee, as well as several of those who were involved in different aspects of film’s production, have been recounting their fond memories of when ‘Braveheart’ and Hollywood came to town.
Despite its Scottish setting, the iconic film was primarily shot in Ireland with locations in counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, providing the landscape for many of its medieval scenes.
Tax incentives, as well as the availability of members of the Defence Forces to act as extras, helped to seal the deal for Mr Gibson, following a meeting with Irish producer Morgan O’Sullivan and then minister for the arts Michael D Higgins in 1994.
He announced that the movie, which had an estimated budget of $72 million, and was originally scheduled to be filmed entirely on location in Scotland, would instead be, for the most part, made in Ireland.
Trim Castle was portrayed as the fortified English town of ‘York’ while the ‘London square’ was also created on the other side of the castle wall.
The film proved to be a global success and was nominated in ten categories at the 68th Academy Awards, taking home five awards, including Best Picture.
