When the movies came to town

By Stan McCormack, Kilbeggan

I was delighted to read in the Westmeath Examiner about the Mullingar History Trail Guide, which seems to be a great idea and something to look forward to at this difficult time. The reference to movies being made in the area brought back memories of some of those.

Westmeath may not have the sprawling beauty of the coastal counties, but it has been used to make several historic movies, based on true events, in ‘Captain Boycott’ (1947) and ‘The First Great Train Robbery (1979)’.

The story of Captain Boycott is so well known that it is not necessary to repeat it in detail. In 1880 Parnell encouraged his followers to systematically and legally refuse to work for, socialise or deal with certain land agents. Captain Boycott was the first victim of this treatment. It led to the creation of a new word in the English language as the captain was ‘boycotted’ for many years.

Philip Rooney (who worked in a bank in Mullingar at one stage) wrote a novel ‘Captain Boycott’ and in 1946 it was decided to film part of it in Westmeath.

Advertisements appeared in local newspapers for a crowd of 1,500 people for film work at Mullingar Racecourse at 15/= per person. Filming took place on the August bank holiday weekend at Newbrook racecourse. The film starred Stewart Granger, Kathleen Ryan, Cecil Parker as Captain Boycott, Robert Donat as Parnell, and many Irish actors like Noel Purcell and Eddie Byrne.

Two local stars were also in the film. Bernadette Farrell from Birr was the daughter of a bank manager, and she starred in the series of St Trinian’s films he produced in the 1950s and 1960s. She is best remembered, however, for playing the part of Maid Marian in 1955-57 on the long running TV series Robin Hood (starring Richard Greene).

Pat Layde of Patrick Street, Mullingar went on to be a great actor in Abbey productions and in other movies, such as Ryan’s Daughter.

The Mullingar racecourse (closed 1967) was chosen because of the original ornate stands. The weigh rooms were used as dressing rooms, film equipment was stored in Stand House and cameras were concealed in the stands.

The female cast wore shawls and long frocks and the men side beards and hard hats to recall the days of Parnell and Davitt. The racing scene in the novel involved the crowds surging forward to stop Boycott’s horse winning at Corran Races. It is worth checking out the film to see this scene.

The director used Ladestown House on Lough Ennell as Lough Mask House.

JC Lyons, author of ‘The History of the Grand Juries of Westmeath’, resided at Ladestown in early 19th century. Mrs Gladys Macarthney owned Ladestown House when Captain Boycott was being filmed. She described filmmakers as “curious mortals”.

Ladestown House appears in a number of scenes in the movie, which was a big hit in Ireland. Apparently film ‘rushes’ were shown at Healy’s Coliseum Cinema in Mullingar.

THE FIRST GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY

The First Great Train Robbery (1979) cost $7 million to make and was directed by Michael Creighton. It was based on the true story of the first ever robbery on a train in 1855, during which gold being shipped to the British Army was stolen.

The stars of the film were Sean Connery, best remembered as the ultimate James Bond in six films between 1962 and 1971 and winner of Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards in 1988 for his role in The Untouchables; Donald Sutherland, the Canadian star of MASH, Kelly’s Heroes, The Dirty Dozen, Klute, and Don’t Look Now, and Lesley Anne Down, the English actress best known for her TV role in Upstairs Downstairs.

Nuala Holloway from Moate, and former Miss Ireland (the only winner from Westmeath), had a part in the film and also doubled for Miss Down. She went on to become a noted portrait artist whose subjects included President McAleese and Seve Ballesteros, and has had many public exhibitions in recent years.

The main stars of the film were two steam locomotives, which were restored for service and based at Mullingar Railway Station. Heuston Station in Dublin was altered to represent the Victorian period including the erection of offices, signs, posters and horse drawn transport.

Moate and Castletown Geoghegan stations were also refurnished and their names changed (Moate to Ashford). The crew of about 150 people, actors, extras, and the production team, spent around two weeks in and around Moate.

The cast of the movie stayed at the Royal Hoey Hotel, Moate for a few weeks while filming. They had breakfast at around 4am before filming at Moate Railway Station. In the hotel they had to put two beds together for Donald Sutherland (6ft 4ins) because he was so tall.

Westmeath also had a connection with the TV production of another historic event in Thomas Flanagan’s ‘The Year of the French’, made in 1981. About 150 Westmeath extras were used in scenes filmed at Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham at a cost of around £2,500 per day. It’s noteworthy that Wilson’s Hospital was used by the Irish as part of the real rebellion in 1798.

Nuala Holloway from The First Great Train Robbery also had a part in this production, and Wilson’s Hospital was also used for ‘Fools of Fortune’ (1990) starring Julie Christie and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and set in the 1920s in Ireland.

Perhaps some producer looking for a interesting area to film a historical movie in the near future might cast an eye towards Westmeath as a suitable site?