AFTER MUCH negotiation over the past couple of months it has been confirmed that Enniscorthy will host the first public screening of the major motion picture Brooklyn, part of which was filmed in the town last year.
Despite the lack of a cinema in the town, Wexford County Council have managed to pull off somewhat of a coup by agreeing a deal with distributors Lionsgate UK to stage the public premiere in The Riverside Park Hotel on October 28 after its closed national premiere in Dublin.
The distributors agreed to stage the event in Enniscorthy as a result of author Colm Toibin’s strong connections with the town, as well as the fact that such a chunk of the movie was recorded here. All of the glitz and glamour of a movie premiere is promised and the ballroom and reception of the Riverside Park Hotel are due to be transformed into a magnificent cinematic auditorium.
Actress Saoirse Ronan has already confirmed her attendance at the Wexford premiere, along with Colm Toibin and it is expected that the film’s other stars – Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent and Julie Waters – will confirm their attendance in the coming weeks.
Invitations to the stellar event have also been issued to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin and Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe and they are all hopefuly of attending, work schedules permitting.
GFD Conferencing from Dublin have been contracted by District Manager Padraig O’Gorman to technically and visually transform the transmission area into a cinematic auditorium worthy of hosting such a prestigious event, complete with tiered seating, cinematic screen and lighting and a wrap-around sound system. However, due to the logistical constraints attached to this operation, tickets to the premiere will be limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. They go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday) from The Riverside Park Hotel at a cost of €30.
For more, see this week’s Enniscorthy Echo.
Saoirse Ronan on set in Enniscorthy last year. The actress has already confirmed her attendance at next month’s Wexford premiere at The Riverside Park Hotel. Pic: John Walsh