Back to toga times in Ballymore

08 August 2003: The recreation of a Roman fortress and village in Ballymore is well underway and looking increasingly authentic. With the completion of the wall, set builders for a film set in those times have now turned their attention to creating a rural community, typical of the 6th century.

Soon ploughing will begin on the fields in front of the main fortress entrance and renowned ploughman Godfrey Worrell has been hired to oversee this task. A lime kiln has appeared since my last visit and the main fortress gateway looks positively imperial with it’s Romanesque columns and detailed cornices. Further along the walls, double arched gates provide the more regular entrance for inhabitants or traders to the village which now includes a forge, stables, granary, workshops, storehouses and headquarters, some with recreated interiors.

So who’s going to argue if it’s not authentic? Kay Hartigan in charge of ‘greens’ for Evergreen Productions shakes her head ruefully and adds: “You must be joking. A huge amount of research is undertaken to ensure every scene, every last tiny detail is loyal to Roman architecture and style. Our Art Dept, under Dan Weil (Set Designer) draws every scene and set beforehand – Dan is meticulous and formerly worked on epic film, Joan of Arc.”

Kay points to the area beyond the Roman dirt track. “That area there was disturbed due to set construction and needed some grass restoration. We spent ages trying to find some grass sod that matched – and I was damned lucky to source it in Galway. By the time shooting begins, the grass will have blended in completely with the original.”

So much for the glamour of Hollywood! It’s a regular 11 hour working day for Kay and colleagues working at the Unit Base at Mountcashel which comprises of individual units – cameras, lighting, tools, nurse’s station, painters, craftsmen, Art Department etc. Some 300 workmen have been involved with building the set so far and for the plasterers and painters, the job is almost complete.

Within the fortress village, the tar and chip roadways will be covered in at least 2 inches of soil. When filming has ceased, the tar and chip will be completely lifted and removed and the grass restored as to it’s previous condition. (Isn’t it a pity they couldn’t leave the set there and we could develop it as a major tourist attraction?). The graveyard scene is finished save for the placing of swords (Roman tradition for marking the grave of a knight/soldier) and the Art Department is already making sketches of the crucifixion scenes. The vanquished were regularly tied or stapled to wooden stakes or poles, placed in a cross formation and set alight – well, that would secure an empire, wouldn’t it.

This, Bugle readers, is no fairytale. It will entail realistic battle scenes of the Romans – under the leadership of Arthur – against the Saxons, with lots of blood and guts.

“It’s a little more realistic than the glorified tales of Arthur to date. This centres around one of the last major battles before the collapse of the Roman Empire in Britain. Arthur and fellow knights escort a Cardinal Satorius from the estate of Marius (shot on location at Luggalo, Co Wicklow) to Hadrian’s Wall where, on safe deliverance of the Cardinal, they are promised their freedom. Instead of returning triumphant to Russia, Arthur, now a freed knight, choses to remain in England and the rest, as they say, is history ...”

Don’t ask me to explain how Arthur, whom I always thought to be Welsh was fighting, as a part Welsh/part Russian knight, to save the Roman Empire – in England – against the Saxons who were, I think, part Viking, part English….. Come back, Sean Connery, all is forgiven!

Already director Antonio Faqua has begun shooting in Wicklow with sets also at Glenmalure and Turlough Hill. Mountcashel proved ideal for shooting a period film with it’s rich grassy fields and deciduous trees, minus the phone lines or visible electricity poles and no doubt, the reputation of Braveheart enticed the makers to check the site out.

Filming is expected to begin on schedule in August with Clive Owen (Bourne Identidy) in the lead role, Ioan Gruffudd as Lancelot, Stpehan Dillane as Merlin, Mads Mikkelsen as Tristran, Joel Edgerton as Gawain, Keira Keithley (Bend it like Beckham) as Guinevere and actors, Hugh Dancy, Ray Winstone, Ray Stevenson, Sean Gilder and Pat Kinevane as leading knights. Not a sign of Paddy Melia ...

As the media speculate whether Brockheimer’s masterpiece will exceed E100 million, Kay monitors the integration of her newly planted grass sods, a far cry from the glamour and glitz of Hollywood. And when the battle scenes begin – filming will begin in August - sword against sword, horseman against horseman, the colouration of the grass will be the least of Arthur’s problems. Whatever will we do for excitement in Ballymore Eustace again?

Story by
Rose O'Donoghue of the Ballymore Bugle



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