Ballroom of romance director returns to ballycroy

New entity Film Mayo invited internationally renowned film director Pat O’Connor as special guest for its launch before Christmas. 

 

Pat has a very special relationship with Mayo since filming The Ballroom of Romance in Ballycroy in the early '80s. He has very fond memories of his time in Mayo, particularly the warmth of the people in Ballycroy, and he agreed to be the special guest at the launch of Film Mayo because of the affection he holds in his heart for the county.

 

During his visit, Pat talked of how shooting in Mayo was a very special time for him and one of the most fulfilling experiences he ever had in filmmaking.

 

And, prior to the Film Mayo launch, Pat availed of the chance to revisit The Ballroom of Romance in Ballycroy and catch up with some of the local people who starred in the film. Receiving the same warm welcome that he had in the 1980s, he found it a very emotional experience and was delighted to have the opportunity to meet and talk to the people he had worked with and thought so fondly of during the shoot. They reminisced over tea and cakes in Ballycroy Community Hall.

 

To name but a few, Pat had the opportunity to catch up with and chat to: Pat Gallagher (who played the man with the long arms in the film), Dolly Murray (an extra), Willy Togher (the door man), Martin Murray (the drummer) and Liam Togher (who played Bridie’s (Brenda Fricker’s) young lover). 

 

Coincidentally, photographer Terry O’Brien had a photographic exhibition of images he had taken during the shoot of The Ballroom of Romance on display in the hall in Ballycroy. Pat also had an opportunity to see The Ballroom of Romance as it is now and call into Cleary’s pub and shop.

 

Born in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, Pat is a renowned director and a BAFTA and Jacob’s Award winner. He lived in Los Angeles and Toronto before returning to Ireland to become a producer/director for RTÉ in Dublin, where he produced and directed more than 45 television features and documentaries. He began making dramatic films for Irish TV in 1976.

 

Among the many talented actors he worked with were Brenda Fricker, John Kavanagh, Niall Tobin, Mick Lally and Cyril Cusack in The Ballroom of Romance.

 

Pat now lives in New York and continues to be a passionate filmmaker and advocate for quality in the industry.

 

For more on Film Mayo, an initiative of Mayo County Council’s arts service, see www.filmmayo.ie