Irish writer Colm Tóibín is delighted that the new movie based on his book is being shot in his hometown of Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
It is like the wheel has turned full circle for Tóibín, whose novel Brooklyn has been adapted by Nick Hornby for the silver screen.
Tóibín was born and raised in Enniscorthy in the 1950s and now will see his story being brought to life by Hollywood’s finest in the town in which he grew up.
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan is to play the leading lady, and she could be seen shivering and clutching a hot water bottle between takes yesterday as she suffered in the windy conditions.
Ronan will play an Irish woman who travels to New York on the advice of a Catholic priest. There she falls in love and marries an Italian plumber, before having to return to Ireland following the death of her sister.
Back in Ireland she begins a relationship with a local man and must decide whether to remain with him and the comforts of her hometown, or return to New York for an exciting new life with her husband.
‘You can feel the excitement in the air’
The Enniscorthy residents are rightly excited as the stars of Hollywood landed on their doorsteps. Almost 100 locals have been hired to play extras in the film.
Enniscorthy town clerk David Minogue said: “There is a buzz about the place. It’s like a homecoming for Tóibín. This is where Colm is from, he’s one of our well-loved sons so we’re delighted his film is being shot here. You can feel the excitement in the air.”
Ronan has become a big star in the last few years. Since catching the eye with her superb performances in Atonement and The Lovely Bones, she has received offers from several top directors from the US and Ireland.
In contrast to her character in Brooklyn, Ronan was actually born in New York, before her parents returned to Co Carlow where she grew up.
The film is expected to be a big success, as Hornby has recalled his production team that he worked with for the 2009 Oscar-nominated An Education.
Click here to read more about Saoirse Ronan
