The day Sir Sean visited Dundalk’s Harp Brewery
Film lovers around the world were saddened by the news that Scottish actor Sean Connery had died on Saturday, aged 90. The actor , who is best remembered for playing James Bond between 1962 and 71, won a string of acting awards including an Oscar, two Bafta awards and three Golden Globes.
The famous actor, who was knighted in 2000, was among a group of celebrities who visited the Harp Brewery in the 1960s- a visit which was remembered by Dundalk people this week.
Connery is pictured above during the visit, was with the group which included with actors Eric Sykes, Stanley Maker, Michael Medwin and singer Ronnie Carroll, who were brought to Dundalk to visit the state of the art brewery. While in town Connery stayed at the nearby
Derryhale Hotel and is reported to have visited Blackrock to have a drink with his friend, writer Len Deighton as the novelist had a home in the village at the time.
The brewery was at the hub of the town’s social and commerical life and was closely associated with events such as the Maytime Festival as well as numerous sporting events. Other celebrities who visited it included sportstars Jackie Charlton, Ian Botham, Ken Doherty and Dundalk’s own World Cup star Stephen Stauntonn.
A proud Scot who grew up in poverty in Edinburgh, Connery had Irish roots. His greatgrandfather James Connery emigrated from Wexford during the famine. Connery lived in Bray for a time during the ‘seventies.