Glitz has visited our own Hollywood

WHILE the Hollywood hills in America are often seen as the hub of all things glitz and glamour, a small village of the same name has also found its place in the film world.

The quaint village of Hollywood has provided the backdrop for some big name films in the past, ‘Michael Collins’ being one of the best known. During the filming in 1995, stars such as Liam Leeson and Julia Roberts became familiar faces in the village and often stopped in the local pubs Tutty’s Bar and The Hollywood Inn for a break between shoots. The famous scene at Béal na mBláth when Collins was killed in an ambush was filmed in nearby Corrigans field.

While many locals have played their part in the various filming, nobody has been more involved than local family the Tuttys, who have lent their pub to some of the film crews and rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest stars in the movie world.

A particular photograph that stands out in local history is the one featuring the late local publican Jim with the actress Meryl Streep, who was in town for the filming of ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’. Many people refer to it as the day that two Hollywood greats came together.

Local man Dick Burke also remembers Streep’s visit to the town as she often passed by his Hollywood home.

‘She used to pass by on her high nelly bike when she was being filmed,’ he said. ‘Everyone was delighted to have the film crew in town. We are the original Hollywood you know!’

Many local people also found themselves as extras in the films. Dick himself had his moment in the spotlight when he landed a role as an extra in ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’, an experience he said he found extremely interesting.

‘I didn’t get the role for my good looks,’ he laughed. ‘All you could see was the back of my head and that was enough!’

Other movies to have taken advantage of the unique character of the main street of the village include ‘This is my Father’ and ‘Durango’. Hollywood has also served as the film set for several TV series and many ads in recent years, including some of the Jameson ads. According to Dick, locals love the attention while many tourists flock to the village to get an insider’s look at the movie magic.