VIDEO: Pierce Brosnan and Randal Plunkett feature in documentary partly shot in Navan and Dunsany to be screened next week

A feature length documentary, partly shot in Meath and featuring Pierce Brosnan and Lord Randal Plunkett, will be released in Ireland and the UK on April 29th.

'Quintessentially Irish', directed by Frank Mannion, was partly shot in Navan and Dunsany and will be screened at The Solstice Arts Centre in Navan on 29th April and 9th May.

In the film, Pierce Brosnan speaks very fondly about growing up in Navan describing it as ‘a wonderful, magical, joyful childhood’. He reminisced about ‘serving Mass at St Mary’s Church, making bulrush rafts and going out on the river’. He remembers the convent being close by with nuns making buttermilk and going out to get the hay on an old wagon. Filming took place at local beauty spots including Athlumney Castle, the Boyne itself, the street where Pierce grew up and the now demolished Boyne Crest.

The film celebrates everything that is great and Irish. It features a stellar cast offering their take on what’s quintessentially Irish, a veritable who’s who of Irish acting and political royalty led by Pierce Brosnan and three heads of state - President Michael D Higgins, President Joe Biden and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. The film crew had exclusive access to the White House on St Patrick's Day and the documentary was described as a “lush valentine to everything great and Irish” by the Mail.

As well as Pierce Brosnan, the cast includes Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, Randal Plunkett, filmmaker and conservationist (aka Lord Dunsany), Prince Albert II of Monaco (discussing the Irish heritage of his mother the Oscar winning actress Grace Kelly), Bob Geldof, Andrew Scott, Siobhan McSweeney, President Michael D Higgins, Rory Guinness (great-great-great grandson of Guinness founder, Arthur Guinness), business tycoon Dr Michael Smurfit, Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole, Grand National winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, trainer Aidan O’Brien, best-selling writer Emma Dabiri, Celebrity Masterchef winner Riyadh Khalaf, chef Anna Haugh, Olympic Gold medallist Usain Bolt and his agent Ricky Simms and more, including a cameo from Mullingar native Niall Horan and Navan’s own Thomas “Crossy” Crosse appearing on the IFTAs red carpet.

The filmmakers had exclusive access to the White House on St Patrick's and to the Palace of Monaco and Aras an Uachtarain during the State visit of Joe Biden in April 2023. The film shot all over the country, north and south, including Navan and Dunsany Castle in County Meath, the Irish Derby at the Curragh, the K Club in Kildare, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, the Little Museum of Dublin, Dublin Castle, Trinity College Dublin, the Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas in County Carlow, The IFTA Awards and Grace Kelly’s homestead in Drumirla in County Mayo.

It is the third film directed by Irishman Frank Mannion, after his acclaimed debut 'Sparkling: The Story of Champagne', featuring Stephen Fry and 'Quintessentially British' with Ian McKellen and Judi Dench.

Mannion says, “I am delighted that Quintessentially Irish will be showing in Navan at the Solstice Arts Theatre. Pierce Brosnan speaks very fondly about growing up in Navan. Pierce enjoyed picking up an O’Neills hurley and sporting the green and gold colours of Meath. We also filmed with the conservationist and filmmaker Randal Plunkett at Dunsany Castle where he talked about his family’s extraordinary history, as well as his memories of Mel Gibson filming Braveheart at the estate chapel. ”

Quintessentially Irish will be playing at the Solstice Arts Theatre in Navan on 29th April and 9th May, and the film will be available on streaming in Ireland and the UK from 29th April. The film’s premiere will take place at the VISUAL George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow on Sunday 21st April at 7.30pm, preceded by a reception sponsored by Santa Rita wines and Bushmills.