Nostalgia time for 007 star
MEATHMAN'S DIARY: Time for an arts and film festival in Navan to celebrate Pierce Brosnan
Our old friend Pierce Brosnan has been doing the media rounds over the past week, including an appearance on Graham Norton's show on Saturday night. The Navan native actor has been promoting his new series for Paramount Plus, 'Mobland' in which he plays the head of an Irish London crime family, alongside Helen Mirren, with Tom Hardy as his 'fixer'.
Among those who travelled over to London to interview him was another Navan native, Thomas Crosse of FM104 Radio's 'Strawberry Alarm Clock', invited after his previous encounter with the former 007 went viral. The duo struck it off when Crossy told Pierce that he was a Navan man as well when interviewing him on the release of 2020 movie, 'Black Adam'. That video has got nearly “half a billion” views online since then.
Crossy was more prepared for his meeting with Bond (I'm going to call him Bond, for old times' sake!) this time. Before travelling over to London, he looked around Navan to see could he find something special to bring to 007. And he approached Navan and District Historical Society, who gave him a pin with the town crest on it. But there was something else, extra special. Older residents of St Finian's Terrace, where Bond lived until he was 14 years of age, had a photograph of him as a young lad on the terrace. These included members of the Mulvany family, one of whom travelled to England to work in nursing with Bond's mother, May, who is still hale and hearty and living in London.
The photo features a young Bond looking down along the terrace, standing somewhere around where the library and arts centre is now situated, at Hosie's Garage. The photo had been missing for years, but when the request came in from Crossy, a search began, and a copy was found in time for him to bring to London.
Pierce was delighted to get a copy of the original. “This is a classic photograph,” he said. “I've made a painting of this photograph.”
An emotional Bond called it a very poignant photograph. “Young Piercey Brosnan in short trousers, casting a shadow, the sun on his back.” Others in the photo were named by the society.
Pierce says he must get back to Navan soon for a few pints and a visit to St Mary's Church, as he puts on his very questionable Mobland Irish accent (his voice coach from Belfast has a lot to answer to!)
He tells Crossy “we should do a Navan men on tour” show, which is not a bad idea. I'd suggest starting it in Navan, as part of a Pierce Brosnan arts and film festival, celebrating all his work over the years, from 'Murphy's Stroke', a 1979 movie with Niall Toibin on attempted horseracing coup, the Gay Future affair, to 'Remington Steele', to Bond, 'Mrs Doubtfire', up to the 'Thursday Murder Club', yet to be released, with Helen Mirren, who some 40 years ago, filmed 'Cal' in Navan.
We have two cinemas in Navan, the Arc and the Solstice. Lots of film and TV talent, and a town crying out for a decent festival. And a star who still appreciates his native town. How hard can it be?