SOME people ask where you were when J.F.K. was assassinated in Dallas. Around Dingle, people like to know where you were when the advance production unit that was coming to film the epic Ryan's Daughter rolled into the peninsula. It was an exciting time. People were caught up in it and the whole episode is remembered still with great affection.
A 10-day festival begins on March 12th next to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie. It is being organised by Dingle Peninsula Tourism. "Ryan's Daughter Revisited" is the theme of the festival. Who better than the good folk of Kerry to get a 10-day celebration going for an event that took place 30 years ago? The advance crew announced when it arrived in Dingle that the project would last for six months.
In the event, the film took more than twice that time to come to fruition. It cost $6 million and entailed the construction of a new village - the mythical Kirrary, at Dun Chaoin. By the time it was all over, the people of the peninsula felt quite at home in the presence of stars such as Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, Trevor Howard, Christopher Jones, John Mills, Leo McKern and Barry Foster. A young Niall Toibin was also there. He will be the guest of honour at a gala dinner to launch the festival.
Dingle Peninsula has always been a favourite spot for Irish and foreign tourists. After the film was released, and when it won two Oscars, the peninsula was on the map forever. It has become a place almost of pilgrimage for visitors who wish to see where the filming took place.
An Rialtas a' bFhearr was Micheal de Mordha's beautifully-written book in Irish on the making of the film. It contains equally beautiful photography by Ken Barry. The book is about to be translated into English.