Limerick audiences appeared largely in favour of Angela's Ashes at the film premiere in the city last night, applauding politely after it was shown on two of the screens at the Omniplex Cinema complex.
After the showing the city's mayor, Councillor Jack Bourke, described it as a "brilliant" film but the chairman of Limerick County Council, Councillor Michael O'Kelly, said it was exaggerated. He disagreed particularly with the depiction of the St Vincent de Paul Society and the clergy in the film.
Ms Sylvia McCloskey, from Barrack Hill, close to the area where Angela's Ashes is set, said it was a well-made film which accurately portrayed the book. But Mr Brian McNamara felt there were not enough local accents to be heard. "They were all Cork or Dublin" he said. He added that he thought the film made Irish people look "amadanish".
Mr Vincent Purcell, from Crecora, Co Limerick, said it was an excellent film whose depiction of Limerick in the 1940s could be of any town in Ireland.
"It did a better job of Limerick than Strumpet City did of Dublin," was the verdict of Mr Tommy Hughes, a Dubliner living in Limerick.
The two screenings of the film in Limerick in front of more than 700 people in the cinema complex are expected to raise £14,000 for Focus Ireland.
A statement from Frank McCourt was read to the audience, explaining his absence from the Limerick and Dublin premieres. He is presently doing a promotional tour for his latest book, 'Tis. McCourt said he was saddened not to be at the premiere "especially because I know Alan Parker put his whole soul into the film".
Among those who attended the Limerick screenings were two cousins of Mr McCourt, Mr Patrick Sheehan and Mr Tommy Sheehan, and friends from the Limerick lanes, Mr Billy Campbell and Mr Gerry Lillis.
Not on the guest list was the now famous detractor of the Angela's Ashes phenomenon, Mr Gerry Hannan, a bookseller and part-time presenter on RLO [Radio Limerick One] 105.
Alleging that there are major inaccuracies in the memoir , Mr Hannan wants the book to be reclassified as fiction. But he will go to see the film.
In the meantime, he is busy doing interviews with the world media as the bete noire of Mr McCourt. "I think it has been a successful campaign because there are people out there now saying this [the book] is not 100 per cent accurate. That is the object of the exercise, so mission accomplished."