Filming 'The Field' in Leenane, Co. Galway, Ireland 1989

Jim Sheridan’s film production of John B Keane’s play ‘The Field’ is underway in the Connemara Village of Leenane.

The Village of Leenane on the borderline of Galway and Mayo in North Connemara is the location for the £3 million film production of ‘The Field’, John B Keane’s powerful drama of land hunger and rural passions.

The Field featured in the film is located between Leenane and Westport. Noel Gaynor’s pub will feature heavily in the film and has been transformed back to the 1940s.

Filming is expected to continue for two months and world famous actors Richard Harris, John Hurt, Tom Berenger and Brenda Fricker head up the cast. Locals are delighted the film production has chosen to come to Leenane with many of them are involved in the film.

The whole town is up in an uproar, it’s in an uproar at the moment, and all the boys are taking part in it.

Jenny Roche from Tuam is taking part in a number of scenes, as is one of her sheep. Film director Jim Sheridan hopes ‘The Field’ will match the acclaim he received for his film adaptation of Christy Brown’s ’My Left Foot’.

It’s actually a very multi layered story now and I just hope we can achieve it.

The arrival of the stars and film crew has left Leenane and nearby Renvyle agog with excitement and has given hotels and guesthouses in the region an end of season bonanza. Hugh Coyle of the Renvyle House Hotel believes the filming will bring £1 million to the area. He hopes it will boost the area in the same way that ‘The Quiet Man’ benefits the village of Cong.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 October 1989. The reporter is Jim Fahy.