NORTHERN IRELAND AND DONEGAL

 



In July 1987 I was in Northern Ireland. We filmed in Belfast and then focussed in on a Protestant village called Milford in South Armagh, right on the edge of 'bandit country' (as the programme publicity called it). This was for a BBC Bookmark programme called In The Blood, directed by Pavel Pawlikowski. Paul went on to make award-winning feature films like My Summer of Love, Ida and, his Oscar winner, Cold War. We spent several days in the village getting to know everybody, and then went with them to the annual Orange Day parade in Armagh. Two memories stand out: the massive boom of the drums that went right through you, and having to lie flat on the floor of the coach as we passed through Catholic areas. 

When filming was over, I kept the hire car, took a long weekend's leave, and drove up to the Giant's Causeway. Then along to Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. the cassette of U2's Joshua Tree playing on repeat. 






Irish pubs! Here's what's so special. The musicians all sit in a circle facing each other, just getting it on... 


Gradually, the bar fills up, and the dancing begins.









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