Tourist chiefs in a small Irish town are planning to team up with their counterparts in New York to capitalize on the growing interest in the picturesque Co. Wexford town from American fans of hit movie Brooklyn.
Much of the 2015 movie, which landed lead Irish actress Saoirse Ronan a string of awards and an Oscar nomination earlier this year, was shot in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
The success of the film, which was adapted from local author Colm Toibin's best-selling novel, triggered a boost in tourism numbers over the past summer, as movie fans flocked to the historic town.
Earlier this year tourist groups in Enniscorthy responded to the growing interest in the town by setting up a permanent exhibit in Enniscorthy Castle dedicated to the movie, as well as creating maps detailing the flick's major landmarks and a specific Brooklyn movie bus tour.
Cathy Keane, who set up the three-hour Brooklyn bus tours, said, "We've had a very successful year in terms of attracting fans of the movie to Enniscorthy. We've set up a Brooklyn movie committee and we'll be meeting up again this month to figure out what we do next.
Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
“We're looking into organizing a trip to New York to try and encourage more people from the United States to visit.
"But the past summer has gone very well. I've filled about 10 bus-loads of tourists on the Brooklyn movie bus tour, which is a three-hour tour round the major landmarks that featured in the film, including Curracloe beach which was also the set for Saving Private Ryan.
"The Council has also established an exhibition on the top floor Enniscorthy Castle, which has about 50 different displays of memorabilia, props and photos connected with the making of the movie. And we've also produced a map of the major landmarks featured in the film, which enables visitors to check them out independently."
Keane, who is also a member of Enniscorthy Tourism, said she is confident the historic town will continue to attract movie fans in the years to come in much the same way that Cong, Co. Mayo, has capitalized on the enduring popularity of The Quiet Man, which was filmed there in 1951.
"There's huge support throughout the community and from the council and the members of the Brooklyn movie committee are fully committed to coming up with new ideas and new ways to attract fans of the movie over here,” Keane added.
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