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Steven Spielberg: Vacation to Ireland changed my life

Famed director says he was transformed by visit

NIALL O'DOWD

Irish Central.com Publisher

Published Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 1:09 PM

Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 1:45 PM

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Read more: Steven Spielberg, Ireland, Aran Islands, Media, Poetry, Ballyvaughan, County Clare, David Whyte, Dublin, Kate Capshaw

Ireland changed my life: Superstar director Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg's trip to Ireland was a "life-changing experience" for the Oscar-winning director.

Spielberg was transformed by his summer visit to Ireland which included literally "hanging over the edge" of the Cliffs of Moher.

However, it nearly turned to disaster when Spielberg took a tumble on the Burren and dislocated his knee.

A local expert snapped the knee back into place and the superstar director was able to sip a glass of Guinness and mix with the locals in O’Loughlins pub in Ballyvaughan County Clare.

He said he was "spellbound" by the skills of the local musicians and storyteller and said he was more relaxed than he had ever been in his life.

On the Aran Islands he rode the first-ever motorized bicycle to appear on the island and ate enjoyed a plate of fish and chips with the locals.

Spielberg, his wife Kate Capshaw, and their son were in Ireland this summer as part of a week-long tour organized by poet and inspirational speaker David Whyte.

The group, which totaled 32 people, was based in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, but traveled all over Ireland.

White says Spielberg “listened to poetry on jagged cliffs of the Aran Islands, soaked up quiet village life while in the Burren, and toured on a souped-up motorized bike.

"Along with his wife and teenage son, Spielberg enjoyed the country's natural wonders (not just the rain).

"They listened to poetry on the jagged cliffs of the Aran Islands, soaked up quiet village life at country homes in the Burren, and did walking and cycling tours. The esteemed director rounded out his trip outside of Dublin before returning to work, mind, soul and body refreshed after the trip."

“One of the things he enjoyed about it was he could just be low profile on the trip no fuss made of him, people were every good with him,” said Whyte.

Of course, this was not Spielberg's first trip to Ireland: The D-Day scenes in "Saving Private Ryan" were filmed in Ballinesker Beach in County Wexford.

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Posted by merryman39 on November 12,2009 | 08:33AM

JEEZ! WHAT A BUNCH OF SKEPTICS. A WELL KNOWN PERSON MAKES A TRIP TO IRELAND--MAKES A LITTLE TESTIMONIAL AND IT SEEMS TO RANKLE SOME PEOPLE. MAYBE THE BAD KNEE PROHIBITED HIM FROM PEDALLING A REGUALR BIKE OR LYING ON A SLAB AT MOHER LOOKING DOWN 700 FEET MADE HIM WEAK IN THE KNEES. GRANTED, NOT UNIVERSITY LECTURE MATERIAL BUT INTERESTING OVER A "CUPAN TAE"

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Posted by Niamhaine on November 12,2009 | 06:03AM

So the man with bags of money came to Ireland, was anonymous to the locals, and so managed to get some rest. This "changed his life", the only explanation of a life changing experience being that Steven could relax? I love Ireland, live there 6 months of each year, so the beauty of the land and it's people is not lost on me. My other question is, do you have a proofreader? If so, they are not doing their job. Personally, I would appreciate a little meat and substinence in your stories, not mindless, unedited blather.

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Posted by ciarrai on November 11,2009 | 03:22PM

This is me being negative, but the last thing I want to hear about is Steve running around, what, Inishmore on the first motorized bike in the Arans. Christ, is nothing sacred. When I first went there in '72 we stayed on Inishmaan and the only light was a generator at the pub. The b&b had candles to see with. Only stars lit the night. We ate huge meals of good food and drank a bit, too. A school teacher stayed at the same place with us. What a beeyootiful place and natural and quiet. Couldn't Spielberg have used a normal bike. Saving Private Ryan was good, but not that good.

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Posted by JoeAnnie on November 11,2009 | 12:37PM

When I go to Ireland, I feel like a different person. I had 10 days in Oct and I did not want to return to the States. I had a beautiful sunny wk. Long sleeve shirt temps. Wonderful meals, wonderful company. For me I was at home.

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Posted by killowen on November 11,2009 | 11:48AM

combine this with the 2012 movie whine.

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Posted by mkeating on November 11,2009 | 10:07AM

I visited Ireland five years ago and still have fond memories of my time there and hope to re-visit Eire soon.

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Steven Spielberg: Vacation to Ireland changed my life

Famed director says he was transformed by visit

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