‘Outside Mullingar’ to become a film – but name of town will be lost from title

The Broadway hit play ‘Outside Mullingar’ is about to be made into a film – but unfortunately, the ‘Mullingar’ reference is to be lost when the film is released as it is to have a different title.

‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ is to be the film title, and signed up for the lead roles are actors Jamie Dornan, Emily Blunt and Christopher Walken.

It turns out, however, that the Joe Dolan statue, the Green Bridge, The Greville Arms Hotel, and even the monks of Austin Friars Street are unlikely to feature in the finished product, as the filming is set to take place in the Crossmolina and Ballina area of County Mayo.

Outside Mullingar was written by playwright John Patrick Shanley, whose father, Nicholas Shanley was from Clonlost, Killucan.

The play opened in Broadway in 2014, with ‘Will and Grace’ star Debra Messing playing the top female part.

Since then, it has been performed at venues across the US – but not, so far, here in Ireland.

Mr Shanley himself is to be director of the film, and shooting is due to begin on September 20.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking comedy, the play tells the story of Anthony and Rosemary, described as “two introverted misfits straddling 40”.

Anthony is a farmer and Rosemary, his next door neighbour, has set her cap at him.

However, the fly in the ointment is Anthony’s father, who is wielding over his son the threat of disinheriting him

Mr Shanley knows this area well: he has visited in the past and written for the New York Times a fantastic account of a trip to his relatives.

A talented dramatist, Mr Shanley won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 1988 for his script for the film ‘Moonstruck’, and there were five Oscar nominations for the 2008 film ‘Doubt’, starring Meryl Street, which was written by Mr Shanley.

He was also the writer for the screenplay for the film ‘Alive’ about the Chilean Andes aircrash.