Skellig Michael island, Co Kerry, July 2014
So we can afford to give a hugely wealthy film production company free use of a State asset, namely an Air Corps helicopter, for the filming of Star Wars on Skellig Michael (“Star Wars given free use of Defence Forces resources”).
The usual justification for such Government largesse is that it will attract tourists to Ireland. To see what?
Well, not the outstanding ethnographic collection of the National Museum for example, as it can’t afford to display it, nor the closed George Bernard Shaw Museum, and probably not the archives of the Jewish Museum for much longer, and most definitely not a Rubens at Russborough House.
It is time for the Minister for the Arts Heather Humphreys to start typing some invoices and fully realise the value of our cultural capital, as I am sure Disney’s accountants do.
Erica Devine
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
FIGHT!
Previously: Darth Looks
Pic: Sheila Larkin
The naval vessel was on station in the area and the Aer corps used it as a training exercise for it’s pilots that would have been required anyway. So no real expense laid out on the defence forces assets.
As for the Reuben’s at rousborough, all of the paintings for sale have not been on display for a significant period of time. The beit collection is more than paintings but includes all the contents of the house and the house itself
It shouldn’t have been provided at all, regardless of exercises being carried out nearby.
And at least try to spell Russborough correctly.
“It shouldn’t have been provided at all”
Why not?
I think the production company created a few jobs. That ok? Reactionary fruitloop!
“Creating jobs” is a PR speak for corporate profit. How much fuel does the public have to pay for that helicopter? We have to pay for Clery’s workers too. Disney are making Billions from Marvel movies, Star Wars and cartoons. They need to be billed now, otherwise it is state corruption, plain and simple.
Created a few auld jobs wha? Ar bejaysus, a few auld jobs.
That’s the slack attitude that facilities corruption.
“facilities corruption”????
and you called out Wayne.F above on his spelling?
I thought our movie biz was a great thing – Section 481 continues to attract foreign investment and it goes back into assisting indigenous film-makers. Nowt wrong wi’ that.
Great letter Erica
However
I’m in the
Whatever it takes to get them
Gang
Heather Humphreys is the latest in a long line of Ministers for the Arts who neither know nor care about the post, beyond the perks of meeting movie stars. The contempt in which the Arts have been held by successive governments in this country, who see it primarily as a way to make savings through cuts, is a real shame.
…agree…the appointment of Heather Humphries is a calculated insult to the arts community. Erica Devine is probably better qualified than all the assorted party hacks that stuff the government appointed boards of arts facilities put together.
Most Irish politicians wouldn’t know culture if it landed on them. A bunch of tasteless half wits in it for the money and perks.
I agree
I don’t think the type of people that will be attracted here to see the site of a star wars movie will be going to Rousborough house to look at paintings. Unless Reuben’s is the name of the dark lord and they end up there by mistake.
Call it an investment in tourism and giving us a name as a great place to do business,
It’s great training for when we have to join the european army.
It’s great training for when we have to join the staff of Eurodisney
Dunno about that, most staff at Eurodisney speak at least three languages fluently and have proficiency at another two. We, eh… might want to pull our socks up educationally to meet the interview criteria for a hot dog vendors role.
This has to be the most obvious attempt to troll ever
he could just be a “Journal Commenter”
or you know, a joke.
It’s not all outrage round these parts you know
Do you think the Imperial Army is like the European Army? Baller star destroyers but why wear white????
Great letter Erica, good points, and thoroughly depressing.
Thanks for the contribution Erica’s boyfriend. Can you explain how allowing a film company to use an existing resource for free (and at no cost to the state) which means they hire Irish people as crew and extras has a direct effect on how many museums and stately homes shut up shop?
You realise that they closed because they don’t have the footfall or the finances to stay open. Not because someone got to use a heli-pad for free.
National museums are funded by the state. I’m not co-signing Erica’s letter or anything, but they don’t have the finances to stay open because the state cut their finances. The state cut their finances because the state has no money. I don’t subscribe to the idea that cultural institutions have to pay for themselves or be scrapped in our new capitalist utopia.
“I don’t subscribe to the idea that cultural institutions have to pay for themselves or be scrapped in our new capitalist utopia.”
Neither do I but there is no connection between not having enough money to run cultural institutions and making a tactical decision to facilitate a movie production. I would imagine that some of the money coming into Ireland as a result of that production will make its way to cultural institutions. Perhaps there is an argument that money realised from film and TV production should be ring-fenced for indigenous arts but that is a different conversation.
Ronan, her points are not good, or even accurate. The Navy already had a costal patrol on station at the time of filming, so it was there and would have been there without the film crew. The Aer corps need to log and maintain certain flight hours and used this as an opportunity to do so.
Rousborough house is more than paintings, the building and it’s contents are part of the collection and need to be maintained and protected. The paintings being sold have not been displayed publicly for 10 years
My understanding is that violated UNESCO policy for its sites. Why would state seek this status if they’re unwilling to abide by the UNESCOs terms?
Can you source that paddy? Curious as to what they have violated? Pyramids used for movies, old treasury in Jordan!
Galapagos Islands are used regularly for filming.
Hi Wayne, if memory serves me right, loran sigh ins wrote about this last June or July and she reported local experts concerns regarding the management of these sites. I believe UNESCO did demand a report to be sent to them
On this decision; though I can’t upload link with iPhone. They clearly had/have concerns and your correct I can’t confirm if any terms were violated.
There’s a bit of a false dichotomy here. Surely attracting tourists would also attract tourists to some other attractions, heritage sites and museums? Even if they’re primarily coming to see the Skelligs, they’re probably going to visit some other areas of interest.
The lasting value to the Irish tax payer is being able to say thats where they filmed star wars and it may make the location even more iconic depending on how prominently its featured in the film.
People still visit Onk Jmel in Tunisia nearly 40 years after episode IV was released.
The fact that Shaw’s museum at his birthplace is still closed due to a lack of (one member of) staff is a disgrace
Is that helipad a permanent fixture on Skellig Micheal?
Seems kind of out of place for a UNESCO heritage site to be honest.
This story is one of many highlighting our governments inability to capitalise… Most worrying is the rape of our natural resources. Forget Clearys…This is horrendous… http://www.shelltosea.com/content/gas-oil-robbery
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE………..Roll on December!