Local pub chosen as film location for Brosnan movie

A local pub and restaurant has revealed that their venue was used as a film location for one of Pierce Brosnan's latest movies.
The Old Thatch Inn welcomed the Irish and American actor, crew and fellow actors during a day of filming for ‘The Last Riflemen’ back in August.
The film is inspired by a true story of a World War II veteran living in a care home in Northern Ireland.
The popular venue near Castledawson have only revealed news of their VIP visitors now as they were previously sworn to secrecy.

The news came in the same week that 007 star Brosnan is set to be honoured with an Oscar Wilde Award at the US-Ireland Alliance’s annual event in March.

“When we were approached, I thought that it was too good to be true,” said Michaela Diamond, the General manager of The Old Thatch Inn.
“They came a couple of times to make sure that it was a good fit for the film.
For the family-run business, all seemed a bit surreal until they received a phonecall confirming that the pub would be used as a filming location for the movie.
“They basically then gave me a call a couple of weeks before and said ‘you've been chosen as one of the locations’.
I couldn’t believe it,” said Michaela.
“There were about 50 members of the crew.
“I just had to get the ball rolling and we had to close for the day and they also closed the whole road.
“I had to communicate with Pierce Brosnan quite a lot throughout the day because they were there first thing in the morning until late.
“It was like a 12-hour day of filming.”
Michaela continued: “Pierce even poured himself a pint of Guinness. The phone did not stop ringing during the day because we were closed and he answered the phone himself. I said ‘Nobody’s gonna believe you’ and he said, ‘Hello, Pierce speaking’ over the phone."
Since the movie's release, Michaela has been on the radio and has started seeing the benefits of The Old Thatch Inn being used as a filming location.
“For us, it's such a big deal. Our small business had such a huge film star coming but we couldn't really say anything," said Michaela, who has hopes of more movie stars coming through the door of The Old Thatch Inn.
“Never say never. I think it'd be hard to do better than 007,” she laughed.