It’s one of those great Dublin pub quiz questions. What links the bandstand in Herbert Park and the Long Hall on South Great George’s Street?
Well, both feature heavily in the video to Phill Lynott’s classic 1982 single Old Town. The video was produced by Dave Heffernan and stars the actress Fiona McKenna.
The Dublin locations are as follows:
– Opening scene on Ha’Penny bridge
– Ringsend
– Grafton Street
– The Long Hall
– Bandstand (Herbert Park)
– Ringsend Pier
Phil Lynott singing this song always make me cry.
Andrea Corr singing this song always make me cry.
It’s not Ringsend pier in the video: it’s the South Bull Wall.
You sure?
“For the last shot when he walks down the pier at the end of Ringsend…” – Dave Heffernan
Alan Byrne, Thin Lizzy (London, 2006), 195
It’s defo the South Bull Wall but maybe some people call it Ringsend pier though I’ve never heard it referred to as such.
Great video, a Dublin that bridged the old and the new – see the gasometer and the ship next to it, a reminder of the cattle boat days.
BTW can you guys include facebook in your “share this” section. Yor fame will be guaranteed.
PS: Phil bought me a pint in the Bailey around this time. Miss you
The ship at the gasometer is the old Irish Lights tender Granuaile, the cattle boats were long gone and went from the B&I sheds on the opposite side of the river. All very nostalgic and all gone now for our Celtic Tiger. Although it was pretty scruffy down there in the 80s !
I’m Frank G. and humbled to be associated with Philo. Old Town is one of my favourite videos. I worked with the girl shown in Grafton Street. I will not embarrass her by giving her name. But over 30 years on she still looks fabulous! At over 66 I still can do the chords and Piano riffs. Go Philo – you should still be here son.
He must have been broke. All those pints he bought.
thanks so much for that.. only found the lighthouse area on google earth a while back.. and was lookin for bandstand for long time.. and weird thing is i asked so many dubs did they know where the lighthouse in old town was and most didnt!.. some guessed… anyway thanks again.. gonna do a little visit now..
Go h-iontach! Great song, and a great video. Love the finger-clicking from Phil towards the end… very 1980s. Another video from the 80s that might interest you is from Na Fíréin. My knowledge of the band is a bit hazy, but I believe Na Fíréin were formed in the early 80s by Colm Mac Séalaigh, a teacher in Coláiste Eoin, Booterstown at the time. They aimed to be first credible pop-rockband writing and recording in Irish, and released an album around 1984. Deireadh na Seachtaine was one of the “standout tracks”, and they recorded a video for it on the Liffey, in Heuston Station and a few other places around Dublin I can’t name. Anyway, bain taitneamh as! Enjoy!
Meas mór!
For brian n sean
[…] production ‘recce’, where the core crew, also featuring art director Brigid Timmons, scouted locations all over the middle of Dublin in advance of production. The material was captured on 16mm film by an RTÉ staff cameraman, Ken […]
Does anyone know what happened to Fiona McKenna the actress in the video of Old Town?