Scanned in from the Newsletter (may be typos)
www.newsletter.co.uk
19/6/06
Ulster life of real action hero set for silver screen
THE action-packed life of Ulster war hero Blair "Paddy" Mayne - a founder of the SAS - looked set yesterday to be turned into a Hollywood movie.
TV stations across the world are already planning to screen a 55-minute documentary about the soldier, boxer and British Lions rugby star from Newtownards.
Northern Ireland's former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine and Hollywood star Patrick Bergin, who were responsible for the factual documentary, are now making plans to put the Blair Mayne story on the silver screen.
Documentary producer Gerry McColgan, of Rapid Films, said that Mayne had been a big influence on Irvine's life.
"They both came from the same town, Newtownards. Some of Eddie Irvine's family knew Blair Mayne. There is a bronze statue to him in Newtownards," he said.
"Patrick Bergin, who is my partner in Rapid Films, was in Los Angeles talking to Eddie Irvine and Blair Mayne's name came up and they thought it
would be ideal material for a feature film.
"McColgan himself has been very impressed by the possibility of Mayne's incredible story becoming a blockbuster.
"He was an absolutely extraordinary character. He was one of the founder members of the SAS at the beginning of the Second World War and he was incredibly brave.
"He was a remarkable man who is hardly known outside of his own area. He was a barrister, he was capped nine times for Ireland and was playing in South Africa on the famous trip when the Lions were given their name.
"The other team had the name of some ferocious animal so they decided they should call themselves Lions.
"He was also an All Ireland university boxing heavyweight champion."
A shy Co Down grocer's son, Mayne never married although he did propose to an Ulster girl before the Second Worl War, but she turned him down.
Tragically, he died in a car crash when he was just 40.
Morning View - page 8
Mayne huge challenge to Hollywood
BLAIR Mayne was a remarkable man whose true life exploits would seem outrageous if they were presented as a Hollywood script.
Yet turning his life story into a big screen movie is, according to some reports, being considered.
One of the founding members of the unit which was to become the Special Air Service, his courage in action is as legendary as his drinking.
Not only was he a real hero, he was a real person with all the flaws and imperfections that inflict human beings.
The former rugby international, who took part in the famous South African tour when the British Lions were given their name, rose rapidly through the ranks during the Second World War.
Some believe he might have been awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery but for there being black marks against his name for earlier indiscretions.
In recent years there has. been a reawakening by the public to the part played by Blair Mayne during the war.
He has been suitably honoured with the erection of a statue in the market square of his home town of Newtownards and there are plans to restore his family home, recently damaged in a fire.
As a war hero he deserves our respect and to have his memory perpetuated.
Just what American film-makers would do with such a character, however, given their famous disregard for fact, is anyone's guess.
As a hard-drinking Irishman who loved a good fight, Mayne already fits their stereotype.
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Ulster life of real action hero set for silver screen
Started by Admin-SI, Jun 21 2006 09:35 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
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- 54 posts
Seargeant
- Location:Ulster
Posted 22 June 2006 - 11:37 AM
At last the makings of a decent film on the Horizon..!
It has to be a vast improvement on the latest fictional sectarian pot-shot film on offer :- "'The Wind That Shakes the Barley".
It has to be a vast improvement on the latest fictional sectarian pot-shot film on offer :- "'The Wind That Shakes the Barley".
"I Captain a Pirate Ship on the Spiritual Sea Of Life" - Galloway-Raider
#3
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- Admin
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- 389 posts
Colonel
- Location:West Virginia, USA
Posted 05 July 2006 - 10:45 PM
Scanned in from The Newsletter (so there may be typos)
www.newsletter.co.uk
30/6/06
Recalling the early days of SAS hero
BY IAN STARRETT
[email protected]
ANDREW McGowan these days quietly enjoys the refreshing, early summer breezes of his native Portstewart, but in retirement he still clearly remembers his wartime years in the north African desert. He especially remembers one extraordinary soldier he rubbed shoulders with during World War Two -Ulsterman Blair "Paddy" Mayne, who went on to become a founder of the SAS.
In fact, Andrew not only knew him, he trained the Newtownards man in the soldiering ways of the desert sands. It served as part of the learning curve that made Mayne an esteemed war hero whose life may soon be depicted in a blockbuster Hollywood movie - a project supported by Northern Ireland's former Formula One ace Eddie Irvine.
Andrew remembers Mayne for his charismatic presence -just like that of a big movie star.
He was serving with the Coleraine Battery when he linked up with Mayne. He said: "He was with us for a couple of weeks and we trained him. "He had a great feeling of presence about him. He had a magnificent, powerful personality. He certainly didn't live by the book. He was a fantastic individual." But Mayne was a little bit rusty when he arrived with Sergeant McGowan and his Army colleagues in the north African desert, where they had already served for several years. "We knew the desert like we knew the back of our hands," Andrew said.
"He [Mayne] had ideas that were wrong, but he soon saw the error of his ways. He got all the information about the desert and soldiering in it that we could give him."
A fast learner, Mayne adopted his own unique style of soldiering and went on to form the SAS.
There was more war action to come for Andrew McGowan. who met his Dutch wife when he was at the Battle of Arnhem, the infamous Bridge Too Far.
In all he served 30 years in the army, finishing up as a Regimental Sergeant Major. Now - happy in retirement at a private nursing home - he would like to get in touch with those intending to make the movie about the life of Mayne, soldier, boxer and British Lions rugby star.
Eddie Irvine and Hollywood star Patrick Bergin, who were responsible for a recent factual TV documentary on Mayne, are now planning the big screen version of his life, and Andrew believes he can help the project because of his knowledge of the subject matter. Gerry McColgan, of Rapid Films, said: "Patrick Bergin, who is my partner in Rapid Films, was in Los Angeles talking to Eddie Irvine and Blair Mayne's name came up and they thought it would be ideal material for a feature film."
Mayne, a grocer's son, was also a barrister who died when he was only 40 years old in a car crash.
His marriage proposal to a Northern Ireland girl, shortly before he went to the north African desert war, was turned down and he remained a bachelor all his life.
www.newsletter.co.uk
30/6/06
Recalling the early days of SAS hero
BY IAN STARRETT
[email protected]
ANDREW McGowan these days quietly enjoys the refreshing, early summer breezes of his native Portstewart, but in retirement he still clearly remembers his wartime years in the north African desert. He especially remembers one extraordinary soldier he rubbed shoulders with during World War Two -Ulsterman Blair "Paddy" Mayne, who went on to become a founder of the SAS.
In fact, Andrew not only knew him, he trained the Newtownards man in the soldiering ways of the desert sands. It served as part of the learning curve that made Mayne an esteemed war hero whose life may soon be depicted in a blockbuster Hollywood movie - a project supported by Northern Ireland's former Formula One ace Eddie Irvine.
Andrew remembers Mayne for his charismatic presence -just like that of a big movie star.
He was serving with the Coleraine Battery when he linked up with Mayne. He said: "He was with us for a couple of weeks and we trained him. "He had a great feeling of presence about him. He had a magnificent, powerful personality. He certainly didn't live by the book. He was a fantastic individual." But Mayne was a little bit rusty when he arrived with Sergeant McGowan and his Army colleagues in the north African desert, where they had already served for several years. "We knew the desert like we knew the back of our hands," Andrew said.
"He [Mayne] had ideas that were wrong, but he soon saw the error of his ways. He got all the information about the desert and soldiering in it that we could give him."
A fast learner, Mayne adopted his own unique style of soldiering and went on to form the SAS.
There was more war action to come for Andrew McGowan. who met his Dutch wife when he was at the Battle of Arnhem, the infamous Bridge Too Far.
In all he served 30 years in the army, finishing up as a Regimental Sergeant Major. Now - happy in retirement at a private nursing home - he would like to get in touch with those intending to make the movie about the life of Mayne, soldier, boxer and British Lions rugby star.
Eddie Irvine and Hollywood star Patrick Bergin, who were responsible for a recent factual TV documentary on Mayne, are now planning the big screen version of his life, and Andrew believes he can help the project because of his knowledge of the subject matter. Gerry McColgan, of Rapid Films, said: "Patrick Bergin, who is my partner in Rapid Films, was in Los Angeles talking to Eddie Irvine and Blair Mayne's name came up and they thought it would be ideal material for a feature film."
Mayne, a grocer's son, was also a barrister who died when he was only 40 years old in a car crash.
His marriage proposal to a Northern Ireland girl, shortly before he went to the north African desert war, was turned down and he remained a bachelor all his life.
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