HOW MEL EPIC SET SCENE FOR IRELAND'S FILMING BOOM

BRAVE START

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IT WAS the most expensive film ever made in Ireland, starring the world's biggest movie star.

Braveheart is 30 this year, and its star Mel Gibson returns here this weekend to mark the classic 1995 movie's anniversary.

Filmed on locations including Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, Mel is coming back for a festival in its honour in Trim this weekend Braveheart is the theme for the King John Summer Prom - which starts today and Gibson is the guest of honour.

He will attend a concert this evening before signing posters in Trim Castle Hotel on Saturday morning.

The Irish-Australian citizen insisted on making Ireland one of the key locations for the story of Scottish hero William Wallace.

Key battle scenes took six weeks to shoot, with nine cameras and 2,000 extras.

It brought an estimated $30million into the Irish economy and 75% of the 250 people involved in it were Irish. It went on to win five Oscars.

It's a summer they won't forget - and for some, it changed the course of their lives and careers.

Film expert ESTHER MCCARTHY talks to costume designer Kelvin Feeney about what it was like.

mack, the blockbuster achieved the rare feat of being both a critical and commercial success.

It took over $200million (€171m) at the box office and won five Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Director for Gibson, Cinematography, Sound Effects Editing and Makeup.

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