A shot on set during the First Great Train Robbery taken at Castletown Geoghegan train station. Sean Connery was among the stellar cast. Photo was taken by Ray Newman.

When the late Sean Connery filmed in Athlone, Moate and South Westmeath

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The sad news of the death of Sean Connery brings to mind the filming of the movie ‘The First Great Train Robbery’ at Moate Railway Station in 1978.

At the time Moate and the wider midlands were visited by an all-star cast and crew including Connery, Lesley-Anne Down, Donald Sutherland, and popular writer and director Michael Crichton of ‘Jurassic Park’ fame.

The story, set in the 1850s, was about Victorian toff, Edward Pierce (Connery) planning a major train robbery. Lesley-Anne Down played Pierce’s mistress and partner in crime in the robbery.

Connery, Down and Sutherland dined in the movie canteen in Moate with locals who were extras on the movie.

The stars stayed in the Royal Hoey Hotel in Athlone, and sometimes took afternoon tea there. They also visited Moate, while scenes were also filmed at Castletown Geoghegan train station.

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