Premiere set to raise six-figure sum for hospice

on 21/01/2013 00:00:00

The hospice is due to open this June and besides the revenue from 900 people paying €160 each for a ticket, a special raffle was held late last night at the ball in the Burlington Hotel.

Items going under the hammer included the white gloves worn by Day-Lewis in the film, a script signed by himself and director Steven Spielberg, a script signed by all the cast, a six-blade knife he used in the movie, 12 stills from the movie also signed by the pair, and several other different donations, including a magnum of Moet & Chandon champagne donated by Irish director Jim Sheridan.

Those who said in advance they would bid for items included director Neil Jordan, Spielberg himself, and Shane MacGowan.

Day-Lewis, who lives in Annamoe, Co Wicklow, with his actress wife Rebecca Miller and their two sons, became a patron of the charity back in 2009 when he was first approached by hospice fundraisers desperate to set up a facility in Co Wicklow.

The money raised by Lincoln, when added to the €2.4m already collected, will ensure work on the hospice starts this summer.

Day-Lewis reportedly agreed because his own mother spent the last weeks of her life in a hospice near her UK home and received excellent care and attention.

The site for the hospital was donated free of charge by the Columbian Sisters in Brittas Bay.

And Day-Lewis had no problems in getting Spielberg and actress Sally Field to hold the European premiere in Dublin.

Spielberg revealed: "He didn't have to try to persuade me at all. I was delighted to hold it in Ireland. I was more than happy. There was no pressure whatsoever."

Sally Field added: "It's not difficult to persuade anybody to come to Ireland as far as I'm concerned. Daniel was like a child when we all told him we'd come over."

Earlier yesterday, Day-Lewis and Spielberg visited Government Buildings where they met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny to discuss the state of the Irish film industry.