You need to calm down: Achill locals shake off reports that Taylor paid them a Swift visit during her Irish tour
Did she, or didn’t she? That is the question on the lips of locals in Achill.
Did a global superstar pay a swift visit to the beautiful remote rocky outpost?
Did the lure of a pint in JJ Devine’s or the charms of the raging sea, wild wind and waves tempt musical goddess Taylor Swift to Co Mayo? Very few seem to have the answer. Reports she made a fleeting “low-key” visit to Achill – the iconic setting of the nine-time-Oscar nominated blockbuster Banshees of Inisherin – took many by surprise.
Swift is a huge fan of the film and in an interview with director Martin McDonagh for Variety magazine she called for the temporary pub that was central to pivotal scenes in the film to be reinstalled permanently.
The fictional pub, JJ Devine’s, was constructed on location at Cloughmore, but the structure was taken down after the production wrapped.
But JJ Devine’s was based on Lynott’s pub on the island and owner Mick Lynch said he was very disappointed Swift didn’t make an appearance.
“Nobody knew she was coming. First I heard about it was the other day,” he said.
“She did say she wanted to come to the pub for a pint and it’s a wonder she didn’t come to mine. It was based on my pub.
“She went up to where the pub in Banshees was and that pub was based on ours. I am genuinely surprised she didn’t come in.
“But why would she come all this way and after saying she wanted to see the pub then why would she not?
“Maybe she did come but was in disguise. She would definitely be recognised otherwise.
“She said she wanted a pint in the pub. That’s what she actually said to Martin McDonagh when she called him out for pulling down the pub.
“And he said the atmosphere couldn’t be replicated in a studio. But if she wanted a pint in the Banshees’ pub I’m the next best thing. I’m the only thing.”
A-list celebrities are nothing new in Achill, but Mr Lynch is discreet about who exactly they are, other than confiding that one of his regulars is an Oscar-winning actor.
“We get a lot of famous people, but she would be the highest profile,” he said. “We don’t bother them. It’s just not how Achill people get on. We let people be.”
The Irish Independent has been unable to find anyone who saw Swift or indeed even heard of anyone who saw her.
All eyes are on Instagram, where it is hoped Swift may officially document her trip to Mayo.
In the meantime, there is healthy debate about whether she actually touched down to take in the unique and breathtakingly beautiful scenery.
Chris McCarthy, manager of Achill Tourism, said he wasn’t 100pc sure whether Swift had been there.
“We didn’t see her. We didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “I was talking to a chap in the office and he said: ‘You would be surprised who has been around Achill recently.’
“He said there are lots of VIPs in and out of here in blacked out BMWs. That is all I heard.
“She never made contact and nobody that we know or heard of saw her. It’s a great story. Was she, or wasn’t she?
“I know there was someone yesterday saying there was no way she could have made it here in the time-frame but there are ways and means, people can do things.”
The Irish Independent contacted multiple businesses and individuals in Achill and a healthy scepticism has settled in the community around reports of the superstar visit.
Answers ranged from “I have my doubts” to the more direct “it didn’t happen”.