Sky's the limit for Trim in 3D
Last Friday evening saw a buzz of aerial activity around the Porchfields, Trim, as filming took place for a Sky 3D HD trailer. Widescreen Films, a UK-based company, flew over the town in a chartered Twin Squirrel helicopter to film a 3D sequence with a massive camera mounted externally on the front to get the footage of hot air balloons flying over the historic King John's Castle. Pauline Baker, spokesperson for Irish Balloon Flights who organised the event with Sky, said: "There was only one opportunity to do the filming so we were extremely lucky that the weather was perfect, although there was a lot of nail-biting earlier in the day as the helicopter was fogbound in Wales until about 4pm. "We really wanted to showcase Trim and the castle so we needed to launch from The Porchfields to achieve this," she said. "Normally, with the wind direction we were getting, we would use another launch site near Summerhill, as we get great shelter there for the balloon inflation. "However, luck was on our side and the breeze died off at about 6pm so it was all systems go for the town centre launch and, at 7.10pm, the three colourful balloons gently lifted off and flew directly over the castle, which should give stunning footage of the town," she said. The largest balloon in Ireland, the Hunky Dory, sponsored by Ashbourne company Largo Foods, with its spectacular buffalo stampede artwork, was the lead balloon, followed by local pilots Aidan Murphy and Tom McCormack. A second helicopter, a Bell Jetranger 206, flown by Andrew Woods, was present to take air-to-air shots of the balloons. "I would like to say a big thanks to Trim Town Clerk, Brian Murphy, and his outdoor staff for ensuring everything was in place to gain access to the Porchfields at such short notice," said Pauline Baker. "Until the Sky trailer is produced, we will not know how much airtime Trim will get but, fingers crossed, that it will be sufficient to showcase our beautiful town and bring more tourists to visit the castle and the historic sites we have to offer."