Hollywood actor, Sam Neill, famed for his role in the film Jurassic Park, has proved that generous gestures aren't extinct with his decision to provide a financial contribution to help develop the Dave Gallaher Park in Ramelton.
Omagh born Neill has donated €2,500 to the Dave Gallaher Society claiming the legendary All Blacks captain should be celebrated in his home town.
Praising the Society for initiating the project, he maintained: “Dave Gallaher was a great and impres
sive man who should be honoured.”
The actor runs a vineyard in New Zealand and got his big Hollywood break starring as Damien Thorn in Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981), which led to leading roles in Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Piano (1993), Sirens (1994) and most famously Jurassic Park (1993-2001). He was most recently on TV screens playing Cardinal Wolsey opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the historical drama, The Tudors.
Reacting to the donation, Kevin Shields of the Dave Gallaher Society said the actor’s accountant had contacted the Society initially to set the donation in train.
“I have conveyed the grateful thanks of the people of Ramelton to Sam Neill. This fantastic gift will go towards the Society’s aim of bringing more New Zealand tourists to Donegal on the trail of the legendary Dave Gallaher.”
The Society representative said he hoped that some day they could welcome the actor to Ramelton to thank him in person.
Meanwhile, he insisted the Society would not be tempted to change the name of the new park again.
“Sam Neill’s most famous role was as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park. Whilst I like the idea of naming a park after the age of dinosaurs, I think we’ll stick with what we fought hard for - The Dave Gallaher Park,” laughed Kevin.
The actor has expressed pride in his Irish roots in the past and his connections with County Tyrone. He described his Irish passport, which he acquired last year, as the “best thing in my pocket.”
