The acting legend was a big fan of the Irish football team, with Sean Connery having several ties to Ireland before his death in 2020.
Late James Bond star Sean Connery had several ties to Ireland(Image: PA)
Following the heartbreaking loss of acting titan Sean Connery in 2020, numerous tributes have poured in for the silver screen legend.
Connery’s son, Jason, shared that his father passed away peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas, having been “unwell for some time”.
The Academy Award-winning actor, most renowned for his portrayal of James Bond in the cherished franchise, was the first to bring the iconic role to life on the big screen and reprised the role in seven films.
In addition to this, Connery also graced classic films such as The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and The Untouchables.
Upon hearing the news of his passing, fellow Bond actor Pierce Brosnan honored Connery by stating: “You were mighty in every way, as an actor and as a man, and will remain so till the end of time.”, reports the Irish Mirror.
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“You were loved by the world and will be missed. God bless, rest now, be at peace.”
While Irishman Brosnan also played Bond, Connery’s connections to Ireland were notably strong.
Sean Connery played James Bond for a record seven movies (Image: Bettmann Archive)
Connery’s great-grandfather hailed from Wexford, and the actor was no stranger to Ireland, having starred in the Irish-American science fantasy film Zardoz (1974), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), and Disney’s Irish-set fantasy Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959).
Besides this, the Bond actor also showed a keen interest in the performance of the Irish football team under their iconic manager, Jack Charlton. In his book ‘Jack Charlton’s American World Cup Diary,’ Charlton recounts a touching story about a message he received from Connery before Ireland’s historic victory over Italy at USA ’94.
“Back at the hotel that evening, I noticed the media presence was starting to grow, with more folks arriving each day.
“There are more fans around too, and things are ramping up nicely for our first game, which is now just six days away. One person who won’t be there is Sean Connery, but I’m thrilled to receive a phone call from him, wishing us all the best for the match against Italy.
“Sean, naturally, is a Scot, but he tells me he watched us play against Italy in Rome four years prior, and has been a fan of ours ever since. Earlier, I had received a good luck message from Senator Edward Kennedy.
“It’s great to have the support of people like that. It also gave me the chance to deliver a nice little quote.
Sean Connery died in the Bahamas in 2020(Image: Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
“When I mentioned the messages to a reporter, I told him: ‘When I walk into that stadium with a Kennedy on one arm and James Bond on the other, nothing or nobody is going to stop me. I liked that,’ said Charlton.”
Jack Charlton’s long-time friend Frank Gillespie confirmed this famous phone call when he spoke to The Mirror following the unfortunate news of Charlton’s passing.
One of Jack’s initial directives for USA ’94 was notably for Frank to set up a keg of Guinness in his Florida hotel room, where he would welcome players and friends to share a pint.
Gillespie remembers: “The phone rang one day, and it was Ted Kennedy. He rang to wish Jack and the Irish team luck. The following day, he (Jack) called me in the room, he said, ‘Frank, you missed it, I just had a call from 007 – Sean Connery. I wonder if I walk out in Giants stadium with Ted Kennedy on my left and 007 on my right would I frighten the shite out of them Italians!'”.
Throughout his legendary career, Connery received an Oscar, two Baftas, and three Golden Globes.
Yet, before pursuing acting, Connery was also a talented footballer who caught the attention of scouts in his home country of Scotland. This led to a tryout with East Fife, before a practice game featuring actors prompted Matt Busby to extend an invitation for him to sign with Manchester United.
