Movie 12: Kisses

“Kisses” is the story of Dylan and Kylie’s adventures in Dublin city when they ran away from home around Christmas. The pair is faced with the joy of their own free rein along with the terrifying reality Dublin nightlife has to offer two children. The film was written and directed by Lance Daly in 2008. Kelly O’Neil and Shane Curry play the innocent couple. It was voted the Best Feature Film and Best Irish Film at Foyle Film Festival in 2008. It also won numerous Irish Film and Television awards such as Best Script for Film, Best Editing and Best Costume Design. Kelly O’Neil was nominated as Best Actress in Lead Role in Film.

The Grand Canal

Dylan and Kylie sail down the Grand Canal on a barge along the Luas stops “Goldenbridge” and “Suir Road”. Accompanied by the person driving the raft, they begin their travels into the heart of Dublin city. The Grand Canal is the south canal in Dublin that connected the capital city to the River Shannon in the west of Ireland. In 1757, Thomas Omer began constructing the canal. It was thought to improve the water supply in the city from the River Morrell, however this wasn’t the case as the walls gave way. It wasn’t until 1779, that the canal was opened to traffic from Sallins. Situated in the north of the city is the Royal Canal which opened in 1817. Although Dylan and Kylie glide along the canal, the last actual working barge to go down the Grand Canal was in 1960.

Jervis Shopping Centre

Dylan and Kylie go to Jervis Shopping Centre to buy new clothes, but more importantly their “Heelys”. Here, the pair skates inside the busy shopping centre in their brand new skate runners. In 1994, the former hospital site was bought for the centre. The building kept the outside façade of the former Jervis street Hospital in the new design and also named the centre after it. Jervis Shopping Centre cost £76 million to construct. As one of the first shopping centres opened in the late 1990’s Economic Boom, it introduced the first appearance of many British “high street” retailers, such as Boots and Argos, to the Republic of Ireland. It was also one of the first shopping centres to introduce a food court to Ireland.

O'Connell Street

O’Connell Street sees Dylan hanging off the back of a car in order to save Kylie. It is Dublin city’s main thoroughfare that was built in the 18^th century. It was previously the third of it’s width in the 17^th century with the name Drogheda Street laid out by the Earl of Drogheda, Henry Moore. Much of O’Connell Street was rebuilt in the 20^th century following the turbulence of the Irish Civil War and the fight for Independence. It is focal point of much Irish history such as the 1913 Dublin Lockout, the 1916 Easter Rising, the 1922 Irish Civil War and the destruction of Nelson Pillar in 1966. Bullet holes can still be seen on the façade of The General Post Office and the O’Connell Monument.

The Spire

Dylan and Kylie hug The Spire of Dublin, also known as the Monument of Light. This 398 ft tall sculpture was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects and manufactured by Radley Engineering of Dungarvan, County Wexford. Seven sections were installed over a month’s period by SIAC Constructions Ltd and it was completed on the 21^st of January 2003. The large pin like sculpture is three metres in diameter at the base and narrows to fifteen centimetres. Twelve metres of the top illuminate at night and can be seen from a great distance. The section of The Spire in the movie is the base of it. The design around this section was based on sample of each and rock that was taken from the grounds the sculpture stands on. This was also formally the site of Nelson’s Pillar on O’Connell Street.