Neeson puts town in focus for CBS special

Liam Neeson with All Saints Boxing Club official and club members who have won Ulster boxing titles in recent years. Included are Vinny Esler, Matt Hamill, Dermot Hamill, Reece McDonnell, Joel Scullion, TJ Hamill and Steven Donnelly
Front row L-R
Odhran Ward, Sam McCullagh, Emeka Onwuka, Tyler McMullan, Oisin Doherty. — Liam Neeson with All Saints Boxing Club official and club members who have won Ulster boxing titles in recent years. Included are Vinny Esler, Matt Hamill, Dermot Hamill, Reece McDonnell, Joel Scullion, TJ Hamill and Steven Donnelly Front row L-R Odhran Ward, Sam McCullagh, Emeka Onwuka, Tyler McMullan, Oisin Doherty.

Neeson, the star of global sensation ‘Taken’, was accompanied to Ballymena by leading correspondent Anderson Cooper and a full production crew from the US top rated news programme, ‘60 minutes’.

Filming took place in various locations around the town including the Demesne Estate where Neeson greeted some old friends and neighbours; St. Patrick’s College where he attended school and, of course, All Saints Boxing Club where the Freeman of Ballymena learned some of the moves which helped make his performances in all-action movies so believable!

It was while filming near the former family home at Corlea Gardens that Neeson literally bumped into old work colleague Martin Diamond.

The pair had worked together in Murphy’s Bottlers and Neeson declared that his days spent with Martin and other work friends were ‘the best job I ever had’ .. obviously prior to his acting career taking off in spectacular style.

60 Minutes is an American television newsmagazine programme that is broadcast on the CBS television network.

Launched in 1968, Don Hewitt created the program and set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation.

In 2002, 60 Minutes was ranked #6 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. The New York Times has called it “one of the most esteemed newsmagazines on American television.”