The Catholic Diocese of Ossory has granted permission for the parish church in Callan, Co Kilkenny, to be used in a new Irish film.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, located 10 miles from Kilkenny city, has been chosen by director Neil Jordan for his latest project, Breakfast on Pluto, which will go into production in three weeks' time.
Controversy has arisen because the lead character in the film, based on a novel by Patrick McCabe, is the offspring of an illicit affair by a parish priest and his housekeeper in the make believe town of Tyrellin.
Patrick "Kitten" Brady, played by Cillian Murphy, leaves rural Ireland of the mid 1970s and reappears in London as a transvestite cabaret singer.
Set designers have started building a replica presbytery, attached to the church, in advance of the film.
A meeting between people in Callan and the film company was held last night. Organised by local parish priest, Father William Dalton, it attempted to clear up any concerns that parishioners had over the use of the church by the film company.
Shooting will begin on September 6th and is expected to last a number of weeks. Around 100 people are expected in the town during the shooting of the film.
Parallel Productions is looking for locals with long hair and sideburns to take part as extras.