Screen star arrives in Ireland for charity birthday

Hollywood legend and ex-motor racer Paul Newman was back behind the wheel today as he took a “New Generation” Porsche 911 for a spin around a race track.

The 79-year-old is in Ireland this weekend to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Barretstown Castle in Co Kildare, the camp he founded for children recovering from serious illnesses.

Newman’s spin around the Mondello Race Track was to highlight a charity auction for the camp of a New Generation Porsche 911 and a fundraising gala ball tomorrow night.

The Oscar winning star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Hustler also had a distinguished second career as a motor racing driver and took part in the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

Some 700 children and their families who attended the camp over the last 10 years will also celebrate the anniversary at Barretstown Castle tomorrow.

The €500 a head gala ball will be hosted by comic Ardal O’Hanlon, of Father Ted.

Among other items up for auction will be a custom-made Barretstown guitar designed by Mark Nichol of Gucci guitar fame and signed by Newman.

Welcoming the star back to Ireland, Hilary Makin of Barretstown Castle, said: “It is fantastic that Paul Newman can come back to celebrate.

“In 10 years we have helped 10,000 children and their families from all around. It costs €4m a year to help them.”

Ms Makin said the camp was still in need of voluntary donations despite receiving financial help the star.

“The camp caters for up to 1,400 children each year and we have the facilities to increase this to 2,500 each year if we had the funding, we are always keen to get more funds in.”

She said the camp has brought about a “remarkable” transformation in children sent there to recuperate from seriously illnesses.