FILM crews and actors did assemble outside Charlie Madden’s bar in Timoleague on Monday and Tuesday night - but Brad Pitt was not amongst them.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated images of Brad are popping up everywhere on social media, showing him hanging out in all the best places across West Cork.

With the old strapline: ‘They seek him here, they seek him there’ you’d imagine Brad was auditioning for the lead role in The Scarlet Pimpernel. And with so much AI in play, who needs a decoy double?

It is understood that the Hollywood A-lister is scheduled to do some filming in this neck of the woods in the coming weeks, as well as the old terminal at Cork Airport, but the majority of filming will be done in a closed set in the Wicklow mountains, where his character in the movie The Riders is renovating a family home.

The manager of Foley’s Centra and filling station in Timoleague, Niamh Harrington, was amused by the ruckus when the AI images of ‘Brad’, standing in front of an old garda car, were added to the genuine film stills and released by persons unknown.

A small local production involved in the filming of Hemingway’s Bar did have a permit to film in the village on Monday and Tuesday night.

And, yes, there was an old garda car parked outside Charlie Madden’s bar, but Niamh clarified: ‘There is no truth in the rumour that Brad Pitt was here filming, whatsoever.

‘There were no – as in zero – Brad Pitt sightings. The images online are all AI generated and people are falling for it hook, line and sinker.

‘The film project that’s happening locally does not feature any Hollywood A-listers. But if Brad is reading a new script, set in Ireland, he would be welcome to come here any day of the week.’

It is understood the production team, crew, and stars of Hemingway’s Bar are staying in holiday cottages in Rosscarbery, while some are said to be staying in local hotels.

Meanwhile, the search for the Hollywood heartthrob continues. Keep your eyes peeled, just don’t believe everything you see online.

• For the inside story on Hemingway’s Bar see page 40.