Who needs green screens when you have the island of Ireland! From unspoiled natural wonders and picturesque rural villages to our unrivalled hospitality – LucasFilm took out full page ads in the papers to thank the locals once they’d wrapped the two most recent Star Wars flicks –
we‘ve played a leading role in bringing many Hollywood scripts to life. So, movie buffs, relive the stories yourself with a visit to some of the most well-known filming locations.
Ryan’s Daughter: a 1970s classic with filming centered around Dingle,
County Kerry. The famous drama captured the hearts of global audiences with its forbidden love storyline, but also with its depiction of rural country life in Ireland during the First World War. If you watched in awe as the epic drama unfolded between Rosy Ryan and Major Randolph Doryan in David Lean’s flick, the finger of sand called Coumeenole Beach will be instantly recognisable. Nearly 50 years after the movie premiered, go further along the Slea Head drive on the
Wild Atlantic Way route, and you’ll find the crumbling ruins of the schoolhouse.
The Quiet Man: A little further north along the Wild Atlantic Way and you’ll find the quaint village of Cong,
County Mayo, where the award-winning film The Quiet Man was filmed. Dotted around the area are lots of attractions paying homage to the movie, including
The Quiet Man Cottage Museum and
The Inishfree Experience, where you are taken to all the spots you’ll recognise from the movie... One of the most memorable scenes is the fight scene on the riverbanks, which was shot on the grounds of the beautiful
Ashford Castle, a place oozing with Hollywood elegance and glamour!
Moby Dick: Back to Cobh,
County Cork, in
Ireland’s Ancient East and the place where Moby Dick was filmed just off the shore of this pretty coastal village. The famous novel adaption was shot here in 1956 and is brought to life every year with the
Moby Dick Festival Youghal. In more recent decades, 1995 blockbuster,
Braveheart was filmed around Trim Castle, in
County Meath;
Wexford’s Curracloe Beach has been both the backdrop for the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan and Brooklyn, while
Northern Ireland has become a bit of a star on the small screen thanks to HBO’s
Game of Thrones® making full use of the fantastical landscapes on offer.
We also have a
lovely trip idea that can get you around the island’s most well known movie locations. But do any other community members have suggestions for us?
