With our lush green landscapes and picturesque coastlines, it’s no wonder Ireland has always been an attractive destination for some of the world’s biggest movie location scouts. If it’s striking natural scenery and positive energy they’re after, they need look no further. There have been countless movies and TV shows filmed on our emerald isle; here, with SSE Airtricity, we round up 10 of the most stunning Irish locations used in film.
1.Skellig Michael
One of the most recent and most critically acclaimed locations has been Skellig Michael, just off the coast of the Dingle peninsula, where parts of the most recent Star Wars instalment (The Force Awakens) unfolded, much to the delight of local fans and tourists in the area. Stunned by the remote County Kerry islands, which feature in the last scene of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, said “It’s just indescribably beautiful.” Daisy Ridley, the actress who plays Rey, said, “It was unbelievable” while the movie's director JJ Abrams said, “It’s sort of a miracle this place… we could not be more honoured to be here.” The next episode in the franchise will see a return for the Wild Atlantic Way on screen.
2. Powerscourt
Powerscourt hotel and gardens (and the surrounding walks and waterfalls) isn’t just a draw for us Irish when we need to get out in nature; it’s piqued the interest of movie-makers too. Apparently over 25 movies have been filmed here since 1944 (when Laurence Olivier filmed Henry V) among which, Powerscourt has played host to Ella Enchanted starring Anne Hathaway, as well as King Arthur and The Count of Monte Cristo.
3.Cliffs of Moher
As for another stunning Irish location, the beauty of which even the locals find difficult to comprehend, is the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. This portion of jagged coastline is no stranger to the cameras with the likes of Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince, Into The West, and cult classic The Princess Bride all being partly filmed here.
4.Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy in County Wexford recently made an appearance in the film adaptation of Irish writer Colm Toibin’s epic novel, Brooklyn. The movie starred Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson - among many other familiar Irish faces. Rural Enniscorthy and the nearby beaches were perfectly juxtaposed with the concrete jungle of New York City. Also earning credits in movie history is Wicklow’s Curracloe beach where Saving Private Ryan was filmed.
5.Trim
Ireland is teeming with stunning castles, so when Hollywood needs a dramatic backdrop against which to set a period film, Ireland is often their first port of call. Trim Castle in County Meath provided the visual backdrop to much of what you see in the epic Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson. This Norman stronghold also doubled for the walled city of York.
6.Kilmainham Gaol
On the subject of stunning structures, Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol remains particularly attractive to filmmakers and tourists alike. You’ll see a lot of this building, imbued with history, in the Irish film Michael Collins starring our own Liam Neeson. The original Italian Job was also partially filmed there, as was 2006’s The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
7.Connemara
For a more recent example of Ireland on screen, the Connemara landscape stars in Marley & Me, when Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston’s characters come to a creaky old B&B for a vacation.
8.Wicklow Mountains
PS I Love You, though not the most critically acclaimed movie on this list, certainly did justice to our stunning country. The Wicklow Mountains, with heather bushes as far as the eye can see, caught the heart of the movie’s characters -and us too. Worth the watch for that alone.
9.Dingle
Back to the Dingle peninsula and the particularly stunning cliffs and beach of Coumeenole, which was first made famous by Ryan’s Daughter in 1970 and later seen in Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s movie Far & Away, directed by Ron Howard.
10. Dublin
Last, but by no means least, Ireland had a particularly significant role in the Oscar-winning movie Once, starring Glen Hansard. This time, it was all eyes on Dublin. From Killiney Hill to Grafton Street and even Temple Bar, our capital city has never looked better.
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