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OVER THE PAST few years, our little island has welcomed blockbuster film and television productions from all over the world with the likes of Skellig Michael, The Cliffs of Moher, and the Wicklow Mountains all getting their close-ups over the years.
With that in mind, we decided to round up some lesser known filming locations in Ireland you may not have known about.
Once a private residence dating back the Edwardian era, Tara Hall is now a dreamy boutique guesthouse overlooking the sea, Howth Harbour and Ireland’s Eye. A few years ago, it was featured in climactic scene of the romantic drama Love, Rosie, a film adaptation of a novel by Cecelia Ahern.
A quick gander through Twitter reveals people booking trips to the hotel off the back of seeing it in the film. There you are now.
Anyone who fell in love with the musical Once will recall that Glen Hansard’s character toiled as a hoover fixer by day. It even inspired a sweet little song in the film entitled Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy. At one point in the film, we see Hansard bring his paramour to the hoover shop.
But did you know the scene was actually shot in a little hoover shop on Harold’s Cross Road? The Hoover Centre has been in the neighbourhood since the 1960s and is pretty much exactly what you see in the film.
Curracloe Beach in Co Wexford may be one of the most popular beaches in Ireland, but did you know that it has also had quite a storied Hollywood career? Not only was it featured in Brooklyn, but it famously had a starring role in Saving Private Ryan. But the latter almost never materialised.
Before production started, one of the producers was dead set on shooting in Ballyvaloo, Co Wexford until it transpired that the location wouldn’t be available when they needed it. The producer in question ended up having a pint with a Wexford County Council official who suggested he check out Curracloe. The rest, as they say, is history.
It’s one of Dublin’s most treasured boozers, but did you know that it was once used as a filming location in a spaghetti western? The legendary Sergio Leone, widely regarded as the father of the spaghetti western, shot part of his 1971 film Duck, You Sucker! in the pub.
The film follows an Irish Republican on the run in Mexico for shooting a British soldier. Toner’s was the setting for that fairly epic shootout, which you can watch in full here.
thespeckledbird / TwitterFilming Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture' yesterday #inistioge #kilkenny #ireland #film #movie #jimsheridan pic.twitter.com/lAtBiIVNBb
— thespeckledbird (@ederoiste) February 5, 2015
This quaint and picturesque village in Co Kilkenny may have a modest population, but it sure knows how to scrub up well. Yes, Inistioge has been transformed into a Hollywood film set on more than one occasion. A few years ago, it was the setting for Jim Sheridan’s adaptation of The Secret Scripture starring Rooney Mara.
But it’s arguably best remembered as one of the locations used in the iconic 1990s drama Circle of Friends. To this day, the village is home to a café called Circle of Friends. D’aw.
Suzy Wrack / TwitterWent to Kilmainham Gaol today. Very emotional and incredibly interesting. Shame James slept through it, he missed being able to tell the tour guide that the Paddington 2 jail was Kilmainham! pic.twitter.com/AM0ob6u0ku
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) February 14, 2018
Not only is it one of the capital’s most historical sites, but Kilmainham Gaol has a rich history of being used on screen. At least a dozen films have been shot there over the years. Over the years, it has been featured in the likes of The Italian Job, Michael Collins, and The Wind That Shakes the Barley. More recently, Paddington 2 shot interior prison scenes there. Delightful!
The Field is nothing short of an Irish cinematic classic. The film was shot almost entirely in Leenane with the film’s striking pub scenes being filmed on location in Gaynor’s, a local family run bar.
The pub is still standing and bills itself as ‘The Field Bar’. Nearly thirty years since the film’s release, people flock from far and wide to get their photo taken outside and to pop in for a pint of plain.
This disused prison holds the distinction of being the last remaining Victorian prison in Northern Ireland and was reopened as a museum in 2014. More recently, the jail was used extensively as the backdrop in the gritty prison drama Starred Up starring Jack O’Connell.
The Snapper is one of the most beloved movies in the Irish cinema canon. In the film, we see the Curley clan regularly go for pints in their local boozer. The pub in question was none other than The Cedar Lounge, a Raheny institution that’s still going strong today. Pop in for one and tell them Sharon sent you.
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Some improvement from 4 days and stops/hops.
Aptly dubbed the kangaroo flight.
@Eamonn Duggan: although, just because they can fly non stop doesn’t mean they should. 17 hours stuck in a seat is almost too much to bare. I’d still break up the flight by stopping somewhere in Asia. Nice step forward all the same. I’d say in another 10 years it will be half that.
@Peter Cavey: With scram jet technology we should be able to travel from Sydney to London in 2hours. Although we might have to be fit enough to be able to withstand the G-forces involved. Looking forward to the next few years of this hypersonic test flights.
@Peter Cavey: how are they gonna half the time in 10 years ??
@Paul Power: With supersonic craft on a sub-orbital trajectory, akin to an ICBM.
@Eamonn Duggan: It is a big improvement on “4 stops”. However I’m sure you are of the Australian route these days is one of three from Ireland.
1..Dublin – Doha- Australia ( various cities)…. Qatar Airways Daily.
2…Dublin – Abu Dhabi – Australia ( various cities)…. Etihad Airways twice daily.
3…Dublin -Dubai – Australia ( various cities) .. Emirates. Twice daily.
All routes take 16 to 20 hours depending on destinations.
I would suggest also the mid-east airlines are far superior to Australian carrier Qantas in terms of comfort and service.
Brave route, but doubtful if it will last.
That’s a long time to be stuck in recirculated farts. Wouldn’t do it meself but class that it can be done! I’m also wondering how many meals are served. 3/4?
@Gareth Wogan: and tbh all the worthwhile places to see in Oz are on the east coast so….
@Gareth Wogan: lot to see in the west. Just depends what you consider ‘worthwhile’.
@Bilbo Baggins: name 5 good things to do.
@Gareth Wogan: Personally I prefer western Australia. It’s a shame most people tend to travel up and down the east coast.
@Gareth Wogan: I flew the Dubai – Auckland a couple years ago, 17.5hrs. Think we got 4 meals in economy. Surprisingly comfortable and a very modern, up to date entertainment system. Made the journey much easier than I thought.
@darren: I was there few months back. I guess what I want to say is that for all that way to travel it doesn’t really have lots going on. Lots of wine tours and went to rottnest island which is cool but east coast has way more things to do. I should say that I really don’t like Oz anyway. Asia is the spot to go
@Gareth Wogan: I went to WA via Thailand and wish I had stayed longer. WA actually made me want to return to Australia to see the east side ( I went via Japan and again wished I had stayed longer). Although I will agree the east has more to do I liked the west better. Rottnest.. beautiful walk, I did that in 45 degrees which wasn’t the smartest idea! Would love to see more of Asia but I may have to wait for the kids to grow up now.
It’s about the same length of time as waiting in A&E in the hospital (17 hrs). so I could cope with That!
@Gerry Fallon: Very true, the A&E seats are not so comffortable and no food or drink provided.
17 hours is a long time to be stuck on a plane…I hope they show plenty of movies.
@CharlotteFrench.ie: They have are normal long haul flights
Time in the air comfort is down to the plane and the carrier.
787 Dreamliner is the quietest, most comfortable plane I’ve been on to date.
Qantas air cabin crew are quite cheery too.
If travelling for that length of time one would frequently get up and walk around. The 787
has a load of space at the back, larger than any other plane I’ve seen. This feeds in to a happier crew
and good exercise room for a passenger to ward off DVT.
Tesla time to step up your game…
@Karl Doran: Putin has this sorted. Just need to strap yourself to one of his missiles
I’d hate to be stuck on a plane for that length of time
A complete mare. 17 hours in cattle class on Quaintarse. Why would you do it. Insane!!!
@Alex Carroll: The novelty is the same as Concorde, without cconsidering the waiting time in airports.
Give us a break!
It’s not the first time, there were scheduled services before I believe using a B777-200LR (which to this day is still the longest range passenger aircraft excluding military tankers) Not sure which airline but I think it was quantas. They stopped it for a few reasons, as it was discovered that there’s only so long you can put people in economy. Then there was a brief period of business class only flights and in the end the fuel burn just made the whole thing uneconomic.. 787 fuel burn is probably what’s making this viable again.. anyone know if the 787-9 has longer legs than the triple?
Fair play, great to see this and will hopefully get faster in a few years time
It is a big improvement on “4 stops”. However I’m sure you are of the Australian route these days is one of three from Ireland.
1..Dublin – Doha- Australia ( various cities)…. Qatar Airways Daily.
2…Dublin – Abu Dhabi – Australia ( various cities)…. Etihad Airways twice daily.
3…Dublin -Dubai – Australia ( various cities) .. Emirates. Twice daily.
All routes take 16 to 20 hours depending on destinations.
I would suggest also the mid-east airlines are far superior to Australian carrier Qantas in terms of comfort and service.
Brave route, but doubtful if it will last for reasons above
have your say