Join us on a virtual journey through this short compilation of amazing places in Ireland that hosted prestigious movie shootings - a way for us to celebrate Irish landscapes and monuments, while reminding ourselves of the inspiration brought by our natural environment to the Media Production art.
1 - The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
One of the most spectacular shooting landscapes in Ireland would undoubtedly be the Cliffs of Moher. These massive, impressive rocks were used in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The famous crags also appear in the 1987 comedy The Princess Bride, where they are referred to as "The Cliffs of Insanity". Ryan’s Daughter and Into The West, both Irish iconic movies, can also be added to the list.
2 - Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow
Over 25 movies and TV series felt attracted to the green Powerscourt Estate, located in the Wicklow county (also known as Ireland’s garden county). It started in 1944 with the filming of Henry V; the place was obviously chosen for its majestic, monarchic atmosphere. More recently, other movies revolving around royalty and fantasy chose to shoot scenes there: from King Arthur (2004) to Ella Enchanted, a modern remake of Cinderella, adding to the 1970 production of Black Beauty and TV series The Tudors, starring Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
3 - Curracloe Strand, County Wexford
Curracloe Beach in County Wexford, renown for its sunny weather, was the location for the 20-minutes-opening scene of the American war movie Saving Private Ryan. This beautiful coastline was chosen for its features which look quite similar to Normandy's Omaha Beach, where the historic battle actually took place. For about two months, over 2,000 men from the Irish Defense Forces have been deployed to Wexford to help with the filming of this scene.
4 - Trinity College, Dublin City Centre
The beautiful university campus of Trinity College in Dublin has always been a popular filming location in Ireland. It has also caught the eye of international productions, such as 1983 comedy/drama Educating Rita, starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters. Although it is the oldest, most emblematic Irish university, Trinity College was chosen for its “typical English university” looks! Bollywood movie Ek The Tiger, one of the most successful movies ever in India, was also filmed there with several university’s students standing in as extras.
5 - Skellig Michael, Kerry County
No wonder why producers have often set their movies at Skellig Michael for a stunning scene backdrop. This rocky island 11km off the Kerry coastline hosts a well-conserved sixth century monastic settlement and one of the largest puffin colonies in Ireland. The most noticeable movie using it for its settings was 2015 blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Director JJ Abrams stated that nothing came close to this hidden Irish island. It is very complicated to access, with boats only departing when the weather and tides allow it and no one is allowed to stay on the island for more than a few hours.
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