Movie Locations in Ireland

From "Braveheart" to "Moby Dick" via "The Quiet Man"

Ireland has long been a country where cinemas were an important part of popular culture - indeed the Irish are regarded as some of the most enthusiastic cineasts of Europe. But Ireland has also a tradition of film production. Many major movies were filmed here, with the Emerald Isle doubling as anything from Roman Britain to post-apocalyptic Northern England. And Dublin standing in for London, Boston and even Berlin! Here are some of the places you might have seen before:

Aran Islands (County Clare)

• "Man of Aran" - the 1934 "documentary" has some unhistorical, staged scenes.
• "Father Ted" - the aerial view of "Craggy Island".

Avoca (County Wicklow)

• "Ballykissangel" - a hugely successful BBC TV series.
• "Give my Head Peace" - in one episode of this satirical sitcom Orangemen march through Ballykissangel.

Ballymun (Dublin)

• "Into the West"

Bettystown (County Meath)

• "The Crying Game" - the carnival scene.

Bray (County Wicklow)

• "My Left Foot"

Cong (County Mayo)

• "The Quiet Man"

Cahir Castle (County Tipperary)

• "Barry Lyndon"
• "Excalibur" - the opening scenes.

Castletownsend (County Cork)

• "War of the Buttons"

Cliffs of Moher (County Clare)

• "Hear My Song"

Clogherhead (County Louth)

• "The Devil's Own"

Clones (County Monaghan)

• "The Butcher Boy"

Cork City (County Cork)

• "Angela's Ashes"

Curracloe Beach (County Wexford)

• "Saving Private Ryan" - actors and the Irish Army starred as invasion forces on D-Day.

Derrynane (County Kerry)

• "Excalibur"

Dromore Castle (County Limerick)

• "High Spirits" - as the fictional "Castle Plunkett".

Dublin (just a selection)

• "The Commitments"
• "The General"
• "Michael Collins"
• "Tara Road" - standing in for New York at times.
• "Veronica Guerin"
• Jackie Chan's "The Medaillon"
• "The Tudors" (TV drama)

Dún Chaoin or Dunquin (County Kerry)

• "Far and Away"
• "Ryan's Daughter" - the village in the film was a purpose-built set!

Galway City (County Galway)

• "Black Narcissus" (1947)
• "The Mackintosh Man"

Inishoge (County Kilkenny)

• "Circle of Friends"

Huntingdon Castle (County Carlow)

• "Barry Lyndon"

Kilmainham Gaol (Dublin)

• "The Italian Job" - Noel Coward's "home away from home" in the original movie.

Kilpedder (County Wicklow)

• "The Blue Max" - the planes were flown by pilots of the Irish Air Corps.

Kilruddery House (County Wicklow)

• "Far and Away
• "My Left Foot"

Leenane (County Galway)

• "The Field"

Leixlip (County Kildare)

• "The Blue Max" - the planes were flown by pilots of the Irish Air Corps.

Limerick City (County Limerick)

• "Angela's Ashes"

Newbridge (County Kildare)

• "Cal"

Powerscourt Estate (County Wicklow)

• "Henry V" - representing Agincourt in Laurence Olivier's 1944 movie version.

Redhills (County Cavan)

• "The Playboys"

Rock of Cashel (County Tipperary)

• "Excalibur"

Roundstone (County Galway)

• "The Matchmaker"

Smithfield Market (Dublin)

• "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" - standing in for Berlin with a replica of Checkpoint Charlie.

Temple Bar (Dublin)

• "Far and Away" - representing Boston.

Trim (County Meath)

• "Braveheart" - Trim Castle stands in for Carlisle.
• "Captain Lightfoot"

Trinity College (Dublin)

• "Educating Rita" - as a "typical English university" nonetheless.

Union Hall (County Cork)

• "War of the Buttons"

Wicklow Mountains (County Wicklow)

• "Braveheart"
• "Excalibur"
• "Into the West"
• "King Arthur" - a stretch of Hadrian's Wall was built for this movie.
• "Lassie" (2005)
• "Michael Collins" - the Wicklows are standing in for Cork.
• "Reign of Fire"
• "Zardoz"

Youghal (County Cork)

• "Moby Dick" (John Huston, 1956) - standing in as New Bedford, Massachusetts.