Ireland on screen

Set in Ireland

Luke Skywalker meditating on his rocky island retreat. Dragons soaring over the Westerosi coast. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara falling in love against a background of technicolour green fields. One place links these unforgettable images – the island of Ireland.

Maybe it’s the drama of the landscapes that attracts locations scouts. When soaring sea cliffs lashed by wind and rain were required for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, there was no more fitting location than the Cliffs of Moher, a highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way. County Wicklow’s Lough Tay is often overrun by Viking longboats during the filming of Netflix hit, Vikings: Valhalla. Meanwhile, anyone who’s seen those jagged fingers of rock erupting from the ocean will understand why Lucasfilm decided Skellig Michael was the perfect place for a Jedi knight to take refuge.

But it’s not just Ireland’s natural beauty that appeals. Some of our greatest stars are the historic landmarks that have graced our screens. 13th century Trim Castle in County Meath starred in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart, while elegant mansions such as Castle Coole in County Fermanagh (Miss Julie with Colin Farrell and Jessica Chastain) and Killruddery House in County Wicklow (Far and Away with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman) became living film sets, showcasing a bygone age of privilege and luxury.

Cities in the spotlight

Ireland's cities have also had their share of the limelight. The riotous TV comedy Derry Girls paints a memorable picture of Derry~Londonderry in the 1990s. Belfast has played itself in The Fall, where Jamie Dornan’s serial killer played mind games with Gillian Anderson’s police detective. And Dublin has appeared on screen so many times that audiences have seen everything from the realism of The Commitments and Once to the dreamy sepia tones of John Huston’s The Dead.

Ireland’s star power

It’s not just our breath-taking coastline or charming villages that steal the show. Our actors have been quietly dominating the film scene for decades now.

Notable native talent includes Caitriona Balfe, Ruth Negga, Cillian Murphy, rising star Paul Mescal, who broke through in the hit, Normal People, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell and Saoirse Ronan, to name but a few.

With so much to offer fans of TV and film, the island of Ireland is the perfect location to set out on your own adventure.