The Atlantic Film Trail
SEE THE LOCATIONS THAT PROVIDED THE BACKDROPS TO FILMS THAT INSPIRED
GENERATIONS OF MOVIE-GOERS ACROSS THE WORLD
Contents
Ireland has had a long and enduring love affair
with the silver screen. It has provided both the
subject matter and spectacular panoramas for
some of the world’s best loved cinema. Now
you can learn about the directors and the
stars who breathed life into these storylines,
you can experience first hand, as they did, the
sheer beauty of the wild and beautiful Atlantic
coast and the impact the film industry had on
these remote Irish communities.
Follow in the footsteps of Hollywood icons,
including John Wayne, Fred Astaire, Meryl
Streep, Maureen O’Hara, Richard Harris and
Gabriel Byrne, as you trace the series of green
plaques
that marks the scenic route of
Ireland’s Atlantic Film Trail.
Cover film stills: (from top) 1, 2, 3 ,5
Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
This page film stills: (from top) 1, 3 ,4
Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Map
Moby Dick
Michael Collins
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
War of the Buttons
The Irish RM
Excalibur
Ryan’s Daughter
Far and Away
Playboy of the Western World
Father Ted
The Country Girls
Hear my Song
Man of Aran
Poitín
Into the West
The Quiet Man
The Purple Taxi
The Field
The Ballroom of Romance
Dancing at Lughnasa
Useful information
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05
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07
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09
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19
20
21
22
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24
25
2
Malin Hd.
Location Map
Fanad Hd.
Bloody Foreland
Northwest & West Regions
Inishbofin
BUNCRANA
RATHMULLEN
N13
Aranmore
64
DUNGLOE LETTERKENNY
DONEGAL
Dancing at Lughnasa
Location: Glenties
GLEANN CHOLM CILLE
(GLENCOLUMBKILLE)
CULDAFF
GREENCASTLE
CARNDONAGH
PORTSTEWART
MOVILLE
PORTSALON
DUNFANAGHY
MEENLARAGH
N56
MILFORD
BUNBEG
GWEEDORE N56
BURTONPORT
64
GLENTIES
N15
BALLYBOFEY
ARDARA
64
480
N56
DERRY
DERRY
A29
491
LIFFORD
A6
STRANORLAR
TYRONE
MALINMORE
DONEGAL
KILCAR
KILLYBEGS
MALIN
BALLYLIFFEN
Tory Island
BELFAST
64
480
A29
BALLYSHANNON
64
BELLEEK
A1
480
ay
N59
BANGOR ERRIS
440
Achill Island
BALLYCROY
MULRANY
440
419
The Purple Taxi
Location: Cong
The Quiet Man
Location: Cong
Into the West
Location: Roundstone
MAP LEGEND
N4
DROGHEDA
ROSCOMMON
Donegal - The Swilly Bus Service Tel: (074) 9361340
Rail Network
N83
LETTERFRACK
CLONBUR
CONG
N59 RECESS
CLIFDEN
BALLYCONNEELY
419
MOUNT BELLEW
N63
419
419
419
ROUNDSTONE
OUGHTERARD
N59
CÁRNA (CARNA) CARRAROE
424
ROSSAVEAL
424
N17
GALWAY
424
M4
DUBLIN
For more information on bus and
N7rail services, visit www.irishrail.ie
and www.buseireann.ie
BALLINASLOE
SALTHILL
ORANMORE
INVERINSPIDDAL
CLIFFS OF MOHER
423
Inis Meáin
INIS OÍRR
GALWAY
ATHENRY
Galway Bay
INIS MÓR
Bus Éireann Local Bus Service - Year Round
Bus Éireann Local Bus Service - Summer Only
Bus Éireann Expressway Coach - Year Round
Bus Éireann Expressway Coach - Summer Only
TUAM
HEADFORD
416
Poitín
Location: Carraroe
Man of Aran
Location: Inis Mór
CASTLEREA
BALLINROBE
419
419
CAVAN
ROSCOMMON
KNOCK
CLAREMORRIS
BALLYHAUNIS
N59
LEENANE
420
LEITRIM
N60
N17
Inishbofin
RENVYLE
CLEGGAN
BOYLE
N3
CASTLEBAR
N5
LOUISBURGH
Inishturk
N2
SWINFORD
WESTPORT
450
ROONAH QUAY
N17
CHARLESTOWN
N5
NEWPORT
441
440
Clare Island
MONAGHAN
FOXFORD
MAYO
441
440
The Field
Location: Leenane
BALLINA
KEEL
441
DOOAGH
CASHEL
NEWRY
SLIGO
CROSSMOLINA
N59
Blacksod Bay
DUGORT
FERMANAGH
aB
BELMULLET
The Ballroom of Romance
Location: Ballycroy
N16
SLIGO
lal
Kil
Erris Hd.
ENNISKILLEN
423
50
BALLYVAUGHAN
KILREEKILL
LOUGHREA
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PORTUMNA
423
DOOLIN
50
LISDOONVARNA
KILFENORA
N7
N9
3
ROSCOMMON
N17
Inishbofin
RENVYLE
LEENANE
420
BALLINROBE
Location Map
N83
419
CLEGGAN
LETTERFRACK
419
CLONBUR
CONG
N59 RECESS
CLIFDEN
BALLYCONNEELY
419
TUAM
HEADFORD
MOUNT BELLEW
N63
419
419
416
OUGHTERARD
GALWAY
Shannon & South West Regions
419
ROUNDSTONE
N17
N59
424
CÁRNA (CARNA) CARRAROE
GALWAY
424
424
ROSSAVEAL
ORANMORE
KILREEKILL
Galway Bay
CLIFFS OF MOHER
423
423
Inis Meáin
INIS OÍRR
DUBLIN
N7
BALLINASLOE
ATHENRY
SALTHILL
INVERINSPIDDAL
INIS MÓR
M4
LOUGHREA
50
PORTUMNA
BALLYVAUGHAN
423
50
DOOLIN
Hear My Song
Location: Cliffs of Moher
LISDOONVARNA
KILFENORA
N7
N9
LAHINCH
TULLA
ENNIS
Father Ted
Location: Ennistymon,
Kilfenora, Inis Oírr
MOUNTSHANNON
SCARRIFF
ENNISTYMON
TUAMGRANEY
KILLALOE
CLARE
N8
The Country Girls
Location: Tuamgraney
N11
LIMERICK
N9
N69
Tralee
Bay
Far and Away
Location: Dingle Peninsula
273
276
Skelligs
279
280
WATERVILLE
DERRYNANE
KERRY
40
252
N71
270
SNEEM
270
282
ARDGROOM
CASTLETOWN BERE
Dursey Island
Bere Island
tr
Ban
B
nus
nma
DuGOLEEN
Mizen Hd.
ay
230 255
GLENGARRIFF
y
y Ba
SCHULL
237
Cape Clear
KILMICHAEL
YOUGHAL
CORK
MACROOM
N22
50
BÉÁL NA MBLÁTH
236
BANTRY
rbour
252
237
N71
252
SKIBBEREEN
252
BALTIMORE
Sherkin
The Irish RM
Location: Castletownshend
KINSALE
N71
237
Moby Dick
Location: Youghal
Cork H
a
252
BANDON
MIDLETON
COBH
40
233 230
DUNMANWAY
236
Cods Hd.
INCHIGEELAGH
252
N70
40
50
KENMARE
N20
CORK
N22
ROSSLARE HARBOUR
N25
MALLOW
MILLSTREET
280
280
FERMOY
N72
KILLARNEY
WATERFORD
BUTTEVANT
N20
KANTURK
WEXFORD
ROSSLARE
MITCHELSTOWN
CASTLEISLAND
281
GLENBEIGH
CAHIRCIVEEN
Bray Hd.
N25
N69
279
280
279
280
Valentia Island
279
INCH STRAND
KILLORGLIN
y
le Ba
ABBEYFEALE
TRALEE
281
Ding
Ryan’s Daughter
Location: Dingle Peninsula
NEWCASTLE WEST
N21
273
275
AN DAINGEAN
(DINGLE)
Excalibur
Location: Derrynane
N21
Kerry Hd
Playboy of the Western World
Location: Inch Strand
MAP LEGEND
Rail Network
Bus Éireann Local Bus Service - Year Round
Bus Éireann Local Bus Service - Summer Only
Bus Éireann Expressway Coach - Year Round
Bus Éireann Expressway Coach - Summer Only
CLONAKILTY
ROSSCARBERY
UNIONHALL
Michael Collins
Location: Béál na mBláth
For more information on bus and rail services, visit www.irishrail.ie
and www.buseireann.ie
CASTLETOWNSHEND
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Location: Kilmichael
War of the Buttons
Location: Union Hall
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4
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Moby Dick
FILM: 1956
DIRECTED BY: John Huston
CAST:
Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart, Bernard Miles
“Call me Ishmael” is one of the most famous opening lines in
American literature and this film, based on Herman Melville’s
classic novel, was one of three adaptations made between
1926 and 1956 but the only one to remain true to the novel
and to its original ending. The story is based around Captain
Ahab and his obsession with a huge whale, Moby Dick, who
was responsible for the loss of his leg years before. Ahab’s
crazed fixation leads him to jeopardise his life, the lives of
his crew and his ship in his hunt to bring down his hated
nemesis. The film is set in New Bedford in 1841 and told
through the eyes of a young whaler called Ishmael, who signs
up for service aboard the whaler boat the Pequod. He and his
crewmates soon realize that their obsessive captain will stop
at nothing to exact revenge on the whale. After a tyrannous
voyage, the crew find the whale, but Ahab is dragged out
to sea and killed by his enemy, leaving Ishmael as the sole
survivor of the doomed voyage. This adaptation is considered
to be the most faithful to the novel, despite the fact that the
screenwriter Ray Bradbury is reputed to never have even read
“the damned thing!!”
LOCATION: YOUGHAL, CO. CORK
Youghal offers
a wide variety
of water sports,
including
power-boating,
dinghy-racing,
yacht cruising,
whale watching,
even wreck-diving.
Situated in the south east of County Cork, the Heritage Town of Youghal
has been a popular holiday destination for hundreds of years. It is one
of Cork’s most busy and popular seaside resorts and it is also one of
the most historically interesting towns in Ireland. An ancient walled
seaport town, it was occupied by the Danes and the Normans and was
part of a tract of land granted to Sir Walter Raleigh. It is situated at the
mouth of the Blackwater, one of Ireland’s best known salmon fishing
rivers. The most notable building in the town centre is the famous clock
tower in the main street, built in 1776 as a jail to imprison the renegade
Catholics. It was routinely used as a torture chamber and was regarded
as a symbol of tyranny. For the more adventurous visitor, Youghal offers
a wide variety of water sports along its 8 kilometres of beach, including
power-boating, dinghy-racing, yacht cruising, whale watching, even
wreck-diving. East Cork has a strong gastronomy tradition, so visitors
can enjoy locally sourced produce in its numerous cafés, pubs and
restaurants. Youghal is an ideal family destination with its two Blue Flag
Beaches and various children’s entertainment. There is a wide variety of
accommodation, pubs and restaurants in the town.
Youghal (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 51° 57’ 11’’ Long -7° 50’ 45’’
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Michael Collins
FILM: 1996
DIRECTED BY: Neil Jordan
CAST:
Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts, Aidan Quinn,
Stephen Rea, Ian Hart
Neil Jordan’s epic film about the life and death of Irish
patriot and revolutionary Michael Collins was a huge success
with Irish audiences, although criticized by some for its
historical inaccuracies. Its domestic appeal confirmed the
enduring influence and legacy of “The Big Fellow”, as Collins
was colloquially known, and the continued impact of this
turbulent and troubled time in Irish history. Collins came to
prominence during the 1916 Easter Rising, where he fought
alongside nationalist hero and acclaimed writer Padraig Pearse
in the General Post Office (GPO). The film depicts his journey
from here up through the ranks of Sinn Fein and the Irish
Volunteers (which later became the Irish Republican Army),
working alongside future president Eamonn de Valera in both
organisations. Neeson’s powerful performance shows Collins
to be a charismatic, witty, strategic and sometimes ruthless
leader who went on to play a crucial role in the War of
Independence and later in the Irish Civil War, where he led the
pro-Treaty faction in the fight against his former comrades,
including de Valera. The film shows the personal impact of
the split, especially in Collins’ relationship with Harry Boland
(Quinn), who, as his best friend and comrade, had also became
his rival for the affections of Kitty Kiernan (Roberts).
LOCATION: BÉAL NA MBLÁTH, WEST CORK
The entire West
Cork region is
very popular with
tourists, offering
resources and
activities to cater
for every type
of visitor.
Béal na mBláth is a tiny village in West Cork, still best known as
the location of Collins’ assassination. There is a commemoration
service every year on the Sunday closest to the date of his death (22
August 1922). Béal na mBláth is situated between the small village
of Crookstown and the village of Cappeen on the R585 on the main
Cork to Killarney Road (N22) about 70 kilometres west of Cork City.
The nearest large towns are Macroom and Clonakilty in which a
statue of “The Big Fella” has been erected. Visitors can also take a
trip to the Michael Collins Centre in Clonakilty. Special presentations
can be organised for groups which include storytelling and baking on
the open fire. Renowned for its great natural beauty and dramatic
seascapes, West Cork is very popular with the sailing community.
Watersports of all kinds are easily accessible in the area, which also
offers, amongst other attractions, fishing, horse riding, golf, whale
and dolphin watching, walking trails and a number of local farmer’s
markets. The area has a very well-developed tourist infrastructure
and therefore offers a diverse range of excellent accommodation,
atmospheric pubs and quality restaurants for its many visitors.
Bandon (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 51° 48’ 49” Long -8° 51’ 23”
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
The Wind That Shakes
the Barley
FILM: 2006
DIRECTED BY: Ken Loach
CAST:
Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney,
Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald
Winner of the 2006 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival,
Ken Loach’s historical drama follows the relationship between
two County Cork brothers, Damien (Cillian Murphy) and Teddy
(Padraic Delaney) during the turbulent period of the Irish War
of Independence (1919 – 1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922 –
1923). While Teddy is already the leader of an IRA squad fighting
for the independence of Ireland, Damien, a medical graduate,
is heading to London to further his training. However, shortly
before his departure, he happens to witness atrocities committed
by the ferocious Black n’ Tans and postpones his studies. He joins
Teddy’s unit and together the two brothers fight against British
occupation, Damien even going as far as to shoot a childhood
friend for being an informer. However, the brothers soon find
themselves siding with opposing factions, with Teddy advocating
the acceptance of the Treaty and Damien arguing to continue the
fight for full independence. Damien is captured and imprisoned
by his brother, in the very cell that they once shared. Teddy
begs Damien to save himself by informing on his comrades
but he refuses and instead chooses to face the firing squad. In
an emotional conclusion Teddy reluctantly presides over the
execution of his own brother.
LOCATION: KILMICHAEL, CO. CORK
On the road from
Macroom to
Dunmanway, there
is a monument
commemorating
the 1920 ambush
that occurred here
during the War of
Independence.
Between Cork City and Killarney lies the parish of Kilmichael. On
the road from Macroom to Dunmanway there is a monument
commemorating the 1920 ambush that occurred here during the
War of Independence, which features in a harrowing scene in the
movie. The incident was subsequently remembered in the song “The
Boys of Kilmichael”. The nearest town is Macroom, a busy market
town in the valley of the Sullane River. Keeping to a military theme,
a visit to the Prince August Toy Soldier factory in Macroom is an
absolute must. Visitors can see the toy soldiers being made and meet
the people who mound, cast and paint these mini-men! Macroom
is a great base for exploring the local area, which has a range of
historical sites. The town itself has a colourful history and provides
visitors with a variety of outdoor activities, such as hill walking,
cycling, fishing in the local river and golfing at Macroom Golf Club.
Dunmanway (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 51° 48’ 45” Long -9° 03’ 24”
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War of the Buttons
FILM: 1994
DIRECTED BY: John Roberts
CAST:
Gregg Fitzgerald, Gerard Kearney,
Darragh Naughton
Loosely based on a 1912 French novel by Louis Pergaud, the War
of the Buttons tracks the battles of two rival gangs of youths in
rural Ireland. Narrated by Marie (Eveanna Ryan), the story charts
the escalating rivalry that exists between the kids of Ballydowse
and the neighbouring village of Carrickdowse. They wage war
on each other over everything from hospital raffle tickets to the
definition of the word “tosspot”. The winners of their various
battles cut the buttons from the clothes of their prisoners as
a symbol of their success – and to get them into trouble with
their parents. This leads to one battle taking place without the
hindrance of any clothes at all! Over the course of the film,
the boys come to develop a grudging but unspoken respect for
each other. War of the Buttons is a light-hearted and nostalgic
portrayal of childhood although it is also concerned with the
actions and consequences of war in all its forms.
LOCATION: UNION HALL CO. CORK
Union Hall is
steeped in history
and there are
many areas of
archaeological
interest, with castle
ruins and forts to
be explored.
Union Hall is a small harbour port which, like many villages in
West Cork, has a strong maritime tradition. Thanks to this, the
town has developed into a centre for boating, waterskiing, diving
and canoeing. Angling and deep sea fishing are popular pursuits
in this little coastal haven, and for those adventurous souls who
wish to explore the nearby islands, boats can be hired locally. The
well known Union Hall Festival is held in June every year. The area
around Union Hall is very popular with walkers and cyclists and is
positively steeped in history. There are many sites of archaeological
interest just waiting to be explored, such as the ancient stone circle
at nearby Drombeg. If you cross the old bridge into neighbouring
Glandore, a pretty village perched on the opposite side of the bay,
you’ll find it’s a great stop off point for lunch. The charming village
of Leap is also to be found nearby (pronounced ‘Lep’ by the locals!)
so called because a fugitive by the name of O’Donovan is reputed to
have jumped across the ravine at the bottom of the village, shedding
some light on the expression ‘Beyond the Leap, beyond the Law”!
Skibbereen (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 51° 33’ 35” Long- 9° 08’ 28”
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The Irish RM
FILM: 1983
DIRECTED BY: Roy Ward Baker
CAST:
Cast: Peter Bowles, Bryan Murray,
Anna Manahan
This successful 1980s TV drama was based on a series of books
by novelists Edith Somerville and Violet Florence Martin (who
wrote under the pen name of Martin Ross). The cousins were
Anglo-Irish residents of Castletownshend in County Cork and
drew on their own experiences of their local community to
create their light hearted books. Set in the West of Ireland at
the turn of the century, the books chart the experiences of
Major Yeates (Peter Bowles), an ex-British army officer turned
Resident Magistrate (RM) who moves to Ireland to take up his
new position. The series avoided any overtly political angle
but its humour was grounded in the relationship between the
British and Irish community at this time in history. The RM has
to deal with a stream of colourful everyday events in his new
community but is often outfoxed, bewildered and baffled by the
Irish residents. He is advised, not always objectively, by Flurry
Knox (Bryan Murray), his Anglo-Irish friend who understands
the workings of the community and uses that power to his own
advantage. The series charts the Major’s journey as he comes to
understand that the British legal system needs a good deal of
adaptation and reinterpretation when it comes to dealing with
the eventualities of every day Irish country life.
LOCATION: CASTLETOWNSHEND, CO. CORK
Home to the most
breathtaking
scenery, the area
is renowned
amongst visitors
for the range of
activities and
entertainment
on offer.
Situated in West Cork, Castletownshend is an attractive village,
not far from Skibbereen. It is interesting to note that the village
originally occupied a more westerly location but the present village
sprang up around the castles built by the Townshend family during
the 1600s. The local Saint Barrahane’s Church, with its host of
beautiful Harry Clarke stained glass windows and historical relics
is well worth a visit. The graves of Somerville and Ross can still be
seen in the cemetery of Saint Barrahane’s. The picturesque marine
lake of Lough Hyne is nearby, an ecological curiosity in itself, in
that it was Europe’s first Marine Nature Reserve, is the perfect spot
for a quiet stroll or a sneaky dip! Castletownshend is located within
easy reach of the rest of the charming towns and villages that dot
West Cork’s breathtakingly beautiful coastline.
Skibbereen (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 51° 31’ 36” Long- 9° 10’ 47”
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Excalibur
FILM: 1981
DIRECTED BY: John Boorman
CAST:
Gabriel Byrne, Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Patrick
Stewart, Nicol Williamson, Cherie Lunghi.
John Boorman’s beautiful and dreamlike interpretation of
this classic tale is a fantasy epic that traces the story of the
magical sword Excalibur and the dark romantic characters
of Arthurian legend. The film begins with the sword being
embedded in a rock by the evil Uther Pendragon (Gabriel
Byrne). And there it remains unti it is withdrawn by Uther’s
illegitimate son Arthur. Arthur uses the sword to defeat
invaders and goes on to establish Camelot and the Knights of
the Round Table. Arthur lives out his glory years in the castle
until he is undone by the discovery of a love affair between
his wife Guinevere and his favoured and most revered knight,
Lancelot. Guinevere flees Camelot taking Excalibur with her.
Arthur instigates a quest for the Holy Grail, believing this may
bring prosperity back to the land, only serving to cost him the
lives of many of his knights. Adapted from Malory’s La Morte
d’Arthur, Boorman creates a dazzling yet realistic netherworld
and the film manages to remain faithful to the spirit of the
legends. The film’s beautiful camera work by Alex Thomson
gained him an Oscar nomination.
LOCATION: DERRYNANE, CO. KERRY
The Ring of Kerry
is also renowned
for having some
of the finest
beaches in Europe
that provide all
the facilities for a
traditional seaside
getaway.
Located on the famous Ring of Kerry and served by Kerry airport,
Derrynane is perhaps best known for being the home town of Daniel
O’Connell, one of Ireland’s leading historical figures and known as The
Great Liberator. His home Derrynane House, seen in the above image,
is now a public museum. Other local attractions include beautiful
beaches, excellent fishing, the nearby Waterville Golf Course and the
Ballinskelligs chocolate factory. The seaside village of Waterville was
a frequent holiday destination for Charlie Chaplin and his family.
Derrynane is located on the Ring of Kerry, a spectacularly beautiful
driving route that circuits a particularly unspoilt region of Ireland. The
area has attracted visitors for hundreds of years, being a natural centre
for outdoor activities, such as golf, watersports, cycling, walking, riding
and many varieties of fishing. The Ring of Kerry is also renowned
for having some of the finest beaches in Europe that provide all the
facilities for a traditional seaside getaway. It is also an excellent place
to explore the ancient heritage of Ireland, to see the Iron Age forts and
Ogham stones, old monasteries and a landscape carved out of rock
10,000 years ago by the last Ice Age. Visitors to Ireland should not
miss a trip around the beautiful Ring of Kerry, which boasts many first
class restaurants and hotels along its route.
Cahersiveen (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 51° 45’ 54” Long -10° 05’ 59”
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Ryan’s Daughter
FILM: 1970
DIRECTED BY: David Lean
CAST:
Robert Mitchum, Trevor Howard,
John Mills, Leo McKern, Sarah Miles
Often considered David Lean’s overlooked masterpiece, Ryan’s
Daughter is a triangular love story set against the turmoil of
1916 Ireland. Loosely based on Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, it
tells the story of a young Irish girl (Sarah Miles) who has an
affair with a British officer, despite the opposition from her
nationalist community and her marriage to the local school
teacher (Robert Mitchum). Following closely on Lean’s epic
success with Dr Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia, the film
was made for a massive $14 million – a colossal budget for
the time. However it was poorly received and is said to have
led directly to a ten year hiatus in Lean’s career. Despite
this, cinematographer Freddie Young won an Oscar for his
spellbinding images of the Dingle Peninsula’s rugged and
dramatic coastline and John Mills won Best Supporting Actor
for his depiction of the village idiot, Michael. The village in
the film was built from scratch from stone by the production
company and many locals from Dunquin and surrounding
villages were used as extras in the film. At the time, that area
was suffering serious economic hardship and the amount
of money spent in the town revived its economy, led to
increased immigration and sowed the seed of its massive
popularity with visitors that persists to this day.
LOCATION: DINGLE PENINSULA, CO. KERRY
Slea Head is
renowned for
its stunning
beaches and
incomparable
views of the
Blasket Islands.
Coumeenole Beach is located on the spectacular Slea Head on the
Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Slea Head is renowned for its
stunning beaches and incomparable views of the Blasket Islands,
the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Rock. While few of the beaches are
suitable for swimming, the area is popular with surfers, walkers,
cyclists, whale watchers and divers. Visitors can follow the circular
drive past the ancient Kilmakedar Church, the Ogham stones and
the famous Gallarus Oratory. They can also see many examples of
the monks’ beehive huts, dating from the 12th century when the
incoming Normans forced the Irish off the good farmland and out to
the periphery of the peninsula. Coumeenole Beach itself, which lies
below the Slea Head drive, is an unspoilt cove, where in 1588 four
ships from the Spanish Armada were wrecked. Other local attractions
include the Louis Mulcahy pottery centre, the Blasket Centre and of
course the nearby town of Dingle, which is renowned for its music,
restaurants and pubs.
Dingle Peninsula (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 52° 06’ 18” Long -10° 27’ 19”
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Far and Away
FILM: 1992
DIRECTED BY: Ron Howard
CAST:
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson,
Cyril Cusack
Although Far and Away was not well received by critics (with
Tom Cruise’s Irish accent a particular talking point), audiences
took Ron Howard’s old fashioned epic to their hearts, making
it an international box office success. Shot on giant 70mm
film and sweeping across two continents, this adventure
romance tells the story of Joseph Donnelly, a 19th-century
Irish tenant farmer, who finds love and land in America with
his tempestuous and fiery companion Shannon Christie
(Nicole Kidman). Although divided by class, Shannon and
Joseph run away to America together in search of a new life
in the land of opportunity. He becomes a bare knuckle boxer
and she a dancer, demeaning herself to make ends meet. Their
stormy relationship is tested by their straitened economic
circumstances and they are eventually separated and left to
make their way in the new continent without each other.
They are unexpectedly reunited at the 1893 land run in
Oklahoma. After a frosty reception, Shannon supports Joseph
in the race, betraying her true feelings to her fiancé Stephen
(Thomas Gibson). After laying stake to their land, Joseph is
viciously attacked by Stephen – but Shannon’s tears and
proclamations of love bring him back to life again.
LOCATION: DINGLE PENINSULA & OTHER LOCATIONS
The Dingle
Peninsula is
renowned not just
for its beautiful
scenery but for its
first class musical
tradition, excellent
restaurants and
world famous
pubs.
Filmed at a number of locations around Ireland, with the cobbled
streets of Dublin’s Temple Bar doubling as 19th century Boston,
the opening act of the film is set around Clogher Strand, Slea Head,
on the Dingle Peninsula. Clogher Strand is a stunning, flat beach
with beautiful views across to the Blasket Islands, the North Kerry
mountains and Slea Head’s dramatic seascapes. The beach is unsafe
for swimmers due to powerful riptides, but it is a popular spot for
surfers and visitors who are happy to walk and sit on the beach and
soak up its dramatic setting. The Dingle Peninsula is renowned not
just for its beautiful scenery but for its first class musical tradition,
excellent restaurants and world famous pubs. No visit is complete
without a spin out to see Fungie, the town’s resident dolphin who
swims and frolics amongst the many boats and bathers that frequent
Dingle Bay.
Dingle Peninsula (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 52° 09’ 24” Long -10° 27’ 34”
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Playboy of the
Western World
FILM: 1962
DIRECTED BY: Brian Desmond Hurst
CAST:
Siobhán McKenna, Gary Raymond,
Elspeth March
Adapted from John Millington Synge’s play of the same name,
this 1962 film tells the story of a handsome young stranger
Christy Mahon (Gary Raymond) who suddenly turns up in
a remote coastal Irish village. He claims to be desperately
fleeing the law after having murdered his own father by
hitting him over the head with a shovel. His colourful
and dramatic account very quickly earns the admiration
of everyone in the local inn and stirs the lust of all the
unattached women in the village, especially the pretty young
barkeeper Pegeen (McKenna) and the aggressive man-starved
widow Quinn (March), who tries unsuccessfully to seduce him.
However, the young hero’s status dwindles abruptly when his
father shows up just ahead of the police. To prove himself to
the townspeople and especially to Pegeen, Christy again kills
his father. But this time the townspeople turn on Christy and
prepare to hang him. Christy is saved when his father appears,
battered and bloody, having survived the murder attempt.
He and Christy depart together, leaving Pegeen to lament
the fact that she has forever lost Christy, the Playboy of the
Western World.
LOCATION: INCH STRAND, CO. KERRY
The film was shot
entirely on Inch
Strand in Co.
Kerry. Three miles
of sandy beach
provide visitors
with a peerless
resource for
bathing, surfing,
and sea angling.
The film’s charm comes from its faithfulness to the original play and
the very regional tone of the drama. The film was shot entirely on Inch
Strand in County Kerry. Three miles of sandy beach provide visitors
with a peerless resource for bathing, surfing, and sea angling. There
is excellent bass fishing at Inch Strand, Bunaneer Strand and Minard
Strand, all in the Inch/Annascaul area. For nature lovers, sea otters
and seals can be spotted in the rocks around the Strand. The area is
very popular with walkers, on account of the variety of trails and the
breathtaking views. The Annascaul and Inch Walking Festival is a three
day guided walking tour which takes place over the October bank
holiday weekend. To find out more about the history and heritage of
the area, the West Kerry Museum is a good starting point! Located in
the old schoolhouse in Ballyferriter, the museum has an interesting
programme of visiting exhibitions. The more westerly part of the
Dingle Peninsula is Irish speaking, in evidence on the signposts and in
the lilting conversations you may overhear between the locals! Inch
Strand is located on the Dingle Peninsula so visitors to Inch have easy
access to all the attractions of Dingle town, excellent restaurants, pubs
and traditional music sessions.
Dingle Peninsula (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 52° 08’ 25” Lng -10° 00’ 40”
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Father Ted
TV SERIES: 1995-1998
CAST: Dermot Morgan, Ardal O’Hanlon,
Frank Kelly, Pauline McLynn
Filmed between 1995 and 1998, Father Ted was a breakout
comedy TV series that followed the misadventures of three
Roman Catholic priests in their parochial house on Craggy Island,
located off the west coast of Ireland. Father Ted Crilly (Morgan)
is the nominal head of the household who has been exiled to
Craggy Island for an apparent misappropriation of church funds:
“It was just resting in my account”. His companions there are
Father Jack Hackett (Kelly), a raging alcoholic with an eye for
the ladies, and Father Dougal Maguire (O’Hanlon), an entirely
incompetent but adorable simpleton. They are looked after by
their long-suffering yet neurotic housekeeper Mrs Doyle, who
seems to spend an inordinate amount of time making tea and
cleaning the living room window. The series revolves around their
lives on this remote island, wrestling as they do with matters of
the church, their role as parish priests and with events thrown up
by everyday island life. Although it featured almost exclusively
Irish talent both in front of and behind the camera, the series
was made by Channel 4: yet it went on to become one of the
most successful and popular series in Ireland. It also launched
the career of a host of Irish comedians such as Ardal O’Hanlon,
Graham Norton, Pauline McLynn, Tommy Tiernan and Pat Shortt
to name but a few. Appreciation of the series is so great that it
spawned a much loved festival called ‘TedFest’, which includes
such notable events as the Craggy Cup football tournament, the
‘Ted’s Got Talent’ competition and music from DJ Altered Boy.
LOCATION: ENNISTYMON AND KILFENORA, CO CLARE
AND THE ISLAND OF INIS OÍRR, COUNTY GALWAY
Kilfenora, home
to the famous
Kilfenora Ceilí
Band and
gateway to
the unique
Burren region.
Ennistymon in County Clare is an ideal base to explore some of the
most famous tourist destinations in Ireland, such as the Cliffs of Moher
and the geological phenomenon that is the famous Burren region.
This unique karst landscape is home to a range of Alpine, Arctic and
Mediterranean flora, and is a perfect destination for those in search of
a holistic break or a painting holiday. Shannon International Airport is
situated a stone’s throw from the Burren region. The much-loved town
of Lahinch is also in the vicinity, recognised as one of the best surfing
locations in the country. The “parochial house” in Fr. Ted is located
in nearby Kilfenora, home to the famous Kilfenora Ceilí Band and
gateway to the unique Burren region. The opening credits of Father
Ted, (the theme song to which was composed by the Divine Comedy)
feature an aerial view of Craggy Island, which was actually shot over
the most easterly Aran island, Inis Oírr (also known as Inisheer and
Inishere), a haven for hikers, birdwatchers and home to Arás Eanna,
the only arts centre to be found on an Irish island. Ferries run regularly
from both Galway and Doolin.
Ennistymon (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 52° 56’ 26” Lng -9° 17’ 39”
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The Country Girls
FILM: 1984
DIRECTED BY: Desmond Davis
CAST:
Sam Neill, Maeve Germaine, Jill Doyle,
Anna Manahan, Niall Toibín.
As with many of Ireland’s most successful films, The Country
Girls springs from a literary source. Author Edna O’Brien, born
in 1932 in County Clare, published her first novel, The Country
Girls in 1960. The novel tells the story of Kate (Caithleen)
and Baba (Bridget), two Irish girls coming of age in County
Clare. The story hinges on the friendship of Kate, the “good”
girl who is damaged by her relationship with her father and
the early death of her mother, with the rebellious Baba. The
pleasure and tension of the film lies in seeing Baba lead
Kate into temptation. The viewer feels that Kate needs to be
liberated but Baba’s is an unsteady hand. The urge to cheer
the girls on mingles with genuine anxiety that they will come
to ruin. O’Brien’s seminal work was coloured by her strong
feelings about Irish women, the narrow choices available to
them and their suffering under the then all-pervasive sexual
repression in rural Ireland of the fifties. At the end of the film,
the country girls leave for London and a stake a claim on their
destinies, as did O’Brien herself. But ultimately it is a paean to
female friendship of a kind rarely seen on screen.
LOCATION: TUAMGRANEY CO. CLARE
Clare is known
as a destination
for quality
traditional Irish
music, most
notably the
towns of Ennis
and Doolin.
Tuamgraney County Clare is situated on the banks of Lough Derg
on the Shannon waterway, one of Ireland’s best loved holiday
destinations – whether you’re looking for a relaxing cruise, a spot of
fishing or to spend an energetic day on water-skis! The small county
of Clare can be easily explored by car or bicycle and its boundaries
encompass many coastal attractions including The Aillwee Caves,
The Burren, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Dysart O’Dea Castle
and Archaeology Centre and the world famous Cliffs of Moher.
The nearby sandy beaches are sheltered and are ideally suited to
swimming, fishing, sailing and surfing. There are also many yoga and
health centre retreats to avail of in County Clare, not to mention
the growing popularity of painting and photography workshops in
the area. Clare is known as a destination for quality traditional Irish
music, most notably the towns of Ennis and Doolin. Festivals abound
during the summer months when Clare enjoys its best weather
and welcomes a regular influx of likeminded visitors in search of
relaxation, good music and good company.
Tulla (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 52° 53’ 25” Lng -8° 28’ 51”
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Hear My Song
FILM: 1991
DIRECTED BY: Peter Chelsom
CAST:
Tara Fitzgerald, Adrian Dunbar,
Anna Manahan
Hear My Song was big hit with Irish and international
audiences when it premiered in 1991. The film’s setting opens
amongst the Irish diaspora in Liverpool. Adrian Dunbar plays
Mickey O’Neill, an Irish-Liverpudlian club manager who sets
out to Ireland to find the reclusive Irish tenor Josef Locke. He
wants to bring him back to Liverpool to perform at his club
and restore him in the eyes of his sweetheart Nancy. Mickey’s
journey explores the effects of exile and being separated from
one’s mother country and mother tongue, a recurring theme
in Irish writing. Hollywood character actor Ned Beatty gives
an unexpectedly passionate and pitch perfect performance as
the real Josef Locke who is inspired by Mickey’s search for him
to sing his song once again.
Image Credit: Shannon Development
LOCATION: THE CLIFFS OF MOHER, CO. CLARE
The cliffs
command
excellent views:
the Galway Bay
and Maamturk
mountains can
be seen to the
North and Loop
Head to
the South.
Hear My Song reaches its climax at The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, one
of the most recognisable geological features of Ireland’s Atlantic coast.
Dramatic scenes from the 2009 film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
were filmed here. The cliffs are one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions
and there is an excellent visitor’s centre at the site. The cliffs command
excellent views: the Galway Bay and Maamturk mountains can be seen to
the North and Loop Head to the South, with the Aran Islands rising out of
the sea across the water. Infamous is surfing circles, the treacherous Aileen’s
Wave is also located here. In fact, the coastal village of Lahinch hosted
the European Surfing Championships as far back as 1972. The locality is
popular with birdwatchers, due to its rare indigenous seabirds, including the
Atlantic puffin which is in decline elsewhere in Europe. The nearest town is
Doolin, often called the music capital of Ireland; most of the pubs have live
traditional music every night during the tourist season. Lisdoonvarna is to
be found a little further along the coast, invaded by hordes of singletons
every September for the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival. Local seafood
is available in abundance at reasonable prices. Clare has a variety of small
coastal towns with generous pub food and a vibrant traditional music
scene, popular with campers, hostellers and holidaymakers of all types.
Ennistymon (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 52° 58’ 16” Lng -9° 25’ 31”
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Man of Aran
FILM: 1934
DIRECTED BY: Robert J. Flaherty
CAST:
Colman “Tiger” King, Maggie Dirrane
Renowned for its stunning visuals, this classic docudrama
depicts the lives and hardships of life for inhabitants of the Aran
Islands. It charts their struggle to make ends meet and eke out
a living from farming potatoes, fishing from the high cliffs and
hunting for basking sharks. The film was made by renowned
American director Robert Flaherty, sometimes credited as
having pioneered the documentary film form. His earlier
acclaimed film Nanook of the North was a portrait of the lives
of the Eskimo peoples of the Belcher Islands off Canada. The
film explored one of Flaherty’s central themes in his work: the
duel between man and nature, clearly revisited in Man of Aran.
The documentary aspect of the film is somewhat compromised
by the fact that islanders had not hunted sharks in this way
for fifty years at the time of filming. Also many of the family
members featured were not related and were actually cast
for their looks and to create the right impression of island life.
However the spectacular black and white cinematography of the
awesome land and seascapes of the island of Inis Mór remains
impressive to this day and the drama that emerges from the
everyday lives of the islanders’ primitive existence, even with
its embellishments, is fascinating. At the time, the film was
internationally acclaimed and resulted in establishing the Aran
Islands on the international tourist trail. It won the Grand Prix at
the Venice Film Festival in 1935. In more recent times, the film
gained added notoriety when playwright Martin McDonagh (In
Bruges) set his 1997 play The Cripple of Inishmaan on the Aran
Islands at the time Man of Aran was filming.
LOCATION: INIS MÓR, ARAN ISLANDS
The island’s
capital is the
picturesque
village of Kilronan,
which is home
to a first class
selection
of restaurants
and bars.
Accessible by either plane or boat from Galway Bay, Inis Mór
is the biggest of the three Aran Islands and boasts one of the
most spectacular landscapes in Ireland. The island’s capital is
the picturesque village of Kilronan, which is home to a first class
selection of restaurants and bars. Beyond the village, the island is a
virtual desert of limestone rock, which supports its rare and beautiful
flora and fauna. Ancient promontary forts look out over the wild
seascapes of the Atlantic, the most famous being Dún Aonghus,
perched on a clifftop, where you can watch the waves crashing 150
metres below. There are many clean and safe beaches for swimming.
The island is also immersed in cultural heritage, being a virtual
outdoor museum. Its numerous stone forts date from the Bronze
Age. Irish is still the first language of its residents. Visitors can also
take a trip to the neighbouring Aran Islands of Inis Méáin, erstwhile
home and creative sanctuary of the writer John Millington Synge,
and Inis Oírr, home to the only arts centre to be found on Ireland’s
offshore islands.
Inis Mór (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 07’ 17” Lng -9° 40’ 06”
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Poitín
FILM: 1979
DIRECTED BY: Bob Quinn
CAST:
Cyril Cusack, Niall Toibín, Mick Lally,
Donal McCann, Mairéad Ní Conghaile
Bob Quinn’s seminal film was the first feature film to be
made in the Irish language. Cyril Cusack plays a poitín (Irish
moonshine) maker in the West of Ireland, who lives in an
isolated cottage with his adult daughter. In an attempt to
get their hands on his drink, two locals terrorise the man,
threatening to kill him and rape his daughter. Eventually the
man outwits the two wouldbe thieves, luring them to their
deaths. When the film was first aired on RTE (Ireland’s national
TV station) in 1979, it created a stir amongst audiences, with
many objecting to the depiction of the Irish as drunken louts,
in particular to its “spud” fight. Indeed the film seems to set
out to contradict the idealised and romantic view of the Irish
which was made famous in John Ford’s The Quiet Man and is
unapologetic in its gritty view of the impoverished lives of
its characters. That said, the film is lightened with a highly
comedic tone that runs throughout the narrative.
LOCATION: CARRAROE, CONNEMARA, CO GALWAY
Connemara
is home to
breathtaking
scenery, the hills
of the Twelve
Bens, meandering
rivers, gilttering
lakes, thick forest,
miles of unspoilt
sandy beaches.
Carraroe is located in Connemara, County Galway and is one of Ireland’s
premier tourist destinations. It’s one of the country’s main Gaeltacht
(Irish speaking) areas and Irish culture is very much a part of the visitor
experience. Connemara is home to breathtaking scenery, the hills of the
Twelve Bens, meandering rivers, gilttering lakes, thick forest, miles of
unspoilt sandy beaches and the wonderful Connemara National Park. With
such landscapes and natural beauty, Connemara provides visitors with
a varied choice of many outdoor activities, sightseeing and much more.
Walkers, cyclists, bathers and adventurers are all well provided for in the
region. Connemara extends westwards from Lough Corrib and is bordered
by the Atlantic Ocean. The area is strongly defined by its relationship with
the sea, with plenty of small fishing villages and market towns in the
locality. Other towns and villages in the area include Carna, Clifden - the
capital of Connemara, Spiddal, Letterfrack, Roundstone and the picturesque
island of Inishbofin, famous for the quality of its traditional music. Visitors
to the area can also take in the imposing Kylemore Abbey, the Connemara
Heritage and History Centre, the Connemara National Park and a range of
archaeological and heritage walks.
Carraroe (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 14’ 56” Lng -9° 37’ 45”
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Into the West
FILM: 1993
DIRECTED BY: Mike Newell
CAST:
Gabriel Byrne, Ellen Barkin, Colm Meaney,
Brendan Gleeson, Ruaidhrí Conroy
Director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) accepted a
big challenge with this story, which begins as a gritty inner-city
drama which gradually fuses more and more with the ethereal.
Jim Sheridan scripted the film, drawing upon Celtic myths and
his own urban upbringing to subtly blend the realism and the
magic of the story. The story starts in Dublin where two young
brothers, Tayto and Ossie spend their days playing truant,
busking and begging. Tayto and Ossie are members of Ireland’s
Traveller Community who have been “settled” or housed in grim
high-rise flats, putting an end to their itinerant lifestyle. The
boys are given a gift of a horse from Grandpa Ward who they
name “Tír na nOg”, meaning “Land of Eternal Youth” in Irish,
inspired by an ancient Irish legend. They try to keep Tír na nOg
near their high-rise flat but when a crafty horse dealer takes the
horse, they steal him back and ride together Into the West.
This film evokes the enchantment that the Atlantic coast holds
for Dubliners, who know it as the location of childhood holidays,
native Irish speakers, unbridled freedom and a wilder land and
seascape than that of the more cultivated east coast of Ireland.
As the boys progress further west, the magical themes hinted
at start to become manifest but, unfortunately, there can be no
neat resolution.
LOCATION: ROUNDSTONE, CO. GALWAY
Swimming and
sailing are the
most popular
activities in
Roundstone but
shopping, dining
and live music
are also well
catered for.
Roundstone, County Galway provided the backdrop for the
dénouement of the film. It is one of the most popular destinations
on Ireland’s Atlantic coast amongst Irish people and would be a great
recommendation for visitors from further afield. It is an exceptionally
pretty village with many attractions, located a 48km drive from
Galway city along one of the most beautiful driving routes in Western
Europe. There are many fine seafood restaurants in the town as well
as top quality pub food to be enjoyed after a day of fresh air and
exercise. Dog Beach is one of the finest in the West, with golden sand
and sheltered coves. Swimming and sailing are the most popular
activities in Roundstone but shopping, dining and live music are
also well catered for. The Roundstone Regatta is a key date in the
calendar as are Roundstone Arts Week and Roundstone Pony Week,
which celebrates the famed Connemara Pony. Roundstone has a rich
cultural life with many resident artists, reflected in the presence of
art galleries, bookshops, music shops, arts and ceramics practitioners,
jewellery designers, arts and crafts workshops and regular traditional
Irish music sessions.
Connemara (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 22’ 51” Lng -9° 57’ 16”
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Image Credit: The Connacht Tribune
Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
The Quiet Man
FILM: 1952
DIRECTED BY: John Ford
CAST:
John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara,
Barry Fitzgerald
Ford stepped away from his usual genre to make this labour of
love in Ireland. John Wayne plays Seán Thornton, a returning
emigrant, who, like Ford himself, was reared in America
on romantic tales of The Old Country. One day he spots a
red headed woman leading a flock through the fields and
the next time they cross paths at the church, he learns her
name, Mary-Kate Danagher. He falls for Mary Kate, played by
Wayne’s regular screen sweetheart Maureen O’Hara, but has
to overcome local prejudices, Mary Kate’s fiery temper and
his own dark past to win her affection. Ford brought a loving
eye to the lush local scenery and the film won a well-deserved
Oscar for cinematography. Its tendency towards whimsy
actually adds to its charm as does its treatment of the
old-fashioned rules of courtship that prevail in this rural Irish
area. This is Ford’s only comedy and he shows a deft hand and
lightness of touch, which may be the main reason it has won
so many hearts. Maureen O’Hara referred to Mary Kate as her
‘role of a lifetime’.
LOCATION: CONG, ON THE GALWAY/MAYO BORDER
The filming of
a big budget
Hollywood
movie was an
event of seismic
proportions in
the area.
The areas of Cong, Maam Cross and the nearby beaches were chosen
by Ford for how well they matched his vision of Ireland as a rural
idyll and this dramatic landscape remains virtually unchanged for
today’s tourists. The filming of a big budget Hollywood movie was an
event of seismic proportions in the area where many of the stories
and locations are still carefully treasured. There is even a Quiet Man
Cottage Museum, whose ground floor is a meticulous replication
of the White-o-Mornin’ cottage that features in the film. You can
also book a guided Quiet Man Tour of the area that promises to
accompany visitors on a journey through the locations, the stories
and the personalities involved in the making of The Quiet Man in this
remote corner of the West of Ireland. Cong is situated between two
lakes, Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, and surrounded by impressive
mountain ranges. So it comes as no surprise that popular activities in
the area include fishing, cruising, canoeing, golf, horse-riding, hiking
and mountain climbing. The area is served by nearby airports at
Galway and Knock, and is only a short drive away from the vibrant
university city of Galway.
Ballyglunin, Galway (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 25’ 52” Lng -8° 47’ 37”
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Un Taxi Mauve/
The Purple Taxi
FILM: 1977
DIRECTED BY: Yves Boisset
CAST:
Fred Astaire, Charlotte Rampling,
Peter Ustinov, Philippe Noiret
The Purple Taxi is notable for Fred Astaire’s last appearance
in a feature film and also for a young Charlotte Rampling
at the peak of her physical beauty. It was adapted from the
book by French writer Michel Déon, who made his home
in County Galway. The film made its debut at the Cannes
Film Festival in 1977 and is set in a remote part of the West
of Ireland. The plot revolves around three expatriates, an
Irish-American, a Frenchman and a soi-disant Russian, all
of whom are trying to either deceive each other or expose
each other’s swindling ways. Astaire plays the local Irish
doctor, owner of the aforementioned purple automobile,
and sporting the same stage Irish accent that served him
so well in Finian’s Rainbow, which fits in well with the
tone of the film. The score was performed by renowned
Irish traditional group, the Chieftains. It must be admitted
that one has to be prepared to embrace a deliberately
exaggerated version of Ireland to enjoy this movie.
LOCATION: CONG, CO. MAYO
The dramatic
local scenery
has been
described as a
perfect example
of Feng Shui at
work in nature.
Unlike an Irish accent however, the spectacular scenery and architecture
cannot be faked; this is an unspoiled part of Ireland which has been
lovingly photographed many times but perhaps never with more skill
than that of Italian cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli, whose other
credits include Once Upon a Time in America and Life is Beautiful. Scenes
from the film were shot in and around Cong, situated on the border
of counties Mayo and Galway, near where The Quiet Man was shot
twenty-five years earlier. The dramatic local scenery has been described
as a perfect example of harmony at work in nature. The mountain of
Croagh Patrick, under an hour’s drive away, is an ancient pilgrimage site.
Ashford Castle is a key location in the film and is also one of the most
beautiful examples of architecture in the area. Its foundations date back
to 1228 and it has hosted presidents and kings in the 20th Century,
including President Ronald Reagan and King George V. The castle is now
a luxurious hotel, the venue of choice for Irish actor Pierce Brosnan
for his 2001 wedding. The castle’s 350-acre estate with its landscaped
gardens, golf, falconry, cruising and equestrian centre is open to the
general public as well as to the hotel’s residents.
Castlebar (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 32’ 27” Lng -9° 17’ 13”
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Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
The Field
FILM: 1990
DIRECTED BY: Jim Sheridan
CAST:
Richard Harris, John Hurt, Brenda Fricker,
Tom Berenger, Seán Bean
Jim Sheridan’s first feature film My Left Foot, announced
the arrival of a major new talent in Irish cinema. Sheridan’s
gritty urban sensibility was an unusual match for revered
playwright John B. Keane’s rural classic but it proved an ideal
combination. The Field brings a new appreciation of the stone
walls of Connemara; the backbreaking work of generations
in clearing small patches of inhospitable land in an attempt
to support a family. The hunger for arable land is still the
driving force in this community. “The Bull” McCabe is on the
verge of buying the field he has worked for years as a tenant
farmer, man and boy, thereby lifting his family to the status
of landowners. The acquisition of the field would be The Bull’s
vindication of his years of privation and penury and no local
will bid against him in recognition of his right to the field.
But an Irish-American (Tom Berenger) arrives with ideas for
development and easily outbids the Bull with apparently
limitless resources.
LOCATION: LEENANE, CONNEMARA
The outline of the
small fields and
ridges act as a
reminder of the
Great Famine of
1845 to 1849.
Leenane is known as “The Gateway to Connemara” and the wild and
rugged landscape with its distinctive palate of colours was immortalised
in the art of Paul Henry. A beautiful village in itself, Leenane is situated
beside Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord and one-time residence of
Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The area around Killary Harbour caters
very well to adventure sports enthusiasts. The impressive Kylemore Abbey
with its walled garden merits a stop as does the small but fascinating
Granuaile Visitor Centre in Louisburgh, devoted to the memory of Grace
O’Malley, the formidable pirate queen whose final resting place can also
be seen on nearby Clare Island. The outline of the small fields and ridges
in the area around Leenane act as a reminder of the Great Famine of
1845 to 1849 in which the population was decimated by starvation and
mass emigration, the roots of the present day Irish diaspora. The area is
also perfectly suited to walkers of all levels. You can test your mettle on
one of the several looped walks that weave their way through the peaks
and valleys of the County Mayo countryside, with routes to try on the
islands of Inishturk and Clare Island. It is said that Mayo’s Clew Bay has
365 islands, one for every day of the year! Ferries for both Clare Island and
Inishturk depart from the pier in the village of Roonagh.
Connemara (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 35’ 46” Lng -9° 41’ 39”
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www.discoverireland.ie/West
The Ballroom
of Romance
FILM: 1982
DIRECTED BY: Pat O’Connor
CAST:
Cyril Cusack. Brenda Fricker, Niall Toibín,
John Kavanagh, Bríd Brennan
In this vision of rural Ireland, the price of this particular dance
is not just what one pays at the door. The right to privacy is
forfeited as the very act of careful dressing and going to the
Ballroom of Romance exposes each person’s secret longing
for love. Crippled by sexual shyness but fuelled by alcohol,
middle-aged men peruse the women at the Ballroom of
Romance, in the knowledge that they too were nobody’s first
choice. Over the course of one evening the heroine Bridie,
realises her time is up. Unless she is to become another risible
old maid, her visits to the Ballroom of Romance must become
a thing of the past. The choices available to her are either to
renounce her hopes of marriage entirely or accept one of the
few men available to her. The idea of compromising herself by
marrying a hopelessly inferior mate is repugnant.
But it is a long and lonely walk home through the darkness
and any company seems better than none as the night draws
to a close.
LOCATION: BALLYCROY, CO. MAYO
The local pubs
and restaurants
are hospitable
places, offering
live music and a
friendly game
of cards.
The Ballroom of Romance was filmed in Ballycroy, County Mayo, and
represents a fictional ballroom, the likes of which were to be found
throughout the country at the time. The local pubs and restaurants
in Ballycroy are hospitable places, offering live music and a friendly
game of cards. The Atlantic coast provides the opportunity to
enjoy a variety of water sports and the mountainous countryside
is a popular destination for hill walkers and fresh air enthusiasts.
Ballycroy National Park is an ideal day out for those who want
to experience this uninhabited wilderness, which has remained
practically unchanged throughout the millennia. Outdoor activities
outside the National Park tend to be focused around the water,
including boating, sailing and fishing. Beach walks and cycling the
scenic coast roads are also popular activities. Nearby Achill island,
popular with families, outdoor enthusiasts and night owls alike is
also only a stone’s throw away.
Westport (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 53° 54’ 27” Lng -9° 47’ 26”
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www.discoverireland.ie/Northwest
Image: Courtesy of the IFI Irish Film Archive
Dancing at Lughnasa
FILM: 1998
DIRECTED BY: Pat O’Connor
CAST:
Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon,
Catherine McCormack
Brian Friel is widely regarded as Ireland’s greatest living
playwright. Dancing at Lughnasa is his most autobiographical
work, a palimpsest of Friel’s own childhood. It was made
into a movie with a stellar cast that includes Meryl Streep
and Michael Gambon. In the film, Michael Mundy looks back
on his childhood, reared by his mother and her sisters in
rural Donegal during the long absences of his charming and
feckless father. Lughnasa is the feast of the first of August, a
celebration dating from pagan times, the feast of the harvest.
As it approaches, the five adult Mundy sisters struggle to
make sense of their lives, deal with thwarted dreams and
live together with a noticeable absence of men. Their sexual
impulses, largely unexpressed, burst forth in one glorious
scene when they all finally abandon themselves to the
insistent rhythm of the music, brought into their home by
Michael’s father, salesman of radios and gramophones and
purveyor of romance and seduction.
LOCATION: GLENTIES, CO. DONEGAL
Donegal, as
one of the most
remote counties
of Ireland has a
well-preserved
sense of place,
including its own
Gaeltacht (Irish
speaking area).
Friel’s fictional Ballybeg (a common Irish place name, meaning
simply Little Village) has featured in many of his works and
represents his real hometown of Glenties, County Donegal. Glenties
is situated at the point where two glens and two rivers converge.
It is a regular winner of National Tidy Towns competitions. Nearby
is the Glenveagh National Park, which is open to visitors year
round and is free of charge. The national park has a pair of breeding
golden eagles amongst other attractions and is an ideal place to
experience the unique geographical features of this remote seaward
county. Donegal, as one of the most remote counties of Ireland has
a well-preserved sense of place, including its own Gaeltacht (Irish
speaking area) and dialect. Donegal is a recognised stronghold of
traditional music, song and dance, and is home to several cultural
centres and Irish speaking island communities. Local museums
showcase longstanding maritime customs, which are still vibrant
in the locality, as well as the looms that created the world-famous
Donegal tweed.
Glenties (GPS) Sat Nav. Lat 54° 47’ 43” Lng -8° 16’ 54”
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Tourism Ireland:
For more information on travel to Ireland please contact Tourism Ireland, the overseas marketing body for the
island of Ireland, at www.discoverireland.com
Tourist Information Offices:
Donegal Town Tourist Office
The Quay, Donegal Town, Donegal
T +353 (0)74 9721148
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/northwest
Cliffs of Moher Tourist Information Office
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Cliffs of
Moher, Co Clare
T +353 (0)65 7081171
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/shannon
Achill Tourist Information Office
Achill Sound, Achill Island, Co Mayo
T +353 (0)98 45384
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/west
Limerick Tourist Information Office
Limerick Tourist Information Office,
Arthurs Quay, Limerick City Centre, Co
Limerick
T +353 (0)61 317522
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/shannon
Aran Tourist Information Office
Cill Ronain (Kilronan), Inis Mór, Aran Islands,
Co Galway
T +353 (0)99 61263
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/west
Dingle Tourist Information Office
The Quay, Dingle, Co. Kerry
T +353 (0)66 9151188
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/southwest
Discover Ireland Centre
Aras Failte, Forster Street,
Galway City Centre
T +353 (0)91 537700
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/west
Skibbereen Tourist Information Office
Oifig Failte, Town Hall, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
T +353 (0)28 21766
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/southwest
Cork City Tourist Information Office
Grand Parad, Cork City
T +353 (0)21 4255100
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/southwest
Youghal Heritage Centre & Tourist Office
Market House, Market Square, Youghal, Co. Cork
T +353 (0)24 92447
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/southwest
Killarney Tourist Information Office
Beech Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry
T +353 (0)64 6631633
E [email protected]
W www.discoverireland.ie/southwest
Acknowledgements:
Fáilte Ireland would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following in the creation of the Atlantic Film Trail:
* The Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hEireann
* Ordnance Survey Ireland
* The IFI Irish Film Archive
* The County Councils of Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork,
(Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government).
Fáilte Ireland would also like to thank the following for their kind permission to use their images: ITV, National Film Studios, Littlebird, Ferndale
Films, The Connacht Tribure, Pathé, Redmond Morris, Jim Horgan and Bob Quinn.
Disclaimer:
Every care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the compilation of this brochure. Fáilte Ireland cannot, however,
accept responsibility for errors or omissions, but where such are brought to our attention, future publications will be
amended accordingly. Some sporting activities may by their nature be hazardous and involve risk. It is recommended
in such cases to take out personal accident insurance. While most operators would have public liability insurance, it
is desirable to check with the establishment or operator concerned as to the level of cover carried. © Fáilte Ireland.
Published by Fáilte Ireland.
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