The Twelve Bens, Connemara
Cliffs of Moher
Lights, camera,
action!
The West of Ireland is home to the sets of many renowned films and television programmes. Take a trip across the cinematic countryside and visit some of these beautiful locations Father Ted
artists, due to its beautiful seascapes and surrounding mountains.
Follow in the footsteps of Ted, Dougal, Jack and Mrs Doyle from one of Ireland’s most-loved comedy series, Father Ted, and visit the locations where the majority of the programme’s outdoor filming took place – in Counties Clare and Galway. Take a ‘selfie’ beside the renowned ‘parochial house’, located in Kilfenora, Clare, before exploring the nearby Cliffs of Moher. The opening credits of Father Ted, featuring an aerial view of Craggy Island, were actually shot over the most easterly Aran Island, Inis Oirr, which is a haven to hikers and birdwatchers. If you’re searching for a holistic break and are an avid Ted fan, a trip to these locations should not be passed by – go on, go on, go on!
The Field
Location: Ennistymon and Kilfenora, Co Clare and Inis Oirr, Co Galway
Into the West
Location: Roundstone, Co Galway Although Into the West, directed by Mike Newell and starring a beautiful white horse called Tír na nOg, was partly filmed in Dublin, Roundstone in Co Galway provided the backdrop for the final scene of the film. One of the oldest and most popular destinations on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, Roundstone is a unique and picturesque village, which boasts a great selection of seafood restaurants, bars and craft shops. Roundstone has become a popular holiday resort among national and international
14 I BE OUR GUEST
Location: Leenane, Connemara Based on the play written by John B Keane, The Field tells the story of the hardened farmer ‘Bull’ McCabe and his love for the lands he rents. The Field not only gives us an appreciation for the backbreaking work of Bull who nurtured land into a fertile field in order to support his family, but also an appreciation of the stone walls and rugged landscape of beautiful Connemara. Visit the village of Leenane, which took centre Inis Oirr, Aran Islands
stage in Jim Sheridan’s movie production of the play. Often described as the ‘Gateway to Connemara’, the village faces onto Killary Harbour – Ireland’s only fjord – and is ideal for fishing trips and adventure sports enthusiasts, while the outline of the small fields and ridges in the surrounding area acts as a reminder of the Great Famine of 1845 to 1849.
Dancing at Lughnasa
Location: Glenties, Co Donegal Adapted from the play by one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights, Brian Friel, Dancing at Lughnasa follows the story of Michael
Mundy and his five sisters, who struggle to make sense of their lives as the feast of Lughnasa approaches. Based around Friel’s own life, the fictional village of Ballybeg represents his hometown, Glenties. The film starred Hollywood legend, Meryl Streep, who stayed in Glenties when the film premiered in Ireland. Located northwest of the Bluestack Mountains, the town has a picturesque charm and there is much to see and do – from fishing on the Gweebarra River to sightseeing Neolithic monuments in nearby areas.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Location: Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare
The Cliffs of Moher in Clare have been used as the location for many movies and music videos over the years, but not as many may know that the famous cliffs have been used in blockbuster Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, based on JK Rowling’s novel. In the film, Harry and Hogwarts principal, Dumbledore, enter a cave to search for Horcruxes to defeat dangerous wizard Voldemort. The exterior of the cave was filmed at the Cliffs of Moher, which was the only location to be filmed outside of the United Kingdom throughout the film series. From the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll see clear views of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, Maum Turk mountains in Connemara and the Blasket Islands in Kerry – a truly magical experience for the whole family!
Irish Independent I 26 May 2016