1. Cong, Co. Mayo/Galway, location for The Quiet Man
The beautiful village of Cong was the location for the 1952 release The Quiet Man featuring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. The film was a tremendous success winning 2 Oscars for Best Director for John Ford and Best Cinematography in Color and was nominated for another five Oscars at the 1953 Academy Awards.
Cong is a truly beautiful village that straddles the Galway/Mayo border, and its famous Ashford Castle which formed the basis of the storyline for the film. You can even go for a pint of Guinness in the pub depicted in the movie.
You may even know the film if you have seen E.T. – it shows the classic scene where Wayne and O’Hara kiss.
Aerial view of Skellig Michael. Photo: Tourism Ireland/Valerie O'Sullivan©2. Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry, location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The larger of the two Skellig Islands was the location used in the popular 2015 Star Wars release. Shown in the final scene in all its glory, Director J.J. Abrams called the island “gorgeous” but was astonished that there were “10,000 puffins” to be seen on their first day of filming.
Skellig Michael is now a hot tourist spot following the release of the blockbuster with eager fans looking to experience the wonder of the rugged island in person.
The island was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996 and visitors can see the ruins of a monastery that was previously inhabited centuries ago. The jagged rock can be visited by approved boat each summer between May and October.
3. Ballinesker Beach, Curracloe, Co. Wexford, location for Saving Private Ryan
The tremendous opening scene, depicting the D-Day storming of Omaha beach in Normandy, was filmed on the wonderful Ballinesker beach and brought an estimated £40 million to the local economy.
Spielberg used the help of the Irish Army to orchestrate this massive shoot with Army volunteers forming the crew of extras. The summer of 1997 was an exciting time for the people of Wexford and is immortalised in the film that went on to win five Oscars.
Kilmainham Gaol, Kilmainham,Dublin City, Ireland4. Kilmainham Gaol, Co. Dublin, location for The Italian Job, Michael Collins and The Wind That Shakes the Barley
A location of vast importance in Irish history, the jail was used in 12 films over the past 50 years with the most notable being the original Italian Job, Michael Collins and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
The jail was where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were imprisoned and subsequently executed.
Kilmainham features in The Italian Job where Noel Coward, playing the character Mr. Bridger, painstakingly plans the infamous heist.
Cliffs Of Moher, County Clare, Ireland.5. Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, location for Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince, The Princess Bride and Ryan’s Daughter
If you are a real Harry Potter fan you will know the Cliffs of Moher from the 2009 release where Harry and Dumbledore become tourists and visit the gigantic cliffs.
Scroll down to see the Harry Potter trailer...
For the older, non-wizard loving generation you may have seen the Cliffs of Moher in the 1987 cult classic The Princess Bride where they are used as the Cliffs of Insanity and are climbed by Cary Elwes playing the lead character Westley.
The cliffs feature briefly in Ryan’s Daughter in the opening scene where Sarah Miles playing the character Rosy Ryan loses her hat from the cliff top into the howling sea below.
6. Trim Castle, Co. Meath, location for Braveheart
Last but not least we have the Trim Castle. The castle was used in the 1995 epic Braveheart which went on to win five Oscars at the Academy Awards in 1996 including Best Picture.
Trim Castle was depicted as the English town of York in the Mel Gibson film. Many of the scenes in Braveheart were filmed in various locations in Ireland including the Blessington Lakes in Co. Wicklow where William Wallace flees on horseback.
Trim Castle is the feature of the small village of Trim and is the largest Norman castle in the entirety of Ireland. It was built by the de Lacy family over 800 years ago and is open to the public.
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