|
Irish Film Locations
As
well as attracting and captivating the hearts of visitors from around
the world, Ireland's stunning scenery has, for decades, formed
the memorable backdrop to a number of cinematic classics.
From
its sweeping mountains and desolate bog land, to its timeless rural
hamlets and historic Dublin
city architecture, Ireland has stolen the show on many a film
and helped win prestigious film awards. Most recently The Wind That
Shakes the Barley, directed by Ken Loach and set in Co. Cork, won
the Palm D'Or at Cannes. The film is set in 1920s Ireland,
as the country gains independence from Britain, only to be divided
by a bitter civil war. The film stars a number of Irish actors including
native Corkman, Cillian Murphy, and was shot in various locations
in West Cork, largely around the town of Bandon.
The
story of the Wind that Blows the Barley, mirrors that of the 1996
Neil Jordan film, Michael Collins, the most successful Irish made
film of all time. The film stars Liam Neeson as Irish revolutionary
leader Michael Collins who brought about Ireland's independence.
The film was shot on location in Dublin, during the famous Easter
Uprising Battle and parts of the Wicklow
Mountains for the more scenic shots as well as that of Collins'
ambush and death.
But
the film that put Ireland onto the world stage was John Ford's
1950s classic The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.
The film tells the story of Sean Thornton (Wayne) an Irish American
boxer who returns to his homeland to reclaim the family farm. Here
he meets and falls in love with Mary Kate (O'Hara). The film
was nominated for best picture and won Ford an Oscar for best director.
The Quiet Man was filmed in the town of Cong, on the shores of Lough
Corrib in Co. Mayo as well as parts of Connemara.
The film helped create the rugged and romantic image of Connemara
and is largely credited with kick-starting the Irish tourist industry,
inspiring many who watched the Quiet Man to visit the ‘auld
country'. Cong is now very much a Quiet Man tourist destination,
with a number of the locations marked on maps available from the
local tourist information office.
Another classic movie that helped inspire interest
in Ireland was David Lean's Ryan's Daughter in 1970.
The film is set after the events of the Easter Uprising in 1916,
on the Dingle Peninsula on the west coast of Ireland in Co. Kerry.
It tells the story of a beautiful Irish girl, played by Sarah Mills,
who marries the local teacher, played by Robert Mitcham, but then
has an affair with a British Officer, much to the scandal of the
town. The film won Oscars for best supporting actor and best cinematography
for its sweeping scenes of Dingle's beaches around Inch Strand
and the Blasket Islands. The film undoubtedly helped Dingle's
tourist industry in particular Ashe's Bar in the town, which
was a popular haunt of the cast during filming, and even became
their unofficial caterer.
Ireland has in fact served as a kind of stunt double,
for a number of films, most famously Braveheart, starring and directed
by Mel Gibson. Many of those scenes of the sweeping mountains of
the Highlands are actually the Wicklow Mountains and the battle
scenes involving the English and the Scottish Highlanders were actually
filmed in Co. Meath, using extras from the Irish Army!
Many
Irish films have been adapted from classic Irish novels and set
in their native land. One most recent example being Alan Parker's
1999 adaptation of Angela's Ashes, written by Frank McCourt
about his memories of growing up in Limerick
during 1930s and 40s. The story outlines the abject poverty and
desperation of the time, adequately reproduced in the film. It caused
quiet a stir on its release in Limerick, where people were critical
of its poor portrayal of the city. But it is safe to say that Limerick
has changed quite a bit from the poverty stricken slums of McCourt's
time and for visitors, the tourist information centre run walking
tours of the places associated with Angela's Ashes.
Ireland's
all-time classic novel, James
Joyce's Ulysses, has twice been adapted for film. Firstly
in 1967 with the film of the same name, which was banned in Ireland
until 2000. The second film was Bloom in 2003 starring Stephen Rea
in the title role. Like the book the films follows the characters
through a day in the life of Dublin city, calling at various locations.
Each year on 16th June (the date in the novel), Dublin stages Bloomsday
with street theatre re-enacting scenes from Joyce's famous
novel.
If
you're planning on visiting the scenes from a particular film
in Ireland , you'll find more information on the ground. Local
tourist offices will have a wealth of information, while the locals
themselves will no doubt have a tale or two to tell about the time
Hollywood came to town!
|
