1. Cork City
Filming Locations That Feel Real, Not Staged
If you are interested in filming locations that feel lived-in rather than polished, Cork City is a standout.
Cork is best known on screen as the setting and filming backdrop for The Young Offenders, a wildly popular Irish television series and film franchise. The production was filmed extensively in Cork City and throughout County Cork, using real streets, neighborhoods, and everyday spaces rather than constructed sets.
RTÉ has covered how closely the production is tied to Cork itself, which is a big reason the show feels so authentic. Cork is not pretending to be anywhere else. It is simply being Cork.
Cork is also the hometown of Cillian Murphy, one of Ireland’s most internationally recognized actors, known for Peaky Blinders, Oppenheimer, 28 Days Later, and more. Cork is also the hometown of many other renowned artists, actors, directors, comedians, musicians, and others. That creative legacy is felt throughout the city.
On our Atomic Trips route, we stay in Cork City for two nights. For movie tourism, that matters. Filming locations are more rewarding when you are not rushing between them. With time to walk the streets, sit in local pubs, and observe daily life, the atmosphere that works so well on screen becomes obvious. You never know, you might even spot a celebrity filming a new show or simply enjoying a pint with friends.
How to enjoy Cork as a movie tourism stop
Watch an episode or two of The Young Offenders before you arrive, then stop looking for exact frames. Cork’s value as a filming location is in its texture, not a single snapshot. Take a moment to breathe in the city’s vibrant arts and culture.
2. The Cliffs of Moher
One of the Most Famous Filming Locations in Ireland
If you picture Ireland’s filming locations and imagine wind, ocean, and scale, you are almost certainly picturing the Cliffs of Moher.
The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience promotes its “Moher at the Movies” listing of major films that have featured the cliffs. These include Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Princess Bride, Ryan’s Daughter, and Leap Year.
More recently, the cliffs have appeared in modern productions and streaming-era conversations. Business Insider, for example, highlighted the Cliffs of Moher in coverage of filming locations connected to Netflix’s Irish Wish.
On our route, the Cliffs of Moher are a full stop, not a quick glance. This is one of those filming locations in Ireland that feels cinematic the moment you step into the wind.
Bonus movie tourism reference nearby
While we do not visit it, we pass through the area near Father Ted’s House, officially known as the Parochial House from the sitcom Father Ted. It is a private residence near Corofin in County Clare. Many American travelers may not recognize it, but Irish visitors often appreciate the reference to one of Ireland’s most beloved comedy landmarks.
How to enjoy the Cliffs of Moher as a filming location
Let the weather do its thing. The cliffs are dramatic because they are unpredictable. Wide shots and video capture their scale better than close-ups. It is difficult not to enjoy the Cliffs of Moher; staring out over the wild Atlantic Ocean as it crashes up against millions of years of history, culminating in an intensely dramatic precipice, is breathtaking. It’s easy to feel like you are standing in an epic moment in your film of life, and you can see why Moher is featured in many movies and TV shows. It’s inconceivable!
3. Springfield Castle
A Filming Location With Personal History
Springfield Castle is one of the most meaningful filming locations on our Ireland route. Not because it has been featured in a lot of movies or even any renowned films or TV programs, but because it was featured intimately as a film set.
The 2018 psychological thriller Killers Within was filmed at Springfield Castle, using the historic interiors and grounds as part of the film’s setting. The castle was not a symbolic reference or a nearby stand-in; the production was physically shot on site. Recognizing the location makes it very fun to watch the film after staying in the castle for a few days.
I have personally found a few leftover props tucked away on the grounds, which is always an enjoyable reminder that this castle played host to true medieval Irish history, including battles and revelries, and once even functioned as a working film set.
Springfield Castle is also one of Atomic Trips’ earliest and strongest partnerships. We have spent significant time here and value the relationship with the family that runs the property. Because of that, Springfield Castle is not just a filming location we pass through. It is a place we genuinely care about.
How to enjoy Springfield Castle as a movie tourism stop
Take your time. Walk the grounds slowly. Filming locations like this reveal themselves in detail, not in rushes. The castle is another one of those locations that feels like you are standing in your own movie. Its beauty captures romance, its history breathes life into the background, and its scale grants one a sense of adventure! Ready to start filming your movie there now?
Honorable Mentions in Ireland’s Movie Tourism Landscape
These filming locations in Ireland are not formal stops on our itinerary, but they are part of the broader conversation about movie tourism. If you had a list of all filming locations in Ireland, it would be huge. HBO used tons of filming locations in Ireland for Game of Thrones, and many of the actors who played in the show are from the Emerald Isle. For instance, Jack Gleeson, best known for portraying Joffrey Baratheon, was born in Cork!
Dublin
We typically stay on or near O’Connell Street, often at the Riu Gresham Hotel. The surrounding area has appeared in numerous Irish film and television productions. Usually, anytime you see Dublin on the silver screen, you are looking at O’Connell Street and the River Liffey. On our way to dinner on night one of our trip, we will cross over the famous Ha’penny Bridge, another very cinematic location.
An additional honorary mention for filming location in Dublin; Kilmainham Gaol is a major movie tourism site, featured in The Italian Job (1969) starring Michael Caine and Michael Collins (1996) starring Liam Neeson.
Rock of Dunamase
The Rock of Dunamase was used in Leap Year, with real footage combined with CGI. It is a great example of how filming locations in Ireland are sometimes enhanced on screen while remaining visually powerful in person. This incredible site is another one that we will visit up close and personal on our trips. It has some amazing history and is immensely beautiful. It only made it on the honorary list instead of the main list because it was spliced with CGI and another location, rather than being the main filming location used for its grandeur alone. Surprisingly, it has also not been used in many other films or TV programs.
Inishmore (Aran Islands)
Although we do not visit the Aran Islands, we can see them along the drive to the Cliffs of Moher. Inishmore was a primary filming location for The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, and remains a major draw for movie tourism in Ireland. Additionally, the exterior shots for Craggy Island for the sitcom Father Ted were filmed on Inisheer! Go on! Go on!
