Tourism Ireland celebrated its vibrant film industry – and the profile it affords the Emerald Isle –at the 51st annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) at a star-studded gala that included Liam Neeson.
Screen Ireland is showcasing five features during including Ancestors, Julián, Lemonade, The Lost Children of Tuam and The Pervert’s Guide to Utopias.
“The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious film events and an important platform for showcasing Irish films, talent, creativity and storytelling to international audiences,” said Sandra Bailey Moffatt, Country Director of Canada at Tourism Ireland. “By bringing Ireland’s landscapes, culture and character to life on screen, film can inspire viewers around the world to experience the island for themselves.”
Ireland provides an ideal backdrop for historical, modern-day and even futuristic productions with its mixture of rugged coastlines, dramatic cliffs, rolling greenery, urban streets and centuries-old landmarks.
And Tourism Ireland notes that powerful cinematic visuals continue to shape travel decisions with screen tourism, or set-jetting, having become a cultural force with overseas audiences saying TV shows and films inspire destination selection.
Set-jetters are eager to step into the world of their favourite films or shows to relive and re-enact key moments. Beyond the screen, some venture to the spots celebrities have visited in their spare time.
Screen tourism
The island of Ireland continues to elevate its screen tourism offerings to travellers. Earlier this year, Tourism Northern Ireland introduced its SCENEic Route, a map inviting fans to plan their adventures around filming locations of productions like Derry Girls, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, Hell Boy II: The Golden Army and more.
“For TV and film fans, screen tourism is a magical opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of their favourite productions, to walk in the footsteps of those characters and to feel part of that world,” Moffatt explains. “It’s one thing to see Ireland on-screen, it’s another to experience it in person to truly connect with the breathtaking scenery and warm hospitality that makes Ireland so special.”
Here some of the recent productions in which Ireland has played a role, and how film fans can connect:
Derry Girls
While set in 1990s, the beloved comedy series Derry Girls captures the spirit of Derry-Londonderry. Fans can step into the world by visiting the famous mural, taking a walking tour or stopping by The Derry Girls Experience, which gives fans the opportunity to visit the home of the Derry Girls and interact with memorabilia from the show.
Normal People
The miniseries adaption of Irish writer Sally Rooney’s 2018 novel follows the relationship between Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal). It is set along the Wild Atlantic Way, in County Sligo, at the historic Trinity College and popular dining destinations in Dublin including Brother Hubbard, The Fumbally Cafe, The Pav Bar and Blackbird.
Game of Thrones, A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms
The hit HBO series has left a permanent mark on Northern Ireland. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour (Banbridge, Northern Ireland) in Linen Mills Studios is an immersive experience transporting guests into the world of Westeros to view famed sets and costumes.
In Belfast, the Glass of Thrones are six beautifully crafted, freestanding stained-glass windows representing a key house from the series. The Doors of Thrones are 10 intricately crafted doors in pubs and hotels carved with iconic symbols from the show scattered throughout Northern Ireland. Other filming locations include Carnlough Village, Castle Ward and Tollymore Forest Park.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
The dark-comedy series from the creator of Derry Girls is shot across the island of Ireland. The characters stop off in Derry~Londonderry to see the Peace Bridge and Derry Girls mural before heading to Belfast to see the Harland & Wolff cranes (birthplace of the Titanic), The Lyric Theatre, Grand Central Hotel and the Duke of York pub.
Along the Causeway Coast is the fictional Knockdara Hotel, set inside The Harbourview Hotel – Ireland’s first destination whiskey hotel. The series also takes watchers along the Wild Atlantic Way, with scenes in Dunlewey Lough, the Sacred Heart Church at the foot of Errigal Mountain, and the breathtaking Mamore Gap.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
It’s a galaxy, not so far away. Films in the Star Wars saga introduced the world to some of the island of Ireland’s most historic landmarks. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens Skellig Michael, one of two islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, became a standout star. Accessible only by boat, the remote destination is a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally settled by monks in the 6th century, who built cells, oratories and staircases that have lasted over a millennium.
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the coastline between Cork and Donegal was showcased including Malin Head, the cliffs of Loop Head and the rocky shoreline of County Cork.
The Banshees of Inisherin
This nine-time Oscar nominee, set on the fictional island of Inisherin, features two stunning islands on Ireland’s west coast. The gorgeous Keem Strand, on Achill Island in County Mayo, became the defining image for the film, featured on the official movie poster.
Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway, is famous for its sea cliffs and adorable cottages. The Aran Islands are a designated Gaeltacht region, where the Irish language is predominantly spoken and read, and is home to famed Aran Jumper, a warm and chunky fishermen’s sweater that is worn by the cast.
Wednesday
The spooky Netflix mystery series was shot across various counties including Wicklow, Dublin and Offaly. Actor Luis Guzmán, who plays Gomez Addams, said “The landscape here is sensational, so beautiful, so nostalgic.”
One location was Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, in which the graveyard, gardens and waterfalls served as the backdrop for three key settings: Nevermore Graveyard, Hester House Gardens and Jericho Camp.
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