Ireland has a reputation for rural cottages, pint-serving pubs, and an accent that’ll knock your socks off. But it’s also widely known for its gorgeous landscapes. People come from all over the world to see its dramatic cliffs, rolling green hills, and ancient stone castles. All these beautiful sights make the country seem as though it was designed for the big screen. Over the years, filmmakers have taken advantage of Ireland’s natural beauty to help tell love stories, mysteries, and fantasies. These movies will make you want to book a flight to Ireland ASAP.
1. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
The Banshees of Inisherin tells a story set on a fictional island off the west coast of Ireland. The movie gives audiences such stunning scenery that it’s basically a love letter to the country’s rugged coast. It focuses on two old friends who suddenly have a falling out. While the main characters struggle to reconcile, the striking cliffs, green fields, and stone walls sit quietly in the background. The isolated villages and landscape truly embody both beauty and loneliness. This film was shot on Achill Island and Inishmore. The story is quiet, beautiful, and a little haunting, just like Ireland itself.
2. The Quiet Man (1952)
The Quiet Man is perhaps more connected to the country of Ireland than any other movie. The classic film stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. It tells of an Irish American boxer who returns to his birthplace, a village in Ireland. Almost as soon as he arrives, he finds himself caught up in romance and local drama. The movie was filmed in County Galway and helped introduce Ireland’s stunning landscapes to the world. The charming villages, roads winding through little green hills, and stone cottages create a scene that seems too picturesque to be real. Decades later, it is still probably the most well-known movie ever filmed in the country.
3. Brooklyn (2015)
As the title implies, much of this one takes place in New York. However, the movie opens in a small Irish town and really shows what it’s like to leave such a beautiful place behind. The story follows a young woman who goes to America for new opportunities, but to do so means she must leave family, friends, and familiar surroundings. The Irish scenes show a slow moving, traditional side of the country, filled with small towns, coastal views, and a tight knit community. Through the beauty of Ireland, the movie does a great job of capturing the complicated feelings associated with leaving home.
4. P.S. I Love You (2007)
Ireland is practically a main character in P.S. I Love You. A grieving widow finds letters her late husband left behind to help her cope in the aftermath of his death. His instructions eventually send her to Ireland, where the couple first met. The movie features dozens of beautiful Irish landscapes, including Wicklow’s mountains, coastal roads, and little countryside spots. While the story is sad, the Irish landscape actually balances the emotion with warm and romantic visuals. The film was responsible for inspiring tourism to the country as visitors explored Ireland’s villages, pubs, and scenic drives.
5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Fans of this popular franchise would be right to question when Luke Skywalker ever traveled to Ireland. As far as we know, he never did. But the country provided one of its most memorable filming locations. The remote island of Skellig Michael, located off the coast of County Kerry, stood in for the planet Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker lived in exile. The ancient stone structures and rocky coastline made the perfect setting for a stark and unknown world. Skellig Michael naturally looks quite extraterrestrial, so it was surprisingly easy for filmmakers to turn this real Irish place into a planet far, far away.
6. Leap Year (2010)
Leap Year is a romantic comedy that presents Ireland almost like a postcard. The movie follows an American woman navigating Ireland in an effort to propose to her boyfriend. Her travels lead to lots of unexpected adventures. While the plot is nothing to write home about, the scenery makes up for the lackluster storyline. It features historical castles, coastal cliffs, green countryside, and quaint villages. It is truly the ideal version of Ireland. It may not be the most realistic depiction of the country, but it definitely makes Ireland look incredibly appealing.
7. Once (2007)
Set in Dublin, Once shows a much more ordinary perspective of Ireland. Instead of focusing on grand touristy stuff like castles and sweeping countryside, the movie captures the everyday aspects. We see Dublin’s streets, get to know the music scene, and tour the neighborhoods. The story follows two musicians who unexpectedly meet in Dublin and connect through a shared love of music. The film feels authentic because it shows the lived-in version of Ireland. It proves that the day-to-day moments can be even more meaningful than visits to the country’s dramatic cliffs and towering ancient castles. It does a great job of depicting the creativity of Dublin.
8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The Harry Potter series is mostly associated with England, but one of Ireland’s most famous natural landmarks can be seen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Alongside Lemon Rock, the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare were used as the backdrop for one of the movie’s big scenes, when Harry and Dumbledore go to a remote seaside cave. The cliffs were a fabulous choice for a story like Harry Potter, as they naturally look magical, with dramatic drops overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Their appearance in Harry Potter only added to their popularity as a must-see tourist location. Fans visiting Ireland immediately understand why filmmakers chose this stunning location for the wizarding world.