In Ireland’s Ancient East, set-jetters can stroll along the golden expanse of Curracloe Beach in County Wexford, which featured in Brooklyn and Saving Private Ryan, and follow in the footsteps of the Vikings through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains.
A visit to magnificent Powerscourt Estate, also in Wicklow, reveals the elegant setting for Ella Enchanted and The Tudors, while Trim Castle in County Meath recalls the battles in Braveheart.
In Dublin, bustling Grafton St provided the urban setting for Once and historic Kilmainham Gaol put stars behind bars in Michael Collins and The Italian Job.
To see the location for Educating Rita, movie buffs can visit Trinity College, famous for the Book of Kells, but which also starred in a Bollywood blockbuster, Ek The Tiger.
Northern Ireland stars brightly on screen with TV shows like The Fall and Line of Duty and big-screen blockbusters like Dracula Untold shot there. But it is now known most worldwide for being the ‘Home of Thrones’.
A number of tours visit beautiful Game of Thrones shoot locations, including Castle Ward (Winterfell) in County Down, the Dark Hedges (Kingsroad) and Ballintoy (Pyke Harbour) in County Antrim, and Downhill Strand (Dragonstone) in County Londonderry.
As well as grabbing a photo, fans can enjoy a taste of Westeros at a medieval banquet, meet the direwolves and shoot arrows on the set where Robb Stark taught Bran archery.
Combining a tour of locations with an Irish film festival, which run throughout the year, is a good idea for film-lovers. Among the choices are the six-day Galway Film Fleadh (11–16 July) and the Oscar-affiliated Foyle Film Festival (17–26 November) in Derry~Londonderry.
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