Irish landmark plays starring role in new Hollywood blockbuster, The Last Duel

The highly anticipated Ridley Scott-directed movie has at last hit cinema screens after long delays caused by the Covid pandemic. 

The Last Duel, on release from 15 October, is a tale of betrayal and vengeance and stars heavyweight actors Jodie Comer, Adam Driver, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. 

Although set in fourteenth-century France, the movie was partly filmed in Ireland, and Cahir Castle in County Tipperary, plays a starring role. The twelfth-century castle is one of the largest and best preserved in Ireland. 
 
Built on a rocky island in the River Suir, Cahir Castle’s stout walls, turrets, towers, keep and moat make it a model of defensive design and the perfect setting for thrilling battle scenes.    
 
Movie buffs wanting to visit the shoot location will also enjoy the excellent audio-visual show available in the castle, which gives a detailed appreciation of its long history. 

Various locations in Dublin and Wicklow were also used in filming The Last Duel, as were the atmospheric medieval remains of Bective Abbey in County Meath. 

 

 For the movie’s leading man, Matt Damon, filming in Ireland turned into a longer stay than he bargained for. A week after he arrived in March 2020 to shoot The Last Duel, the country went into lockdown and for several months he was unable to go more than 2km from his luxury Dalkey residence.  

The enforced stay, however, enabled him to relax and enjoy the village’s beautiful surroundings and he was soon spotted jogging on Killiney Hill and swimming in the Irish Sea. 

Interviewed at the time Damon said: “This is one of the most beautiful places we've ever been. It's absolutely gorgeous. Even within 2km, we've got trees, and woods and ocean. And now it’s blooming, it’s incredible, a little like a fairytale.” 

Dalkey has a rich heritage, having been Dublin’s main harbour in the Middle Ages. The charming village now has a cosmopolitan vibe with many great restaurants and cosy pubs. It’s home to some of Ireland’s A-listers including Enya, U2’s Bono and The Edge, and director Neil Jordan. 

www.ireland.com