- Clonalis House, near Castlerea: This grand Victorian-Italianate mansion, home to the last direct descendants of the ancient O’Conor kings of Connacht, has been promoted as an ideal film location for its opulent interiors, historic artefacts, and extensive grounds; it suits period dramas, historical pieces, or atmospheric family sagas requiring authentic Irish aristocratic settings.
- Strokestown Park House and demesne, Strokestown: The impressive Palladian mansion, famine museum, and beautifully landscaped gardens (including the longest herbaceous border in Ireland) offer versatile filming backdrops; the estate provides elegant period interiors, formal gardens, and rural outbuildings ideal for historical dramas, costume productions, or scenes evoking 18th- and 19th-century landed gentry life.
- Lough Key Forest Park, near Boyle: This scenic lakeside park with ancient woodlands, islands, fairy bridges, and historic ruins (including the remains of Rockingham House) has been highlighted for fantasy, adventure, or nature-based productions; its evocative landscapes, abundant wildlife, and fairy-tale-like features make it perfect for magical or atmospheric outdoor sequences.
- Boyle town and surrounding areas: The charming town of Boyle, with its historic abbey ruins, riverside setting, and small-town streets, served as a key filming location for the comedy series Moone Boy (2012–2015), created by and starring Chris O’Dowd, capturing authentic 1990s rural Irish family life and quirky small-town humour; nearby rural spots have supported other local productions.
Various rural houses and estates (county-wide): An expansive private house in the county provided the primary haunted setting for the horror film The Cellar (2022), starring Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken, where its isolated, creepy architecture and grounds amplified the supernatural dread of a family uncovering dark secrets in their new home.
These locations reflect County Roscommon’s strengths in historic houses, estates, and natural beauty, often chosen for Irish authenticity in independent films, horror, comedy, and period pieces rather than major blockbusters. The county remains somewhat under-the-radar compared to coastal neighbours but offers versatile, atmospheric sites for filmmakers.
Movie locations in the county
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County Roscommon:
Ireland’s county Roscommon combines historic sites with tranquil landscapes, with Roscommon Castle’s imposing ruins offering a glimpse into medieval Ireland. Lough Key Forest Park provides boating and treetop canopy walks, while the Arigna Mining Experience explores the county’s industrial past. Other attractions include the sacred site of Rathcroghan, linked to ancient mythology. Roscommon is Ireland’s 11th largest county by size (2,463 square km) and eighth smallest by population (70,259). Population peaked at 253,591 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 53,519 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Roscommon is Ireland’s 31st most visited and Ireland’s second least visited tourist county with around 25,000 international visitors per year.
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