County Kilkenny in Ireland, with its medieval architecture, picturesque villages, ancient abbeys, and scenic river valleys, has provided charming and atmospheric backdrops for several films, particularly Irish dramas and acclaimed animations. The county is especially noted for the village of Inistioge and its use in multiple productions, alongside contributions to period pieces and Cartoon Saloon’s acclaimed animated features.
- Inistioge village (along the River Nore, southeast Kilkenny): This charming, riverside village with its elegant 18th-century stone bridge, tree-lined streets, and historic houses has been a favourite for filmmakers seeking quintessential Irish rural beauty. It served as the primary setting for Circle of Friends (1995), Pat O’Connor’s romantic drama starring Minnie Driver and Chris O’Donnell, where it portrayed the fictional village of Dunmara in 1950s Ireland, with key scenes around the bridge, streets, and surrounding countryside capturing youthful romance and small-town life; it also featured in Widows’ Peak (1994), a comedy-mystery with Mia Farrow and Joan Plowright, using the village’s picturesque layout for its period intrigue.
- Kilkenny city and medieval sites (including the Medieval Mile, Kilkenny Castle, and surrounding woods): The city’s historic core, with its Norman castle, narrow streets, and ancient walls, inspired and appeared in Cartoon Saloon’s Wolfwalkers (2020), the Oscar-nominated animated fantasy about a young apprentice hunter and a wolf girl in 17th-century Ireland. The film is set in and around a stylised version of Kilkenny during Cromwell’s occupation, drawing on the castle (as the Lord Protector’s stronghold), medieval walls (such as Talbot’s Tower), and nearby forests for its woodcut-art style adventures and themes of nature versus control; elements of the city’s heritage also influenced related animations like The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014), though those were more broadly Irish in setting.
- Various locations including Kells Priory (near Thomastown): This extensive 12th-century Augustinian priory ruins, with cloisters, towers, and river views, served as the Red Coat encampment in Circle of Friends (1995), providing a dramatic, atmospheric backdrop for military and period scenes that contrasted with the village’s charm.
- Ballyduff House and other estates (near Inistioge): This historic house and grounds appeared in Circle of Friends (1995) for key interior and estate scenes depicting upper-class life and social dynamics in 1950s Ireland.
- Kilkenny locations (various spots in the city and county): These served for scenes in Breakfast on Pluto (2005), Neil Jordan’s whimsical drama starring Cillian Murphy as a transgender woman in 1970s Ireland, using the county for authentic Irish small-town and transitional moments amid the protagonist’s journey.
Other films like Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975) used parts of Kilkenny among other counties for period exteriors, though specific standout sites are less documented compared to the above. County Kilkenny’s film heritage emphasises intimate Irish stories and animated magic rather than global blockbusters, with Inistioge as the most celebrated and visitable spot, often ranked among Ireland’s top cinematic villages, for its timeless charm and recurring screen presence in romantic and character-driven productions.
Movie locations in the county
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County Kilkenny:
Ireland’s county Kilkenny is a county of medieval charm, with Kilkenny City’s castle and St Canice’s Cathedral showcasing well-preserved architecture and round towers. The Dunmore Cave offers intriguing limestone formations, while the Nore Valley’s walking trails provide scenic beauty. Other attractions include the historic Jerpoint Abbey’s intricate carvings. Kilkenny is Ireland’s 16th largest county by size (2,062 square km) and 21st largest by population (104,160). Population peaked at 202,420 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 60,463 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Kilkenny is Ireland’s eleventh most visited tourist county with around 207,000 international visitors per year.
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