County Kerry in Ireland, renowned for its dramatic Atlantic coastline, rugged peninsulas, ancient monastic islands, and sweeping beaches, has long been a magnet for filmmakers seeking epic natural beauty and authentic rural Irish settings. The county’s standout cinematic legacy includes a major global franchise, a classic romantic epic, and period dramas that built entire villages for authenticity.
- Skellig Michael (off the coast near Portmagee, Iveragh Peninsula): This steep, rocky island with ancient 6th–12th-century monastic ruins, beehive huts, stone steps, and breathtaking ocean isolation doubled as the remote planet Ahch-To in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). It served as Luke Skywalker’s exile hideaway, featuring key scenes of Rey’s arrival, Jedi training, and dramatic confrontations, with the island’s stark, elemental landscape enhanced minimally by CGI for its mystical, windswept feel.
- Ceann Sibéal (Sybil Head) (near Ballyferriter, Dingle Peninsula): This remote, windswept headland with sheer cliffs, grassy slopes, and panoramic Atlantic views was used in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) for additional Ahch-To exteriors. Temporary beehive huts were constructed here to extend the island sequences, capturing the raw, untamed coastal drama that complemented Skellig Michael.
- Dunquin and surrounding Dingle Peninsula areas (including Coumeenoole Beach and Slea Head): The dramatic cliffs, coves, and rural landscape near Dunquin featured prominently in Ryan’s Daughter (1970), David Lean’s sweeping romantic drama starring Sarah Miles and Robert Mitchum. A full fictional village called Kirrary was built from scratch near Dunquin for the production, with beach scenes (including a famous storm sequence) shot along the peninsula’s shores, highlighting the film’s themes of passion, betrayal, and isolation amid Kerry’s wild beauty.
- Inch Beach (near Castlemaine, on the Dingle Peninsula): This long, expansive sandspit with dramatic dunes and mountain backdrops appeared in Ryan’s Daughter (1970) for key beach and coastal scenes; it also served as a location in The Playboy of the Western World (1962), an adaptation of J.M. Synge’s play, using the strand for rural Irish community and dramatic moments.
- Various Dingle Peninsula spots (including Ventry Beach and surrounding coast): Ventry Beach inspired and appeared in the animated film Song of the Sea (2014) by Cartoon Saloon, contributing to its mythical, folklore-infused coastal Irish settings; the peninsula’s beaches and villages also featured in Far and Away (1992), Ron Howard’s epic starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, where a temporary 1890s village was constructed near Dingle for immigrant and land-rush sequences.
Other productions have used Kerry, such as parts of Excalibur (1981) in Derrynane for Arthurian fantasy landscapes or modern titles drawing on the Ring of Kerry’s scenery, but the above dominate for fame and recognition. County Kerry’s film heritage blends blockbuster spectacle (Star Wars) with classic Irish cinema (Ryan’s Daughter), with the Dingle Peninsula and Skellig Michael as the most celebrated and visitable sites, though Skellig access is limited and weather-dependent, making it a bucket-list destination for fans.
Movie locations in the county
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County Kerry:
Ireland’s county Kerry is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, with the Ring of Kerry offering scenic drives past lakes and coastal cliffs. Killarney National Park features the serene Lakes of Killarney and historic Muckross House, while Dingle’s coastal trails and dolphin-watching opportunities add natural allure. Accessible by seasonal ferry, the Skellig Islands’ ancient monastic ruins make Kerry a compelling choice for outdoor adventure and history. Kerry is Ireland’s fifth largest county by size (4,701 square km) and 15th largest by population (156,458). Population peaked at 293,880 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 112,785 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Kerry is Ireland’s fourth most visited tourist county with around 877,000 international visitors per year.
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