Seventy-five years after the filming of The Quiet Man in the west of Ireland, locations in Cong County Mayo continue to attract fans to sites from the classic movie.
Pat Cohan’s pub in Cong has been recognised as the most famous movie pub in Ireland. For many years fans have been seeking out scenes with actors including John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara focusing on places used in production during summer 1951. The movie was released the following year inspired instant tourism interest on the new trans-Atlantic services to Shannon.
Filming originally began in the summer of 1951, and the village remains the primary destination for fans to experience the legacy of John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and director John Ford.
In Cong, an exact replica of the White O’Morn cottage featured in the film has been turned into a museum. It contains authentic reproductions of furnishings and artifacts like the original fishing rod used by Father Lonergan and the harness from Michaeleen Og’s horse, Napoleon. The 2026 Opening Dates are 2 April to 26 September, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily.
Pat Cohan’s Gastro Pub (The Quiet Man Bar), the legendary pub from the movie, is located on Main Street in Cong and remains a popular stop for visitors. Daily one-hour tours depart at 12:00 noon from the Quiet Man Museum to visit filming locations such as the “Dying Man’s House,” the Reverend Playfair’s house, and sites of the famous fight and courting scenes.
A bronze statue of John Wayne (Sean Thornton) carrying Maureen O’Hara (Mary Kate Danaher) is located just a short walk from the museum. Private chauffeur-driven tours are available for a more comprehensive experience, ranging from 90 minutes to a full day, covering locations in Cong and the surrounding Ashford Castle Estate. Standard walking tours are approximately €25.00 per adult and typically include museum entry.
A four-day festival each August in Cong includes reenactments of movie scenes by locals and a céilí at the crossroads featuring traditional music and BBQs, with film Screenings of the movie and documentaries like Dreaming the Quiet Man.
Michaeleen’s Manor is a movie-themed Bed & Breakfast located one mile from Cong village. It features character-named bedrooms and one of the largest collections of Quiet Man memorabilia.
Many scenes were filmed on the grounds of Ashford Castle luxury estate, which now serves as a high-end hotel for those seeking a more immersive stay.
