County Dublin, encompassing the bustling capital city and its surrounding suburbs and coastal areas, has been one of Ireland’s most prolific filming hubs due to its mix of historic architecture, Georgian streets, iconic landmarks, and urban energy. Unlike rural counties focused on natural drama, Dublin’s screen heritage shines in character-driven Irish stories, musicals, historical dramas, and occasional stand-ins for other settings.
- Kilmainham Gaol (Kilmainham, west Dublin city): This imposing 18th-19th-century former prison, with its stark stone corridors, exercise yard, and East Wing chapel, has featured in numerous productions for its evocative atmosphere of confinement and history. It appeared in In the Name of the Father (1993) for prison scenes depicting the Guildford Four injustice; in Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins (1996) for key revolutionary sequences involving Liam Neeson; in The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) for detention moments; and in Hollywood titles like The Italian Job (2003 remake) for jail interiors and Paddington 2 (2017) for prison escapades.
- Trinity College Dublin (central Dublin city, including the Long Room Library and campus grounds): Ireland’s oldest university, with its elegant quadrangles, historic buildings, and world-famous Long Room (a barrel-vaulted library lined with ancient books), has doubled for prestigious academic or period settings. It featured prominently in Michael Collins (1996) for university-related scenes; in adaptations like Educating Rita (1983); and in modern productions such as Normal People (2020 TV series) for campus walks and Trinity exteriors capturing student life.
- Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green (central Dublin city): This vibrant pedestrian shopping street and adjacent Victorian park, with buskers, colourful shopfronts, and leafy pathways, have provided quintessential Dublin backdrops for romantic and musical films. Grafton Street’s lit-up evening scenes and busking spots starred in Once (2007), the Oscar-winning musical about street musicians falling in love; St Stephen’s Green appeared in Once for tender moments and in other titles like P.S. I Love You (2007) for city strolls.
- Temple Bar (central Dublin city, including Meeting House Square and narrow cobbled streets): This lively cultural quarter, known for its colourful buildings, pubs, galleries, and riverside vibe, has often represented bohemian or nightlife Dublin. It featured in Once (2007) for key musical and romantic encounters around Meeting House Square; in The Commitments (1991) for urban energy tied to the soul band story; and in various scenes capturing Dublin’s creative pulse.
- Dublin Castle (central Dublin city): This historic complex with state apartments, courtyards, and medieval undercroft has stood in for official or revolutionary settings. Exteriors and interiors appeared in Michael Collins (1996) for pivotal political and ambush-related scenes; in Braveheart (1995) as a stand-in for period locations; and in Barry Lyndon (1975) for some stately moments.
- Phoenix Park (northwest Dublin city, Europe’s largest enclosed urban park): This vast green space with deer herds, avenues, Áras an Uachtaráin (the President’s residence), and open fields has been used for wide shots and transitional scenes. It featured in The Tudors (2007–2010 TV series) for royal hunts and exteriors; in Educating Rita (1983); and in other productions needing expansive urban-nature contrast.
- Ha’penny Bridge and River Liffey areas (central Dublin city): The iconic pedestrian iron bridge and quays have provided atmospheric waterfront shots. It appeared in Michael Collins (1996) for city traversal scenes; in Far and Away (1992) for period Dublin glimpses; and in The Dead (1987), John Huston’s adaptation of James Joyce, for evocative riverside moments.
Other notable uses include Dalkey and Killiney Hill in south County Dublin for coastal and hilltop scenes in Sing Street (2016) and Once; Henrietta Street’s Georgian houses in period dramas like Becoming Jane (2007); and various suburbs for films like The Commitments (northside Kilbarrack areas). Dublin’s film fame lies in authentic portrayals of Irish urban life, especially in indie gems like Once, The Commitments, and Michael Collins, rather than one dominant blockbuster landmark, making the city centre itself a walkable “set” for fans.
Movie locations in the county
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County Dublin:
Ireland’s county Dublin combines cultural heritage with urban appeal, with Trinity College’s Book of Kells and Dublin Castle offering historical depth. The Guinness Storehouse provides a journey through Ireland’s iconic stout, while Phoenix Park’s vast green spaces are ideal for cycling. The River Liffey’s scenic walks and Kilmainham Gaol’s historical tours make Dublin a versatile destination for culture and history. Dublin is Ireland’s third smallest county by size (922 square km) and largest by population (1,458,154). Dublin is also Ireland’s most visited tourist county by a margin, with around four million international visitors per year. In terms of hospitality,
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