As one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it’s no wonder Ireland is such a popular location for filming productions, from local Irish cinema to Hollywood blockbusters.
In fact, Ireland’s film sector has grown exponentially over the past decade, spawning critically acclaimed films and TV series and 15 Oscar nominations in the last two years alone.
According to Screen Ireland, total production spending in the Irish economy reached a record €500 million in 2021, despite the difficult situations facing the industry due to the pandemic.
With this in mind, casino and sports betting site Tonybet is researching which of the 20 Irish filming locations are the most popular according to data from Instagram and Google.
The study looked at the average number of monthly searches for terms related to each location, such as “Cliffs of Moher”, “Visit Achill Island”, “Ashford Castle Ireland” and the location that appears most prominently on screen. as “Skellig Michael Star Wars”.
This was combined with the number of Instagram posts appearing under the location’s respective hashtag and the equivalent weighting implemented for any of the criteria to create an overall index of 100.
The Cliffs of Moher occupy first place, with an index of one hundred out of one hundred, which places them as the most popular according to searches on Instagram and Google.
The Cliffs of Moher attracted 724,000 posts on Instagram and generated a monthly average of 190,740 Google searches worldwide.
The Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs in Co Clare that stretch for 14 km along the south-west coast of the Burren region. The vast, rugged landscape is emblematic of Ireland’s grassy beauty and will be recognizable to many film buffs, with its picturesque features appearing in beloved classics such as “The Princess Bride” (1987) and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009). .
In position are the Wicklow Mountains, with an index of 73. 24 out of 100.
Mountain Diversity ranked second in popularity on Instagram with 213,000 posts and generated an average of 27,413 monthly searches worldwide.
The Wicklow Mountains occupy much of central County Wicklow and stretch into the bordering counties of Dublin and Wexford, creating one of the most stunning views in Ireland.
They have appeared on screen and can be seen in “P. S. I Love You” (2007), “Braveheart” (1995) and the television show “Vikings”.
Achill Island is in third place, with an index of 69. 01 out of 100, which corresponds to 66,900 Instagram posts and an average of 47,158 Google searches per month.
Achill Island is the largest of Ireland’s islands and is located off the coast of Co Mayo on the west coast of the country.
This picturesque domain is home to tranquil beaches and a unique sea coast that recently served as the setting for the 2022 film “The Banshees of Inisherin,” which became a critical hit and earned nine Academy Award nominations.
Powerscourt in fourth position with an index of 68. 26 out of 100.
The county’s historic domain had a total of 71,500 Instagram posts and a Google search of 40,865 per month worldwide.
Located in County Wicklow, Powerscourt Estate is notable for its landscaped gardens spanning 19 acres and its expansive white manor space overlooking the park.
The estate is perhaps best known for furnishing the interiors of several scenes in Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” (1975) and has recently been featured in films such as “Cocaine Bear” (2023) and “Irish Wish” (2024).
Ashford Castle rounds out the top five, with an index of 67. 43 out of 100, with 42,600 posts on Instagram and a monthly average of 58,736 searches worldwide.
The medieval castle is near Cong, on the border of County Mayo and Galway, and has been used as a hotel since the mid-20th century.
Although it now serves a newer purpose, it has served as an old setting for films such as “The Quiet Man” (1952) and the television drama “Rign. “
Skellig Michael is in sixth place, with a base rating of 60. 92 out of 100. The two-pinnacle rock appeared in 36,000 publications and generated an average of 32,708 monthly searches worldwide.
Also known as Great Skellig, this rocky terrain is one of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Ireland. Although the tracks are notoriously difficult to navigate, that hasn’t stopped film crews from capturing their unique beauty. The Star Wars films “The Force Awakens” (2015) and “The Last Jedi” (2017) gave prominence to the island after it became Luke Skywalker’s sanctuary planet.
Malin Head ranked seventh with an index of 53. 95 out of 100.
The Coast recorded a total of 34,500 Instagram posts and a Google search of 15,464 per month worldwide.
The Head is the northernmost point on mainland Ireland, and its stunning view painted an unforgettable image for Star Wars film enthusiasts following its inclusion in “The Last Jedi” (2017). As a place full of folklore, it is also the ideal setting for “The Northman” (2022) and its depiction of Norse mythology.
Lough Tay ranks eighth, with an index of 53. 02 out of 100, with 18,400 posts on Instagram and a monthly average of 24,220 searches worldwide.
The lough, also known by the name of Guinness Lake, is situated in Co Wicklow and provides one of Ireland’s most breathtaking views, despite its small scale of just 0.5km². Its most famous onscreen appearances include films such as “Braveheart” (1995), “Excalibur” (1981), and TV series “Vikings.”
Ninth place went to Trim Castle, who scored 52. 29 out of 100. This is based on 23,500 Instagram posts and a global average of 17,995 Google searches per month.
The old castle is founded along the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim, County Meath, and is another Irish venue that featured extensively in “Braveheart” (1995) and laid the groundwork for Mel Gibson’s ancient epic drama, as opposed to the Scottish castle. Movie. configuration.
Inis Mór completes the top 10 with an index of 50. 41 out of 100. Also known as Inishmore, it attracted 27,500 posts on Instagram and generated a monthly average of 12,667 Google searches worldwide.
Inis Mór is the largest of the Aran Islands, located in Galway Bay, and another captivating region that is among the filming locations for ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ (2022). Due to the good fortune of the film, Inis Mór and the other production locations of the film have noticed an increase in interest and tourism, and each and every location on the list is worth visiting if you get the chance.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Tonybet said: “With the rise of the Irish film industry, there is expected to be so much interest in the filming locations of some of the films and the peak success of television exhibitions in recent years; However, it is nevertheless good news for the Irish tourism industry.
“With Irish actors such as Collin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott and recent Oscar winner Cillian Murphy acclaimed for their performances in primary studio films in recent years, the Irish film industry is synonymous with a sense of prestige and widespread popularity online. , any of which translates into intrigue in Ireland and what it has to offer.
“This is not limited to specialist productions either, and Ireland’s appeal as a filming location has grown exponentially in recent years, allowing Irish skill to flourish more than ever.
“‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ alone produced 4 Oscar nominees, about a quarter of that year’s acting nominees. Not to mention the TV miniseries “Normal People,” adapted from Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel and starring the Emmy and Oscar nominee. Paul Mescal has an instant harvest among Gen Z.
“Hopefully this will only lead to more opportunities for the Irish film industry and more film crews choosing Ireland for their filming locations. ” Many of these places are worth visiting, even if you haven’t seen the movies in which they appear.
“For those who are cinephiles, a lot of them offer guided tours that share the secrets of producing such iconic films and will be sure to inject the experience with some special movie magic.”
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