Ireland Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Ireland? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Ireland

For an introduction to shooting in Ireland see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, fringes, premiums, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Ireland Film Locations

The Emerald Isle. The Republic of Ireland is located in the North Atlantic on the island of Ireland. It is best known for its picturesque rural landscapes, green rolling hills, sleepy Irish villages with old Irish pubs, remote castles, country estates, Victorian terraced houses, churches, abbeys, dramatic coastline, islands, lighthouses, beaches, peat bogs, waterfalls, and roads through scenic settings that are ideal for car commercials.

Agricultural film locations include fields of dairy cows, sheep, wheat, barley, potatoes, and oats. Fishing boats are available for filming. Ireland mines coal, peat, copper, lead, dolomite, barite, limestone, gypsum, silver, zinc, oil and gas. Energy locations include thermal power plants, as well as wind and solar energy facilities.

Dublin is the main film production centre. Galway and Cork also have some crews and equipment but larger productions often need to consist of a combination of local and Dublin based suppliers.

Ireland has played host to productions such as The Pope’s Exorcist (2023), Cocaine Bear (2023), The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), The Northman (2022), The Wonder (2022), The Green Knight (2021), The Turning (2020), Vikings (2013-2020), Vivarium (2019), Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Penny Dreadful (2014-2016), The Amazing Race 12 (2007), The Tudors (2007-2010), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Braveheart (1995), Far and Away (1992), The Commitments (1991), The Princess Bride (1987), and Barry Lyndon (1975).

Film locations can be divided into the following provinces:

Leinster

The eastern province of Leinster includes the counties of Dublin, Wexford, Meath, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Laois, Kildare, Longford, Carlow, and Louth.

Dublin is the capital and largest city. It is a very modern and vibrant city that offers a wide variety of locations from modern to period. It has often been used to replicate London and many other European and North American cities. Dublin is a small city with free-flowing traffic making unit moves easier than in larger European production centres.

Government buildings of note include Leinster House, Government Buildings, Áras an Uachtaráin, City Hall, Mansion House, Custom House, National Library of Ireland, and General Post Office.

Dublin is known for its lanes including Dame Lane, and Temple Lane.

Trinity College Dublin is known for the Trinity College Library, Trinity College Chapel, and Trinity College Business School building. The Pope’s Exorcist (2023) filmed in Trinity College.

Dublin Castle featured in Penny Dreadful (2014-2016), The Tudors (2007-2010), Braveheart (1995), and Barry Lyndon (1975). Drimnagh Castle is a moated castle that featured in The Tudors (2007-2010). Other castles of note include Malahide Castle, Howth Castle, and Dunsoghly Castle.

King’s Inns featured in Penny Dreadful (2014-2016). 

Mansions of note include Newbridge House, and Farmleigh House.

Cultural locations of note include National Museum of Ireland, National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland, Oscar Wilde House, James Joyce Centre, National Opera House, Abbey Theatre, Gaiety Theatre, and Bord Gáis Energy Theatre designed by Daniel Libeskind.

Religious locations of note include St Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Saint Francis Xavier Church, and Glasnevin Cemetery.

Drinking establishments include Stag’s Head Pub, The Brazen Head Pub, The Cobblestone Pub, Johnnie Fox’s Pub, Guinness Storehouse, Irish Whiskey Museum, Jameson Distillery, and Teeling Whiskey Distillery.

Kilmainham Gaol is an interesting film location.

Sporting and entertainment venues include Aviva Stadium, Croke Park, Malahide Cricket Club Ground, Tallaght Stadium, National Aquatic Centre, Convention Centre Dublin, and 3Arena.

Parks of note include National Botanic Gardens, Phoenix Park, Herbert Park, St Stephen’s Green, Saint Anne’s Park, and Bull Island.

Bridges of note include Ha’penny Bridge, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Father Mathew Bridge, and O’Connell Bridge.

Transport locations include Heuston Railway Station, Connolly Railway Station, Luas tram system, Dublin Port, and Dublin Airport.

Lighthouses of note in Dublin county include Rockabill Lighthouse, Poolbeg Lighthouse, and Baily Lighthouse.

Lambay Island is home to a population of wild wallabies from Australia.

Wexford. Film locations include Hook Lighthouse, Johnstown Castle, National Opera House, Loftus Hall, Wells House & Gardens, Tintern Abbey, Dunbrody Abbey, Duncannon Fort, and Irish National Heritage Park.

Meath. Slane Castle and Killeen Castle are located in county Meath. Trim Castle, Dunsany Castle, and Bective Abbey featured in Braveheart (1995). 

Newgrange and the Hill of Tara are neolithic archaeological sites.

Irish Military War Museum is located in Collon.

The Laytown Races is a horse racing event that takes on the beach at Laytown.

Emerald Park is a fun park location.

Kilkenny. Film locations include Kilkenny Cathedral, St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny Castle, and Jerpoint Abbey.

Wicklow county is known for its mansion estates. Powerscourt Estate featured in Cocaine Bear (2023), The Tudors (2007-2010), and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). Killruddery House is a large country house that featured in The Turning (2020), The Tudors (2007-2010), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), and Far and Away (1992). Kippure Estate and Luggala Estate featured in Braveheart (1995). Russborough House is located in county Wicklow.

The Round Tower of Glendalough is a tower in a graveyard that makes for an unusual film location.

Victor’s Way Indian Sculpture Park is another interesting location.

Wicklow Gaol is located in the town of Wicklow.

Coronation Plantation featured in Braveheart (1995). 

Wicklow Head Old Lighthouse is located in this county.

Wicklow Mountains National Park has a landscape of blanket bog, deciduous woods, coniferous woods, upland grassland, heath, exposed rocky areas and scree.

Ireland’s major film studios are located in county Wicklow, an hour drive from Dublin.

Offaly. Film locations include Birr Castle, Charleville Castle, Clonmacnoise monastery ruins, and Mount St Joseph Abbey.

Westmeath. Film locations include Tullynally Castle, Killua Castle, Cathedral of Christ the King, Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Mullingar Greyhound Stadium, and Kilbeggan Distillery.

Laois. Film locations include the Rock of Dunamase, Emo Court House, Stradbally Hall, and Ballintubbert House.

Kildare. Carton House featured in Barry Lyndon (1975). Castletown House is located in county Kildare.

Cathedral Church of St Brigid is located in the town of Kildare.

Conolly’s Folly is an interesting obelisk structure.

The Curragh Racecourse hosts the Irish Derby horserace.

Longford county is known for its lakeland, bogland, pastureland, and wetlands.

St Mel’s Cathedral is located in the town of Longford.

Carlow. Locations include Milford watermill, Borris House, Duckett’s Grove House, and Huntington Castle and Gardens which featured in Barry Lyndon (1975).

Louth. Film locations include Beaulieu House, Millmount Museum, and Dundalk Stadium horse and greyhound racing venue.

Munster

The southwestern province of Munster includes the counties of Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Clare, Limerick, and Waterford. The province includes two of Ireland’s most picturesque counties, Cork and Kerry.

Cork. The city of Cork is a more quaint version of Dublin. Film locations of note include Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Church of St Anne, Church Of Christ The King, Elizabeth Fort, University College Cork, Cork City Gaol, Cork City Hall, Cork Courthouse, Cork Opera House, English Market, and Fitzgerald’s Park.

Cobh is a port town known of its waterfront, colourful Victorian row houses, and St Colman’s Cathedral.

County Cork castles of note include Blackrock Castle, and Blarney Castle which is home to the Blarney Stone.

The countryside in west Cork is famous for the green looks that one associates with Ireland such as the rural pub, green rolling hills, stone walls and country roads filled with sheep.

Lighthouses of note in county Cork include Fastnet Lighthouse, Crookhaven Lighthouse, and Bull Rock Lighthouse.

Other county Cork locations of note include Bantry House, Jameson Distillery Midleton, Spike Island, Charles Fort, Sky Garden, and Mizen Head Bridge.

Kerry. County Kerry is known for its rugged coastline and mountains.

Carrauntoohil is Ireland’s highest peak.

Killarney National Park has beautiful lakes, forests and waterfalls including Torc Waterfall.

The Ring of Kerry is a beautiful rugged coastal road ideal for car commercial shoots.

Dingle is a picturesque fishing town.

Skellig Michael is a monastery on the Skellig Islands that played Planet Ahch-To in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017).

The Gap of Dunloe is a picturesque narrow mountain pass.

Other county Kerry film locations of note include Muckross House, Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, Valentia Island Lighthouse, O’Shea’s Pub on Valentia Island, Blennerville Windmill, and Kerry Cliffs.

Tipperary. Tipperary is a rural county that’s home to mountains, rivers, lakes, and farmland.

The Rock of Cashel is a spectacular film location.

Cahir Castle featured in The Green Knight (2021), and Barry Lyndon (1975). Other castles of note include Lisheen Castle, Ormond Castle,

Holy Cross Abbey is available for filming.

Curracloe Beach played Omaha beach in Saving Private Ryan (1998). 

Clare. Burren National Park is known for its vast rocky landscape.

The Cliffs of Moher played the Cliffs of Insanity in The Princess Bride (1987).

Doolin is a picturesque village.

The Aran Islands include Inishmore, Inishmaan, Inisheer, and several islets. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) filmed on Inishmore.

Other film locations in county Clare include Bunratty Castle, Doonagore Castle, O’Brien’s Tower, Loop Head Lighthouse, Gus O’Connor’s Pub, Craggaunowen archaeological open-air museum, Lahinch Beach, and Aillwee Cave.

Limerick. Limerick is a county of quiet beauty and rural charm.

King John’s Castle featured in Braveheart (1995).

Other film locations include Adare Manor, Springfield Castle, Fanningstown Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral, St John’s Cathedral, and Beeves Rock Lighthouse.

Waterford. Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city. Film locations include House of Waterford Crystal, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Reginald’s Tower.

Other County Waterford film locations include Lismore Castle, Curraghmore House, Cappoquin House, Ballyvoyle Tunnel, and Mahon Falls.

Connacht

The northwestern province of Connacht includes the counties of Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, and Leitrim. Connacht province is known for its rugged coastline, green landscapes, and small villages.

Galway. Galway is a 2.5 hour drive from Dublin. The city of Galway is known for its bohemian attitude and colourful architecture. Locations of note include the Latin Quarter, Eyre Square, Galway Cathedral, and University of Galway campus.

Castles of note include Dunguaire Castle, Portumna Castle, Fiddaun Castle, Lough Cutra Castle, and Clifden Castle.

Aran Islands are known for their green landscapes and dry stone walls. MV Plassey is a rusted steam trawler shipwrecked on Finnis Rock. Dún Aonghasa is an archaeological site on the Aran Islands.

Connemara is famous for the movie The Quiet Man (1952).

Kylemore Abbey is an impressive film location.

Ballybrit Racecourse hosts the Galway Races.

Mayo. Ashford Castle, and Westport House are located in county Mayo.

Croagh Patrick is an important pilgrimage site.

Céide Fields is a neolithic archaeological site.

Achill Island was filmed for The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).

Wild Nephin National Park has a landscape of blanket bogs, cliffs and river habitats.

Waterfalls of note include Aasleagh Falls, and Tourmakeady Waterfall.

Lighthouses of note include Blacksod Lighthouse, and Clew Bay Lighthouse.

Roscommon. McDermott’s Castle is a haunted castle ruins on a small island. Other film locations include Strokestown Park House, Donamon Castle, and Arigna Mining Experience.

Sligo. Film locations include Benbulbin, Classiebawn Castle, Lissadell House, and Yeats Memorial Building. Strandhill and Enniscrone are surf beaches in Sligo.

Leitrim. Film locations include Parke’s Castle, Glencar Waterfall, and the River Shannon.

Ulster

The northern province of Ulster includes the counties of Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan. Click here for filming in Northern Ireland.

Donegal is known for its scenic coastline. Film locations of note include Slieve League, Glenveagh National Park, Glenevin Waterfall, Assaranca Waterfall, Boyeeghter Strand, Silver Strand, Maghera Beach, Carrickfinn Beach, Fanad Head Lighthouse, St Eunan’s Cathedral, Glenveagh Castle, Donegal Castle, and St Patrick’s Purgatory on Station Island.

Cavan. Film locations include Castle Saunderson, Cavan County Museum, Dún na Rí Forest Park, and Tullydermot Falls.

Monaghan is known for canals, lakes, and mountains. Film locations include St Macartan’s Cathedral, and Rossmore Forest Park.

Ireland Film Location Permits

Ireland film location permits in the cities generally require a minimum of 2 weeks notice however in certain circumstances this process can be reduced to 7 days. Films are generally free to shoot anywhere however commercial shoots are restricted from shooting on certain national sites such as government buildings, Trinity College, etc. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Ireland has a temperate maritime climate with cold, very wet winters (December to March), and warm, humid summers (June to September). Late spring (April to May) through to early fall (October to November) are the best months to film for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Film events of note include:

• Dublin International Film Festival in February / March.
• St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in March.
• Pan Celtic Festival in April.
• World Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin in April.
• International Literature Festival Dublin in May.
• Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny Town, in May / June.
• Irish Derby Horse Race, at The Curragh Racecourse, in July.
• Galway Races Horse Race, at Ballybrit Racecourse, in July.
• Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann traditional music festival in August.
• Dublin Horse Show in August.
• Puck Fair in Killorglin in August.
• Rose of Tralee International Festival in August.
• Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival in September.
• All-Ireland Hurling & Gaelic Football Finals in Dublin in September.
• Dublin Theatre Festival in September.
• Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival in September.
• Laytown Races is a beach horse racing event, in September.
• Halloween is celebrated in October.
• Dublin City Marathon in October.
• Wexford Festival Opera runs from October and November.
• Cork Film Festival in November.
• Dublin Docklands Christmas Festival in December.

Ireland is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Ireland.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Ireland trades in the Euro. It is similar in costs to its Western European neighbours. Our Dublin based fixer / service producer will negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget. See here for the current VAT rate.

Tax Incentives. Ireland offers Feature films, TV series, animations and documentaries a tax credit of up to 32% of eligible Irish expenditure. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials shooting in Ireland. See here for more information.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Ireland has a good pool of local directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Irish crews are of a high international standard. There is a good depth of crew in Dublin. Crews are in unions however there is usually enough flexibility for our producer / fixer to package deals. Ireland’s close proximity to other major European production centres allows easy access to those technical and creative crews should you ever need to look further. 

Contact us if you are looking for a Dublin based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in Ireland.

Talent are generally union members so costs are based on those standards. That said, agents are flexible to negotiate rates. For more information see Irish Equity. 

Irish and English are the official languages.

Most talent in Ireland is ethnically Irish but there is also a small pool of multicultural talent available locally particularly from other European countries. Ireland’s close proximity to London means you can easily access those extensive pools of talent.

Fringes and Premiums. No hidden extras. The standard shoot day is 8 hours with 1 hour lunch included. Lunch penalties apply after 5 hours from unit call. For night shoots overtime is charged at 1.5 until midnight and double time after midnight. Weekend work is charged at 1.5 for Saturday and double time for Sunday. Bank Holiday work is charged at 1.5.

Ireland Film Equipment

Equipment. Ireland has a good selection of standard and specialised camera, grip and lighting equipment. Celtic Grip and Teach Solais offer an extensive range of grip and lighting equipment. For productions looking to bring in camera, grip and lighting equipment, Ireland is an ATA carnet country.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction. High quality art department and set construction.

Studios. Ireland offers sophisticated studio facilities including sound stages, backlots, workshops, props, wardrobe, dress rooms, make up, and production offices. Examples include Greystones Media Campus, Ardmore Studios, Ashford Studios, Kite Studios, and Troy Studios.

Post Production. Ireland has several very good post-production houses. Examples include Screen Scene, Wind Millane, Egg, and Piranha Bar. Post production benefits from the tax credit even if physical production does not take place in the country. For instance, Screen Scene provided much of the VFX for Game of Thrones, despite the series not being shot in Ireland.

Visas & Work Permits

Although Ireland is not a Schengen Area country, visiting crews travelling on US passports can enter Ireland visa-free for stays of up to 90 days and work permits are not required.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Main roads are up to international standards. Several international and budget airlines service flights to Ireland.

Accommodation. Contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Dublin and other parts of Ireland. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.

Final Notes

Safety. Ireland is a very safe place for foreign productions to visit. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Enjoy a pint of Guinness and the warm Irish hospitality in one of Ireland’s many cozy pubs.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Ireland, please see below:

Hire Ireland Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Ireland, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Ireland, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.