Cork Film Trail

Movies made in County Cork

Because of the most beautiful scenic locations in Cork many international movies have been made in County Cork over the past 75 years. We listed a the most popular below.

Moby Dick

Moby Dick the film, in 1956, Youghal in Co. Cork was the setting for John Huston’s film adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, starring Gregory Peck. You can view some film memorabilia and pictures from the set in the Moby Dick pub in the town centre. This classic story by Herman Melville revolves around Captain Ahab and his obsession with a huge whale, Moby Dick. The whale caused the loss of Ahab's leg years before, leaving Ahab to stomp the boards of his ship on a peg leg. Ahab is so crazed by his desire to kill the whale, that he is prepared to sacrifice everything, including his life, the lives of his crew members, and even his ship to find and destroy his nemesis, Moby Dick. Visit the town of Youghal in East Cork and see the sights.

The Wind That Shakes The Barley

The Wind That Shakes the Barley film directed by Ken Loach. Having seen the cruel acts by the British Black and Tans and two brothers fight side by side until a truce is signed. But peace is short-lived and when one faction of the freedom-fighters accepts a treaty with the British that is regarded as unfair by the other faction, a civil war ensues, pitting Irishmen against Irishmen, brothers against brothers, based in early 20th century Ireland. Starring Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham and Orla Fitzgerald. Some scenes filmed in Ballyvourney in Co Cork, Bandon, Coolea and Timoleague, West Cork, Ireland.

War Of The Buttons

War of The Buttons filmed in 1994 was directed by John Roberts was a film based on two separate childhood groups who engage in battles where they cut off the buttons, shoe-laces and underwear of their captured opponents. This is to get the boys in trouble with their parents. They go to battle in mass groups of dozens, throwing stones and cutting off their opponents buttons and all the scrapes that result, and loyalties in childhood. A light hearted film, with scenes filmed in Castletownsend West Cork, Ireland. It starred Gregg Fitzgerald, Gerard Kearney and Eveanna Ryan.

Ondine

The film Ondine is the story of an Irish fisherman from an Irish fishing town who discovers a woman in his fishing net who he believes to be a mermaid, a modern day fairytale. Ondine was directed by Neil Jordan and the lead part was played by Colin Farrell and Ondine was played by Alicja Bachleda and the priest is played by Stephen Rea. Ondine was filmed on location in Castletownbere on theBeara Peninsula.

The Nephew

The Nephew was a film directed by Eugene Brady which stared Pierce Brosnan, Niall Toibin, Sinead Cusack, Luke Griffin, Phelim Drew, Donal McCann, Aonghus Og McAnally, Hill Harper and Aislin McGuckin. Film set in Ireland, where a girl went to America never to be heard of again until her son returns to Ireland searching for his only remaining family on the death of his mother. Old conflicts are brought to the surface once again, Piece Brosnan plays a strong part as does Hill Harper in this film The Nephew.

Other well know Films filmed in Ireland are
Star Wars
Game of Thrones
The Quiet Man
Playboy Of The Western World
Agnes Brown
Circle of Friends
Dancing at Lughnasa with Meryl Streep
My Left Foot with Daniel Day Lewis
Darby O'Gill and the Little People
Flight of the Doves
The Field
Finian's Rainbow
The Matchmaker
My Leftfoot
Far & Away
P.S. I Love You
Reign of Fire
King Arthur one scene filmed at Irelands largest waterfall at Powerscourt Falls.
Braveheart with Mel Gibson playing William Wallace filmed in County Wicklow in Ireland
Saving Private Ryan which was filmed on Curracloe beach in County Wexford in Ireland
Educating Rita, filmed at Belfield Campus, University College Dublin in Ireland