Kilkenny is a beautiful, scenic county, so it is no surprise that it has been featured in quite a few films and television shows from international blockbusters to homegrown animations. Here are some examples of films and shows that feature the glorious county that is Kilkenny.
From the curious mind of Stanley Kubrick, the director of classics such as ‘The Shining’ and ‘Full Metal Jacket’ was another fantastic film called Barry Lyndon. The 1975 historical drama was a based on the 1844 novel, The Luck of Barry Lyndon. The movie follows an Irish rogue, Barry, who wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband’s aristocratic position in 18th-century England. The film was awarded 4 Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Music.
Kilkenny’s own Kells Priory was the filming location for the Red Coat encampment in the film. It is worth paying the priory a visit to scope out the surroundings. Kells Priory is one of the largest medieval monuments in Ireland and was founded by Geoffrey Fitzrobert, Strongbow’s brother-in-law, in the late 12th century.
Guided tours of the Priory run Wednesday – Sunday 9:30 – 17:30 from June to August every year.
The picturesque village of Inistioge in South-East Kilkenny has been the setting for numerous films and television shows over the years.
In 1995, Maeve Binchy’s novel, Circle of Friends came to life under the eye of Irish filmmaker, Pat O’Connor. With a star-studded cast including Minnie Driver, Colin Firth and Alan Cumming.
Circle of Friends was primarily filmed throughout many locations in County Kilkenny with Inistioge, Kells Priory, Callan, Ballyduff House and Kilkenny Castle having been used for various scenes.
The film The Secret Scripture was also filmed in the quaint village in 2015. Inistioge saw award-winning actors on its doorstep as actors Rooney Mara and Theo James were on-site for 4 days of shooting the Jim Sheridan flick.
Based on a 2008 novel of the same name, The Secret Scripture alternates between present day and World War II scenes. The main character, Rose, is being evaluated in a psychiatric hospital after being admitted over 50 years previous. A visit from a young psychologist whose interest in her story triggers flashbacks of love, betrayal and turmoil from before her time in the psychiatric institution.
Inistioge was turned into an early 1940s village in the Irish Free State. The village square can be seen during the fight scene between Aidan Turner and Theo James’ characters.
Turning back time to 1994, the village was once more turned into an old-school setting for the post-WWI movie, Widow’s Peak starring Mia Farrow, Jim Broadbent and the late Natasha Richardson.
The film follows an English war widow who moves to a sleepy Irish village derisively called “Widow’s Peak” by the locals. The young widow begins to shake things up in a tightly knit group of widows as secrets come to light.
The distinctive bridge into Inistioge that crosses the River Nore can be seen in several shots.
In 2023 it was Channel 5’s turn to head to Kilkenny for their 4-part drama television series, The Inheritance, starring Downton Abbey star Robert James-Collier.
The drama follows a family who unexpectedly experience the loss of their father. The adult children are not long bereft when they quickly realize that he recently changed his will and they will not be recipients of his estate. Mystery and secrets ensue…
The entire series was filmed in Kilkenny with the exception of a funeral home exterior being that of an existing funeral home in Scotland.
Fans of Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy will be thrilled to know that he made his mark in Kilkenny playing the role of Patrick “Kitten” Braden in the 2004 coming-of-age flick ‘Breakfast on Pluto’. The movie follows Murphy’s character, a young trans woman in the 1970’s, who leaves her small Irish town for London both to look for her mother and because her gender identity is far beyond the small town’s understanding.
For 3 weeks, the hair and makeup trailers were parked up in the town of Callan to help 100s of locals into their 1950’s costumes for their role as extras. Half of the Main Street was turned into a wintery background on one of the hottest days of the year for a funeral scene.
Finally, we turn to the most famous of all- at least in Kilkenny- Cartoon Saloon. The multi-Oscar nominated animation studio is based in Kilkenny City and has created some of the most beautiful works of art throughout the production of their Irish Folklore trilogy. This trilogy is made up of The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014) and Wolfwalkers (2020). The final film in the series, Wolfwalkers, is set within and beyond the walls of Kilkenny during the Cromwelian conquest.
Set in 1650, the residents of Kilkenny work to keep the city safe from a wolf pack. English hunter Bill Goodfellowe (voiced by Sean Bean) and his daughter, Robyn are summoned to Kilkenny from England to protect the residents. In a time of strong superstition and magic, Robyn encounters a magical young girl beyond the walls of the city and an interesting story begins to unfold.
Keep your eyes peeled for shots of Kilkenny Castle, the Tholsel and the walls of the medieval city. While visiting the city, you will also find murals of the Wolfwalkers characters dotted around winding side streets.
