Irish

The Banshees of Inisherin was nominated for eight Academy Awards – and much of it was filmed on one island

On one enchanting Irish island, visitors can discover dramatic coastlines featuring white sand and expansive lakes, whilst treading the same paths as the characters from an Oscar-nominated film.

Martin McDonagh’s 2023 film The Banshees of Inisherin secured eight Academy Award nominations – including Best Picture – while collecting numerous other accolades, inspiring many to explore its stunning landscapes.

For those eager to experience the spectacular scenery firsthand, there’s welcome news: the majority was shot on a single island.

Achill Island, situated off the County Mayo coast, is accessible by car, linked to the mainland via the Michael Davitt Bridge and readily reached using the N59 from Westport to Mulranny, followed by the R319, according to Achill Tourism.

On the island’s south-eastern side, Cloughmore served as the backdrop for JJ Devine’s pub Jonjo’s. Regrettably, the structure was purpose-built for production and subsequently dismantled, meaning it’s no longer visible today.

Nevertheless, it remains a beloved birdwatching location and merits a visit for its sweeping coastal panoramas, reports the Irish Mirror.

Heading westward from Cloughmore along the shoreline, you’ll discover the spot used for the fork in the road, distinguished by a statue of the Virgin Mary in the film.

In reality, no fork exists at this location, and the production team positioned the Mary statue there specifically for filming. This site was also used for the sequence in which Colm (Brendan Gleeson) escorts Pádraic (Colin Farrell) home following a beating in the village.

The notorious opening sequence of a cheerful, contented Pádraic wandering into frame against a vividly coloured, rainbow-tinged landscape was filmed at Purteen harbour, situated between Keel and Pollagh.

The production team transformed the site into a harbourside street scene featuring the island’s post office. The shop – O’Riordan’s – was built specifically for the film, whilst the row of fishermen’s cottages was merely a front.

Keem Bay is a breathtaking beach, boasting white sands and gorgeous turquoise waters – establishing it as one of Ireland’s most beloved coastal destinations. It also serves as the location for Colm and Pádraic’s closing scene – the structure, which is privately owned, wasn’t purpose-built and remains standing, though the actual scene was filmed on a studio set.

Corrymore Lake provides the backdrop for Dominic’s (Barry Keoghan) and Siobhán’s (Kerry Condon) heartbreaking exchange and his demise.

St Thomas’s Church, located in Dugort, is a 19th-century Church of Ireland structure that functioned as the setting for the Catholic Mass sequences in the film. It remains an active church and isn’t accessible to visitors outside of service times.