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Self-mutilation. Domestic abuse. War. Killing miniature donkeys. Opening other people’s mail. If The Banshees of Inisherin weren’t such an incredibly picturesque movie, it wouldn’t persuade you to visit Ireland. Luckily, The Banshees of Inisherin filming locations are a cinematic treat that could lure anyone to such a harsh environment.
In The Banshees of Inisherin, Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell are reunited with their In Bruges (2008) director Martin McDonagh for this dark comedy fable on the Irish Civil War. Set in 1923, follows the dark events after Colm Doherty (Gleeson) tells his former best pal Pádraic Súilleabháin (Farrell) that he doesn’t want to be friends with him anymore.
Is Inisherin A Real Place?
All the action is set on an Irish island called Inisherin, which is a completely made-up place. Fortunately, The Banshees of Inisherin locations are real! Well, most of them. The production team built several of the stone buildings from scratch and tore them down after filming finished.
But we’ll get to those!
The Banshees of Inisherin filmed on two Irish islands: Achill Island, Ireland’s largest island, and Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands near Galway. Obviously, the inspiration for Inisherin came from the names of the three main Aran Islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer.
Locations on Achill Island represented Colm’s character, hilly and rugged. In contrast, locations on Inishmore are flat and passive like Pádraic.
I have a complete list of all The Banshees of Inisherin film locations across both islands (seriously, I spend hours on Google Street View). I’ve also made a map to help you pinpoint the exact places.
Let’s hop on board a boat to Inisherin and fall out with our best friends for no good reason, shall we?
Where Was The Banshees of Inisherin Filmed in Ireland?
The Banshees of Inisherin Filming Locations on Inishmore
1. Dún Aonghasa Cliffs
So, where is The Banshees of Inisherin filmed on Inishmore? The movie opens with a sweeping, birds-eye-view shot of the Island’s southern cliffs.
Later in the movie, Pádraic drinks poitín (Irish moonshine) with Dominic (Barry Keough) on these cliffs. They’re sitting on Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric fort on the very edge of these cliffs.
2. Gort na gCapall
This is perhaps the most prolific The Banshees of Inisherin location on Inishmore. Pádraic lives with his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) in a thatched cottage in the Gort na gCapall area of the island overlooking the cliffs.
Unfortunately, the production team built and completely dismantled this cottage after filming! I know, it looks incredibly authentic and it’s such a shame it doesn’t exist in real life.
This area, with all the stone walls lining labyrinthine paths and farmland, appears throughout the film. This The Banshees of Inisherin filming location is where we first meet Dominic, where Mrs McCormick likes to pop up and be creepy, and where Pádraic bumps into Colm and mentions April Fool’s Day.
3. Eoghanacht
After Colm starts ignoring Pádraic and he’s not sure why, Dominic steals some of his dad’s poitín to drink with Pádraic and cheer him up.
Dominic and his dad live in a cottage in the Eoghanacht area of Inishmore. The cottage does exist in real life. Unfortunately, I’m not exactly sure where.
4. Leachtaí Cuimhneacháin (Stone Memorials for Dead)
When Siobhán’s had enough of Colm’s antics, she heads down to the pub to shout at him. After she leaves, there are a few shots of sun setting over the island.
One of those shots is of a Leachtaí Cuimhneacháin, which roughly translates to ‘Cenotaph for the Dead.’ These columns with crosses on top are dotted all over Inishmore, with most situated along the road between Cill Éinne and Eoghanacht.
Most are from the 18th century but the earlier cenotaphs date back to the 1700s. I haven’t pinned this filming location on my Google Map as I can’t be sure which one Martin McDonagh chose to film. Still, I thought it was worth mentioning them as they’re quite unique.
5. Viewpoint Earagh Lighthouse
One of the other sunset shots alongside a Leachtaí Cuimhneacháin is of Earagh Lighthouse, clearly taken from its official viewpoint. This is a black and white striped lighthouse off the western coast of Inishmore and it appears on screen as the sun slips below the horizon.
The Banshees of Inisherin Filming Locations on Achill Island
6. Purteen Harbour
All the rest of The Banshees of Inisherin filming locations are on Achill Island!
Purteen Harbour appears again and again throughout the movie. First, Pádraic walks through the harbour on his way to pick up Colm so they can go to the pub at the beginning of the film.
Pádraic drinks poitín with Dominic in front of O’Riordan’s Store at the harbour and he returns later to sell his cows’ milk. Siobhán also comes down to the harbour and the store to receive and send mail and board a ship to the mainland.
I believe O’Riordan’s Store and the big Celtic cross were added just for the production.
7. Cloghmore – Statue of the Virgin Mary
I hope you appreciate this The Banshees of Inisherin film location as it took me a while to find! There’s a road with a fork in it that has a statue of the Virgin Mary propped up on some rocks at the crossroads. It’s in Cloghmore on the main ring road on Achill Island, between the pub’s location and the White Cliffs of Ashleam.
This location appears a couple of times throughout the film during horse and cart scenes but also during the opening scene when Pádraic first walks to pick up Colm. Other examples include when Colm takes a beaten Pádraic back home and the scene where Pádraic picks up Declan the student.
8. Keem Beach
Possibly one of the most beloved The Banshees of Inisherin filming locations? Someone has even pinned it as ‘Colm Doherty’s Cottage’ on Google Maps, so others must love this location as much as I do!
Colm lives in a cottage on the edge of Keem Beach on Achill Island. It appears several times throughout the film e.g. when Colm first ignores Pádraic, when Siobhán returns Colm’s finger, and in the last scene.
The cottage was already on the edge of the beach prior to filming, but the production team still gave it an authentic 1920s makeover.
9. Cloghmore – Pub
True to life on a small island, the pub is the heart of social life on Inisherin. It’s where Pádraic and Colm (used to) go for a pint of porter together, where Siobhán enjoys a glass of sherry, and where Colm plays his fiddle in folk music sessions.
On Inisherin, the pub in question is J.J. Divine’s Public House, run by Jonjo. Unfortunately, like Pádraic’s cottage, it was built for filming and dismantled afterward. In reality, this space is just a layby on the main ring road around Achill Island!
I’ve pinned its exact location in Cloghmore on the Google Map at the start of this post.
Read next: Leap Year Filming Locations in Ireland
10. Claggan
Only a mile or two up the road from the location of Jonjo’s Pub is the spot where Siobhán and Pádraic spot a beaten-up Dominic on their way to church while riding in a horse and cart. It’s technically in an area called Claggan, but it’s still on the main ring road along the coast of Achill Island.
It’s actually Point N.3 ‘The Ship’ on the Achill Maritime History Trail due to the unique formation of the cliff edge. You can also see the White Cliffs of Ashleam in the background of this scene.
11. St Thomas’s Church in Doogort
Inisherin’s residents all pile into one tiny village church which is St Thomas’s Church in Doogort on Achill Island.
12. Lough Acorrymore
Although this scene is heartbreaking, it’s perhaps my favourite one in the film. Siobhán stands on the edge of Lough Acorrymore on Achill Island staring across the water to Mrs McCormick’s cottage.
This is where Dominic creeps up behind her and asks her if she could ever love a boy like him. So tragic but so good. No wonder he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars and won the BAFTA!
The filming location is so dramatic and breathtaking, too, but unfortunately, I don’t have a photograph.
The Banshees of Inisherin Filming Locations: That’s a Wrap!
So, where was The Banshees of Inisherin filmed? Now you know, because I’ve listed all of The Banshees of Inisherin filming locations in this post. It took a lot of research but it was 100% worth it.
Are you planning a trip to Ireland? If so, you can visit all of the filming locations on Inishmore on this incredible day tour from Galway to the Aran Islands with Get Your Guide. Or have you watched the movie? Let me know in the comments below!
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