The filming of the Banshees of Inisherin took place on Inishmore in August 2021. The filming took approximately three weeks. However, some of the props stayed up for an additional few months just in case the crew had to do any re-takes.
Inishmore was the first filming location for the movie. In a promotional clip for the Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh explains why he picked Inishmore. “Inishmore for Irish people especially, a lot of mythical and literacy associations.” It is no coincidence that in the movie, Padraic’s house is located in Gort na gCapall, the same village in which the famous Irish writer Liam o’Flaherty was born and raised.
There are many other famous writers and poets that spent time on the Aran Islands in the past. Máirtín Ó Direáin was born and raised in Sruthan on Inishmore, Lady Gregory, came to the Aran Islands in the late nineteenth century to learn Irish. J.M. Synge first came to the Aran Islands in 1898 looking for inspiration and to learn the Irish language. Synge returned over the next few years, growing more connected to the people and the land the inhabited. Synge’s most famous work, “Playboy of the Western World” was inspired by a story he heard while on the islands.
Brendan Gleeson while referring to the islands “an extraordinarily harsh place with all this bare limestone rock”, but also noted that “there is a softness about it.”
Because of this strange and beautiful mix between harshness and softness, Inishmore makes the perfect setting for this movie.
The exact film locations of the Banshees of Inisherin on Inishmore
Pádraic Súilleabháin’s cottage in Banshees of Inisherin
Pádraic Súilleabháin’s (Colin Farrell) cottage that he shared with his sister Siobhan was set in a field covered with limestone pavements in the village of Gort na gCapall. Unfortunately, you cannot visit the cottage as it was purposely built for the movie and was later dismantled.
Martin McDonagh mentioned in an interview that the locals would have loved to have kept Pádraic’s cottage as an additional tourist attraction. However, the pre-filming agreement required the team to leave everything behind as they had found it before.
You can however, visit the site in which the cottage was set it which has beautiful views overlooking the village of Gort na gCapall and has the ancient fort of Dun Aonghasa in the background.
The exact location of Pádraic Súilleabháin’s cottage is here.
Padraic and Dominic chatting by the cliffs in Banshees of Inisherin
The scene with Padraic and Dominic chatting with the cliffs in the background is set at Dun Aonghasa.
Dun Aonghasa is a fort consisting of three terraced walls surrounding an inner enclosure containing a platform. The fort is located on the edge of a three hundred foot high cliff. The views from it are breathtakingly spectacular. Archeological excavations carried out in the 1990s indicated that people had been living at the hill top from c.1500 BC with the first walls and dwelling houses being erected c. 1100 BC. A remarkable network of defensive stones known as a Chevaux de Frise (c.700bc) surrounds the whole structure.
The Dun Aonghasa Visitor Center in Kilmurvey Village, provides a wealth of information about Dun Aonghasa, the Cliffs, and islands. Inside the Visitor Center there are plenty of signs that explain the history of Dun Aonghasa. The friendly staff at the centre are always on hand to help you with any questions you may have.
The exact location of where Padraic and Dominic were chatting is here.
Rocky roads and stone walls in Banshees of Inisherin
The scenes where Padraic and Colm cross paths on the road happened in the village of Bungabhla on Inishmore.
There are some beautiful views from this part of the island, during summer months the sunsets here a magical. Check out some of the best spots to watch a sunset on Inishmore here.
The road where Padraic and Colm cross paths is here
Graveyard scene
The graveyard scene in the movie was filmed on a beach in the village of Iaraine, the easternmost village on Inishmore.
Killeaney graveyard is located near the airport on Inishmore. This scene took place at the beach at the end of the road in Iaraine.
The location of the graveyard scene in The Banshees of Inisherin is here.
If you would like to visit Inishmore you can learn more about getting to Inishmore here. If you’d like to book your accommodation on Inishmore, click here