Dublin’s streets have always been full of character, and nowhere is this more evident than in its role as a cinematic canvas. The city has been a muse for directors for a long time now, from the lanes of The Liberties to the elegance of the Georgian squares and the grandeur of Grafton Street.
Our neighbourhood around St James Gate, the Liberties, has even brought its own unique flavour to the silver screen. Let’s take a look at some of our city’s famous film locations.
Sing Street (2016)
Right in the beating heart of The Liberties, Meath Street’s vibrant bustle set the stage for Sing Street, John Carney’s 2016 musical comedy about a teen forming a band in 80s Dublin. Fusco’s Café is a proper Dublin chipper and a local institution and appeared in the film as a gritty hangout where Conor “Cosmo” Lawlor and his mates went to eat big and dream big.
Meath Street’s colourful higgeldy piggeldy shopfronts and authentic Dublin vibe proved to be the perfect choice for capturing the nostalgic charm of Dublin in the 80s. Visit Meath Street today, before or after your Storehouse tour, to feel the pulse of The Liberties. You could even grab a bag of chips from Fusco’s!
About Adam (2000)
Temple Bar’s cobbled streets are probably some of the most walked in Dublin, and they’re immortalised in About Adam, a quirky romantic comedy by Gerard Stembridge. Stuart Townsend plays Adam, a sneaky, Machiavellian lothario who manages to seduce Lucy (Kate Hudson). As well as her two sisters, her brother, and his girlfriend. Temple Bar appears throughout the films as his stomping ground, its vibrant energy and nightlife making it a fantastic location. It’s also a great location for a nice pint of Guinness, so do stop into one of the area’s famous pubs if you’re exploring it for yourself.
Michael Collins (1996)
Kilmainham Gaol is a looming, atmospheric former prison that lies just outside The Liberties, which at times housed some of our most important historical figures and is now a fantastic museum to Ireland’s rich history. It stars in the incredible Michael Collins, the famous historical drama featuring Liam Neeson as one of the great Irish revolutionaries.
Its stark interiors, thick walls and dark cells look even more hostile and cold on screen than they do today, transporting viewers back in time to when real Irish freedom fighters were imprisoned and even executed here. Today, it’s empty apart from the tour groups walking its cold stone corridors, to learn about the weight of history within its walls.
P.S. I Love You (2007)
Whelan’s Pub on Wexford Street, a stone’s throw from The Liberties, is a cornerstone of Dublin’s live music scene, and known for a decent pint of Guinness too! It was immortalised in the film adaptation of Celia Aherne’s P.S. I Love You.
In P.S. I Love You, Hilary Swank’s character, Holly, finds herself in Whelan’s after her late husband asks her friends to take her there. She meets a singer there, who ends up dedicating the song ‘Galway Girl’ to her, taking her back to when her husband sang it to her. It’s an emotional scene, but it also shows off just how great Whelan's is as a music venue.
Opened in 1989, Whelan’s has hosted countless legendary bands and musicians. Visit for a gig or a pint (or both!) and catch the same electric vibe that made it such a great film location. Then make way to one of Ireland largest breweries.
Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000)
Dublin’s iconic Ha’penny Bridge, an 1816 cast-iron beauty that arches beautifully over the River Liffey, steals a scene in Ordinary Decent Criminal, where Kevin Spacey’s crime boss navigates a heist gone horribly wrong.
Its elegant arches, detailing and central location – just a few LUAS stops away from us here in the Liberties – make it a perfect Dublin cinematic cameo. Named after the halfpenny toll once charged to cross it, the bridge is a beloved symbol of Dublin’s charm. The great news? You can cross the bridge these days for free.
Once (2007)
Grafton Street is Dublin’s main shopping thoroughfare and bustling pedestrian hub. It also sets the opening scenes of Once, where Glen Hansard’s busking character strums to the passing crowds. It’s a beautiful moment given that Glen spent so many hours busking right on this same street before making it big.
This vibrant street, stretching from St. Stephen’s Green to College Green, is famously a haven for street performers, and Glen even comes back here for the annual Christmas Eve busk to raise funds for Dublin's Simon Community. If you’re on Grafton Street, you might also want to make your way to Kehoe’s on nearby Anne St South, where the Guinness is known to be great.
Educating Rita (1983)
The Stag’s Head is an elegant and atmospheric 1895 Victorian pub just off Dame Street in Dublin’s city centre that oozes ‘old Dublin’ charm and feels like a step back in time. It’s a location in that fantastic 1983 movie Educating Rita, where Julie Walters’ character Rita and Michael Caine’s professor share some pivotal scenes. The ornate interiors, with stained beautiful old glass and lots of carved and polished dark wood, are a perfect backdrop. It’s also another Dublin pub that regularly tops the ‘best Guinness’ lists.