Here’s why so many screen tourists are visiting Ireland
Ireland has recently developed itself as a world-class global film-making hub, bringing its irresistible natural landscapes to an international audience.
In particular, Game of Thrones®, a global phenomenon and HBO’s most-watched show on record, has been transformative for Ireland as a screen tourism destination.
Home to more Seven Kingdoms locations than anywhere else in the world, Northern Ireland has truly earned its title as Game of Thrones® territory. The forests, mountains and moorlands are utilised as the scenic backdrop for many memorable moments in the show.
While the Seven Kingdom’s might seem like worlds away for fans, many of the key locations are completely accessible for visitors to Northern Ireland.
The best part is, incorporating these Game of Thrones® sights in to a visit to Ireland is a lot easier than one might think. The distance between these locations in the show seems extensive, but in real life many of them actually lie side-by-side.
Game of Thrones® set up its film headquarters in Belfast since all of the otherworldly landscapes were less than two hours away from this vibrant city. Similarly, visitors can use Belfast as a launchpad and see all their favourite filming locations come to life in just a few days with a hire car. And they may even discover unexpected and unique filming locations on the way.
Tollymore Forest Park in County Down is transformed into the Haunted Forest, where some of the first scenes of the series take place, with the Starks finding the dire wolves. And it’s also where the White Walkers make their march into the realm of men.
These 600 hectares hold ancient redwoods as well as Gothic stone arches, the remnants of an 18th century estate.
Open every day from 10am to sunset, the striking features of this romantic forest park in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains will be memorable even for those who aren’t Game of Thrones® fans.
Winterfell is where the series was truly set in motion, and the 820-acre walled demesne of Castle Ward in County Down, provided a prime location for House Stark.
The crenelated 16th century ruin doubled as Winterfell and its courtyard, becoming one of the most-loved castles in the Seven Kingdoms.
The Dark Hedges, a haunting avenue of serpentine beech trees near Armoy, County Antrim, became the Kingsroad, where Arya escaped Kings Landing disguised as a boy.
The stunning avenue of trees is always open, and after two centuries of existence, they have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland.
Along the northern coastline of County Antrim lies Murlough Bay, better known as Slaver’s Bay in the Seven Kingdoms.
The bay is located between Fair Head and Torr Head, and is known for its remote location, with close views of Rathlin Island and views across the ocean to various Scottish islands.
Also in County Antrim is Shillanavogy Valley, beneath Slemish Mountain, better known as the land of the Dothraki, creating a stunning backdrop when the Khalasar departs Pentos and rides to Vaes Dothrak.
The entrance to Vaes Dothrak can be found in the Mourne Mountains in County Down.
Leitrim Lodge at the foothills of the mountains also became the lands north of Winterfell, where Bran first met Jojen and Meera in the woods.
And these dramatic slopes must seriously radiate fantasy, as it was this exact landscape that inspired author CS Lewis to create Narnia.
Cushendun Caves in the ever popular County Antrim, which formed over a period of 400 million years, is the spot where Melisandre birthed the shadow assassin.
Visitors will be intrigued not only by the caves, but by the charming historic village of Cushendun, which is steeped in character and folklore.
County Derry-Londonderry’s Portstewart Strand boasts a two-mile stretch of golden sand, which perfectly complimented the season five scene where Jaime and Bronn approached the gates of the Water Gardens and fought the Dornish.
As one of Northern Ireland’s finest beaches, the location offers views of Inishowen headland and Mussenden Temple perched atop the cliffs.
While many iconic scenes from Game of Thrones® were filmed in Northern Ireland, other parts of the island have also been captured for the big screen.
In the southwest region of Ireland, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was filmed on Skellig Michael in County Kerry.
Skellig Michael was home to one of the earliest monastic settlements in Ireland, with the monks of St. Fionan’s monastery living in stone, beehive shaped huts on the remote island.
Location scouts were also taken with numerous locations dotted along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland’s west, such as Cork and Donegal, which eventually appeared in the film.
The cast and crew celebrated at multiple local pubs along the way, with the owner of Farren’s Bar in Donegal marking their visit by painting a mural of Yoda on the side of his pub.
Other parts of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way are also set to be transformed into a galaxy far far away for the next instalment of the Star Wars series.
And to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality, all travellers need to do is take a trip to the island of Ireland.
To find out more, visit Ireland.com.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Film Tourism game of thrones ireland northern ireland star wars tourism irelandLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.