For international production, Ireland is a world-class location. It’s a key centre for film, television, and animation production due to its highly experienced crew base and well-established studios, as well as its breath-taking landscape and competitive tax credit.

“Ireland has become a capital of filmmaking, establishing itself as one of the world’s most attractive production environments.”

Variety Magazine

Wicklow has a long history of collaborating with production companies. The County continues to serve as the setting for a number of films and television series.

Screen Wicklow is a one-stop-shop for all your production needs. We offer full assistance to film and television projects based in the County.

Our dedicated online resource portal is a comprehensive guide to filming in the Garden County. Scroll down further to access additional resources, links and support information.

Why Wicklow

Wicklow, called "Europe's Hollywood" by Jane Seymour, is home to a slew of well-known film and television locations, from Michael Collins (1996, featuring a crucial scene in Rathdrum Square) to Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) and Camelot (2001). Killruddery House and Gardens (The Tudors, Camelot, Far and Away, and My Left Foot, among others) and Powerscourt are two of the best big house movie locations.

“We are really fortunate to be filming in Wicklow for a lot of reasons, the most notable of which being the range of landscapes available in close proximity to the studios. It is a very accommodating world.”

Michael Hurst, Creator of Vikings

Shot in Wicklow

Wicklow is the backdrop for Netflix’s number one show - Vikings: Valhalla.

Cocaine Bear, Elizabeth Banks’ dark comedy, was filmed in Wicklow. During the summer 2021, Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams visited the County while filming in Greystones and Enniskerry for the upcoming Disney sequel Disenchanted.

Netflix’s teen fantasy drama Fate: The Winx Saga, which will return for its second season to the streaming platform along with screen adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s 2016 novel The Wonder – a psychological thriller set in a small Irish village seven years after the Great Famine ended were shot in County Wicklow recently.

Find out more about recent productions filmed in County Wicklow here.

Why County Wicklow is a fantastic location for filming…

  • The untamed Wicklow Mountains and rugged coastline, secluded cottages and urban streetscapes, stately country homes and modern architecture all combine to provide a spectacular range of variety of locations to choose from.
  • Locations in County Wicklow have seamlessly doubled as many international locations such Scandinavian settlements in Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla (Michael Hirst), gothic Victorian streets in Penny Dreadful (John Logan) and The Man Who Invented Christmas (Bharat Nalluri).
  • Wicklow is home to world-class film studios, including Ardmore Studios and Ashford Studios.
  • Local crew with worldwide recognition and experience.
  • Film, television, and animation are eligible for a tax credit.
  • You have access to a wide range of pre- and post-production services.
  • Dublin City, Dublin Airport, and Dublin Port are all within easy reach (less than 20 kilometres).
  • Wicklow County Council is devoted to welcoming, assisting, and supporting you.

Screen Wicklow launches 5-year film strategy

County Wicklow Screen Sector Development Strategy 2022 – 2026 sets out the recommendations for the county’s objectives and actions supporting the growth of its local film and television production cluster over the next five years. Download the strategy report (2MB, pdf).

Latest News

 

Engaging Young Minds in Local History

Wicklow Local Studies Service, along with Coláiste Chill Mhantain secondary school, is excited to announce the launch of ‘The Past in My Place,’ an exhibition of local history projects completed by second-year history students as part of their Junior Certificate curriculum. This marks the second year of this initiative.

The exhibition aims to provide a platform for students to showcase their work while highlighting the fascinating history of the people, places, and events that have shaped County Wicklow. It celebrates the diverse heritage of the school's students and features over 40 displays on genealogy and local history, ranging from the history of the Jameson family, sawmill owners from Rathnew, to the ancient Eastern Chinese city of Fuquing.

This event is part of the broader Local Studies Schools Programme, which seeks to engage students in exploring the history of their community. The initiative connects local schools with the library’s extensive local studies collection to foster a deeper understanding of local heritage and its impact on the present. Through this program, students from both primary and secondary schools have the opportunity to visit the local studies library in Wicklow Town, where they can view and handle historic photographs, books, maps, and newspapers.

Schools also benefit from curriculum-aligned resources that assist students and teachers in completing their Class-Based Assessment (CBA). These resources include activities for historical document analysis and tailored support for educators. Recently, class sets of these resources have been distributed to all secondary schools in the county.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Paul O’Brien, stated, “An exhibition like this provides an excellent opportunity for students to connect with their local area and explore their own history. Learning about local and family history can strengthen their sense of identity; instill pride and belonging, and foster deeper connections with their surroundings and community.”

Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, commented, “This exhibition showcases the vital role that local schools and libraries play in discovering, preserving, and celebrating our county’s rich heritage and cultural legacy. By bringing local history out of the classroom, we hope to inspire a new generation to appreciate their local heritage and develop key research skills.”

The exhibition was launched in the Exhibition Space at Wicklow Town Library on Friday, April 4th, and will be available for viewing until 27th April 2025.

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Screen Wicklow is ready to help you with your film production as much as possible around the County. Need help? Please get in touch with us by phone or email:

Screen Wicklow
Wicklow County Campus
Clermont House
Rathnew
Co. Wicklow
A67 X566

Phone: (0404) 30800
Email: screenwicklow@wicklowcoco.ie
Main contact: John Powderly