Crews Film at Cork's Blarney Castle | The Irish Film & Television Network

Built in 1446 by Irish chieftain Cormac MacCarthy, Blarney Castle offers a unique filming location with a history as colorful as any Hollywood movie. With the castle situated in Blarney Village, 8 km northwest from Cork city and a short drive from Cork International Airport, the Castle can be easily accessed by both Irish and international crews. Recent refurbishments have meant the privately owned estate has opened its doors to more film crews than ever in recent years, all eager to capture some of the famous Blarney magic on camera. The Estate houses Blarney Castle, Blarney House, the Blarney Lakes and the legendary Blarney Stone. Known as the Stone of Eloquence, this famous landmark is reputed to bless anyone who kisses it with the Irish ‘gift of the gab’.

“Blarney Castle, because of its unique story and history, has attracted a lot of interest from documentary makers and travel shows over the years,” says Fogarty. “Since February this year, there have been two or three shoots happening in the castle each month. The estate has a multitude of locations to offer. Besides the Castle and Blarney House, the woodland areas and gardens are also available. They are beautifully picturesque, with ancient yew and oak trees. The un-spoilt nature of the gardens makes them a great location for outdoor scenes.”

Blarney House, the newest part of the estate built in 1874, is situated 200 yards behind the castle. The residence of owner Charles Colthurst, the house has been traditionally passed down to the eldest son for several generations. Blarney Castle, the House, Gardens and Estate offer superb locations for Film and Television work.

RTE Two children’s TV series ‘Sattitude’ has paid a visit to the castle on several occasions. The first shoot was the crew filmed a spoof ‘Lord of the Rings’ sketch in the magical Rock Close Gardens, while the second shoot saw them explore the history of the Blarney stone.

“The presenters invited three local schoolchildren to kiss the stone to see if they felt any different afterwards, and all of the children thought they were definitely chattier!” says Fogarty. “The third time they filmed here, the presenters filmed a sketch where they pretended to be tour guides at the castle.”

Belfast-based production company Imagine Media will be stopping off at the castle this July to film the series ‘Around Ireland in 80 Days’, set to broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland. Fronted by Michael McGarrigle, the show sees the presenter travel to every county in the Republic of Ireland, exploring what each counties culture, history and people have to offer. His visit to Cork will feature Blarney Castle, Blarney House and the Rock Close Gardens.

In May, the video department of Spanish governmental office Diputación Provincial de Cádiz, who have been producing documentaries for cultural and educational purposes for more than 20 years, shot scenes in Blarney Castle for a 13 chapter-documentary series entitled ‘The Sea of Freedom’. Also that month, German TV broadcaster ZDF shot footage at the Castle, highlighting its history and the famous Blarney Stone as part of documentary exploring Irish legends, while IVS TV Production from Tokyo, Japan, filmed a documentary about the Castle’s history.

“The Indian Media Delegation also brought a TV crew and a celebrity food and drink writer to film in the castle in order to showcase Irish food and drinks products to India, in particular to focus on the classic drinks of Ireland such as Irish whiskey, Cream Liqueur and Irish Stout,” says Fogarty. “As the weather was not the best, they filmed at the Castle and we opted to showcase the food and drink in the Blarney Castle Hotel.”

The castle is located at the centre of Blarney village, with Hotels and B&B’s within walking distance if cast and crew need accommodation. The vast Blarney Castle Estate offers private entrance, parking, and facilities for crews to set up and organize, with many private locations available. Acres of land surround the tranquil Blarney Lakes.

Film crews can also avail of the estates Barn, a spacious converted stone built barn, which contains bedrooms, showering facilities, a fully equipped kitchen, TV, fireplace.

“Production companies may use the Barn if they want to set up there equipment or take a break during filming,” says Fogarty. “Crews can film on the grounds of Blarney Castle Estate, the Castle and House, the beautiful Blarney Lake and the Rock Close Gardens,” says Fogarty. “The gardens would rival any Hollywood movie set.”

“The gardens and grounds can be closed off to tourists if requested, for example we closed of the Rock Close Gardens when RTE were filming. Some of the other film crews filming documentaries wanted tourists in their scenes and so we didn’t need to shut down for the day.”

For more info on filming at Blarney Castle, contact John Fogarty by email: johnfogarty@blarneycastle.ie or phone: +353 21-4385252

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