Three film trails link the stunning locations that have been used for films, television
series and pop videos.
The Wicklow Film Commission has launched a new trail and accompanying brochure 'The Wicklow Film Trails'. The new services was launched at Ardmore Studios on December 4th jointly by the Chairman of Bray Town Council, Councillor John Byrne, and the Chairman of Wicklow County Council,
Councillor Vincent Blake.
Three film trails have been developed which loop through County Wicklow
linking the stunning locations that have been used for films, television
series and pop videos.
The Braveheart Drive starts in Hollywood, skirts along the Blessington
Lakes, linking Ballyknockan, Lacken of Widow's Peak fame, and Manor
Kilbride from where it heads over the Sally Gap into Laragh and finishes
in Hollywood. Around the Sally Gap many scenes for Braveheart were filmed.
Hollywood claims a historic link to Hollywood in LA but it has certainly
been used for some of the greatest Irish films, like Michael Collins, This
is my Father and Dancing at Lughnasa. The Braveheart Drive also comes over
the Wicklow Gap, recently shown at its most grim and scorched in the
dragon film Reign of Fire.
The Excalibur Drive starts in Roundwood and takes in Lough Tay, the
backdrop of Excalibur and Into the West before heading towards Powerscourt
Estate, recently shown in some stunning night scenes in The Count of Monte
Cristo. Enniskerry also stars in many commercials and films such as
December and Yesterday's Children.
Next is Bray, where Ardmore Studios has played host to such classics as
The Snapper, My Left Foot and the film that's just wrapped here called
Ella Enchanted. Going passed Greystones and Kilcoole of Glenroe fame the trail loops back
through Newtownmountkennedy to Roundwood.
The Michael Collins starts in Wicklow Town, where the some of the court
scenes for the new Pierce Brosnan film Evelyn were filmed in Wicklow
Courthouse. From there the route heads out to Rathdrum, made famous by
such films as A Love Divided, Durango and Michael Collins, on to Avoca,
former home of Ballykissangel. Next on the route is Arklow where some
scenes for Angela's Ashes were shot, Redcross and past Brittas Bay,
immortalised as Elba in The Count of Monte Cristo back toward Wicklow.
The Wicklow Film Trails were funded by the National Millennium Committee,
Wicklow County Council, Bray Town Council and Wicklow Rural Partnership
through Leader II. In his speech the County Manager Eddie Sheehy, thanked
all the partners and sponsors for the support.
The Wicklow Film Trails maximise the potential of attracting film-related
tourism to the county. According to Bord Failte statistics 14 % of American visitors quoted films as an important source of information when they decided on their holiday destination. Hopefully the wicklow gap will see some tourists looking for dragons after the release of Reign of Fire
earlier this summer.
The Three film location trails aim to attract additional tourists to all
areas in the county and also to provide visitors with another incentive to
stay an extra night in the county. Chairman of Wicklow County Council, Councillor Vincent Blake said, 'From 'Ballykissangel' to 'Braveheart', movie fans from around the world are
making the locations where films were shot, some of the top tourism
destinations in Ireland. And this project will offer them even more. The
Braveheart, Michael Collins and Excalibur Drives are the first of their
kind in Ireland and it is fitting that the county that welcomes so many
film makers and stars each year should also show the way in how to promote
this unique heritage.'
The brochure called 'Film Action in County Wicklow' will be distributed
through all tourist offices, hotels and visitor attractions in the county.
It will also be distributed through Dublin Airport and the ferry ports in
Dun Laoghaire and Rosslare and copies will be send to Bord Failte offices
abroad.
If you wish to obtain a copy please ring The Wicklow Film
Commission, Tel: 0404 20257, email: wfc@eircom.net.