With gorgeous sights of Ireland, Netflix’s most recent film Irish Wish has many people watching and wondering, “Where was Irish Wish filmed?”
Firstly, it’s important to note that Lindsay Lohan’s latest film offers fans more than just another charming romantic comedy to enjoy. With a whimsical Freaky Friday vibe, the Netflix film, which was shot entirely in Ireland, takes viewers on a tour of the vast estates, breathtaking sights of Ireland’s lakes, sea cliffs, and expansive landscapes of the nation.
The new romantic comedy revolves around Maddie, played by Lindsay Lohan, as the American editor who harbors deep feelings for her client, Alexander Vlahos’s character, Paul Kennedy. Emma, portrayed by Elizabeth Tan, is Maddie’s best friend, and Paul falls in love with her, forcing Maddie to travel to Paul’s native Ireland for their wedding. When Maddie’s fantasy of becoming Paul’s fiancée comes true, mayhem follows.
The director of Lohan’s previous Netflix romantic comedy Falling for Christmas, Janeen Damian also helmed Irish Wish.
Falling for Christmas became popular right away on Netflix and remained in the top 10 most-watched movies on the platform for six weeks in 2022. The excitement surrounding Lohan was so great that before Falling for Christmas had aired, she inked a two-picture agreement with Netflix to create and appear in two additional holiday-themed films for the streaming service.
So where was The Irish Wish filmed? The story takes place in a few surreal settings, including a historic home with exquisite interiors. Get a detailed overview of the most notable filming locations, many of which are accessible for fans to visit, below.
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Where Was ‘The Irish Wish’ Filmed?
Irish Wish was shot in Ireland on location. More precisely, an Irish Independent story from 2022 stated that Knock Airport, Westport, Wicklow, and Dublin were among the filming locations for Irish Wish. Of course, the romantic sequences filmed on Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher, a stunning natural feature on the nation’s west coast that draws visitors from all over the world, were a major component of the film.
The Killruddery House
In the film, Maddie visits Killruddery House, which is modeled after the Kennedy family house, after misplacing her bag. After the original Killruddery House was destroyed by fire in 1645, it was rebuilt in 1651. The medieval house is a working farm, private estate, and tourist destination situated on 800 acres in Wicklow. Under the care of Anthony and Fionnuala Brabazon, the Duke and Duchess of Ardee, the Brabazon family has owned and occupied the house since 1618.
The initial 17th-century structure is united with an exterior designed in the Tudor-Revival style. The interiors are filled with apparently limitless lovely elements, such as paintings passed down through the generations, a domed ceiling, stained glass windows, and stucco work. Irish Wish has the orangery as a significant interior backdrop, together with the charming dining area and the library room—the sole room from the 17th century that is still standing.
Weddings, parties, and movie shoots can be scheduled on the private estate. In March 2023, Anthony Brabazon stated to RTE that Killruddery House accommodates about 25 marriages annually. The formal French gardens are large on the site. The person who designed them was a student of André le Nôtre, the chief gardener of King Louis XIV as well as the royal residence of Versailles. The estate’s picturesque surroundings are enhanced by flower-filled woodland, an open amphitheater, lengthy ponds, old trees, and acres of grass.
As a biodiverse, sustainable farm today, the land supplies fruit, vegetables, and free-range meat for the estate’s Agricultural Shop as well as the kitchen of the house. In addition to scheduling tours of the house and gardens, guests can enjoy meals prepared from fresh produce farmed on the grounds by stopping by The Grain Store or Pizza Shed.
Estate of Powerscourt
Powerscourt Estate served as the filming location for a few driving scenes related to the historical Kennedy family estate. The house on the site was once a medieval castle and is located in Wicklow. By 1741, it had been expanded into a 68-room palace; the most recent modifications were in 1996. Over 47 acres of formal vegetable gardens, terraces, decorative lakes, hollows, and natural walks are open for guests to explore, even if tours of the house are not permitted. The estate also features a café, a shop filled with Irish-made goods, an interior design studio, a pet cemetery, and a distillery, where Paul signs his book.
Lough Tay
Near Lough Tay is the “wishing chair,” serving as a key location in the movie’s narrative. Known by another name, Guinness Lake, this little body of water has a white sand beach on one side that makes it look like a pint of the national beverage of Ireland.
Before the wedding, the group enjoys a picnic near a lake in the movie. They go to Wicklow’s Lough Tay Lake.
When Dawn Bradfield’s character Maddie Kelly expresses a wish to Brigid, an Irish saint, it’s there that the fascinating havoc starts. Italian Count Luca Rinaldo Contardo Padulli di Vighignolo purchased the house in 2019, according to The Irish Times, although the newspaper indicated that he paid less than the property’s projected $30 million price tag.
The lake is off-limits to the public because it is located within the Wicklow Mountains on property that belongs to the Guinness family. Fortunately, visitors can still see a distant view of the lake from nearby views or the Sally Gap hiking trail. The estate is inaccessible to the public, but you can rent cottages on the property. The Beatles and Michael Jackson are just two examples of the famous people who have stayed there.
Remarkably, following his demise in an automobile accident, Tara, a Browne family member, served as the inspiration for The Beatles’ song A Day in the Life. From where we are standing, I can barely make out the grave on the estate where he is interred. The estate’s cottages are presently not for rent because they are undergoing repairs, but they will be put back up for sale after the work is done.
Moher Cliffs
The Cliffs of Moher, arguably Ireland’s most popular tourist location, provided the backdrop for a memorable sequence in Irish Wish. The movie uses the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher twice: once at the halfway point and once more at the conclusion. It’s James and Maddie’s favorite place, so they go there together. The Atlantic Ocean as well as the Aran Islands are visible from the well-known, sheer cliffs that run the length of the west coast of Clare.
Among Ireland’s most visited tourist spots is the Cliffs of Moher. According to the Cliffs of Moher Tourists website, more than 1.3 million individuals toured the site in 2022, with 41% of those visitors originating from the US. A ticket for adults to the site runs around $7.62. The dreamy scenery is a must-have for any itinerary visiting Ireland, and it’s ideal for breezy walks.
Ireland’s Westport
The settlement in the film is modeled around the scenic town of Westport within County Mayo. In the movie, Westport serves mostly as a location for the bridal dress shopping sequence. Overlooking the Carrowbeg River, stone bridges link to promenades dotted with trees, creating an atmosphere ideal for strolls. The center of the town is filled with historical buildings and has a row of vibrant storefronts.
For the scene, Kelly’s Tweeds & Knitwear in the Octagon was converted into a bridal boutique. Together with handcrafted goods like soaps and pottery, it is filled with locally made knitwear, such as jumpers, hats, gloves, and some very attractive socks. Tourists can visit neighborhood stores or have a beer at any of the numerous hospitable bars. Other filming locations include Ireland West Airport Knock, Hollywood Inn, in which James stays in town, Tutty’s Pub within Hollywood, Ireland, in which Maddie and James pass the time, the Wild Atlantic Way, and the rural areas of County Mayo.
Why Not Visit Emerald Isle?
Whether you’re charmed by the cozy pubs, captivated by the dramatic cliffs, or simply swept away by the Irish spirit, Irish Wish offers a visual love letter to the Emerald Isle. We’ve explored the stunning filming locations, from the bustling cityscapes to the hidden gems of the countryside.
So, if you’re ever planning a trip to Ireland, consider following in the footsteps of “Irish Wish.” You might just find your own bit of magic along the way.