News

Cahir Castle is finalist for the EUFCN Location Award 2021 for The Green Knight

Posted: 17th December 2021

Cahir Castle in Co. Tipperary is one of the finalists of the EUFCN Location Award 2021, the annual prize for European filming locations organized by the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN). The location was submitted by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland as one of the primary filming locations for David Lowery's The Green Knight, produced by A24 and Wild Atlantic Pictures, which filmed in Ireland in 2019.

In an article for EUFCN, Rossa O’Neill, Location Manager, Rosemary Collier, Director in Heritage Services at OPW, and Eleanor Morrissey, OPW site manager at Cahir Castle, share their experiences of finding the perfect location and the logistics involved in filming at the castle and transforming it for the screen.

Dating back to the mid-12th century, Cahir Castle was built to be a state-of-the-art defensive fortress and it has been the scene of sieges and bombardments for centuries. Appearing to grow from the actual rock on which it stands, and featuring battlements, heavy gates, turrets, towers and a stunning courtyard, Cahir Castle was the perfect double for the legendary castle of Camelot.

The castle was transformed on screen as an ominous, foreboding fortress representing the home of the dying King Arthur’s court. It is here that Sir Gawain takes up the Green Knight’s challenge, and where much of the first act of the film takes place. This was in fact the second time Cahir Castle has been used as a double for Camelot, the first being its use in the 1981 film  Excalibur.

Cahir Castle is a designated National Monument of Ireland and is cared for by the Irish Government’s heritage conservation agency, the Office of Public Works. In the scouting for The Green Knight , the castle was the front runner from early on.

The general public has now the chance to vote for their favourite location among the 5 in the EUFCN Location Award shortlist:

Berlin for The Queen’s Gambit – Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission (GERMANY)

Cahir Castle for The Green Knight – Screen Ireland (IRELAND)

Kornati National Park for Murina – Filming in Croatia (CROATIA)

Malaga for The Crown (Season 4) – Andalucía Film Commission (SPAIN)

Stadlandet for Dune – Western Norway Film Commission (NORWAY)

A lucky name will be picked among the voters and will have the chance to visit the best European filming location of 2021.

Click here to vote for Cahir Castle before 31st January, 2022.