Livvy Hill in Wicklow-shot movie An Taibhse (The Ghost)
Alan McKenna in a scene from Wicklow-shot movie ‘Without Name’.
Wicklow has been named Ireland’s second most common horror movie filming location, according to new research that analysed where 100 horror films shot in Ireland were primarily set.
The study, carried out by Virgin Media, examined IMDb data to identify the country’s most frequently used filming spots in the genre, ranking counties based on how often they appear as the main backdrop in horror and thriller productions.
Wicklow features in 18 of the films reviewed, placing the Garden County among the most-used locations for secluded and rural settings popular with filmmakers. Its forests, mountains and historic estates have made it a recurring choice for both international and independent horror productions.
Horror movies filmed in Wicklow include Without Name, The Other Lamb, The Lodgers and The Ghost, each making use of the county’s remote landscapes and period properties.
Only Dublin ranks ahead, appearing as the primary filming location in 24 of the movies analysed. Productions such as The Hole in the Ground and Citadel have used the capital’s suburbs, green belts and older districts to frame supernatural and psychological storylines.
Cork and Galway follow with eight films each. Cork has formed the backdrop to titles such as Byzantium, while Galway features in films including Night People.
Donegal features in six films, Antrim and Offaly five each, Limerick and Clare four, and Mayo three.
According to the study, Wicklow’s combination of natural terrain and older architectural sites continues to make it one of the most frequently chosen counties for filmmakers working in the horror genre.