Top ten most surprising movies filmed in Ireland - PHOTOS

Some Hollywood blockbusters that were, surprisingly, filmed on the Emerald Isle

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Ireland has a wonderful history on the silver screen. From John Wayne’s famous “The Quiet Man” to Roddy Doyle’s utterly irreplaceable “Commitments”, Ireland has a huge legacy in the film world.

However there are a couple of movies which have been filmed in Ireland but you might never guess.

Here are the top ten most surprising movies filmed in Ireland.

1. Braveheart

Following this Mel Gibson Hollywood blockbuster the tourism industry of Scotland recorded a boost of over 100 percent. Little did the tourists know that most of the battle scenes were filmed in Ireland.

All scenes depicting London were shot at Bective Abbey, County Meath. The Battle of Stirling Bridge was filmed on the Curragh Plains, County Kildare and the scenes set in York were actually filmed at Trim Castle, County Meath.

2. Saving Private Ryan

The famous opening twenty minutes of “Saving Private Ryan”, which is set on D-Day on Omaha beach, were actually filmed in County Wexford.

Filming lasted for two months and took place on Ballinesker Beach, Curracloe Strand. The Irish Defense Forces supplied 2,500 men to act as extras.

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In this number six of the eight films there’s a dramatic scene when Harry Potter and Professor Dumbeldore are battling with evil. The camera swoops in towards some cliffs (the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare) and then we spot our two heroes standing on a rock (Lemon Rock, County Kerry).

4. The Princess Bride

This 1987 fairy tale tells the story of heroes whose goal is to rescue a beautiful princess, Buttercup. They are followed by a masked man in black across the sea and up the Cliffs of Insanity (again the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare).

This film is a childhood favorite of million with a star studded cast including Mandy Patinkin, Cary Elwes, Andre the Giant, Peter Cook, Billy Crystal and many others.

5. The Italian Job

In this 1969 classic, staring a very young Michael Caine, all of the jail scenes were actually filmed in Kilmainham Jail, in Dublin.

This is a hugely historically important location for Ireland. This is where many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed in the prison by the British and latterly in 1923 by the Irish Free State.

6. King Arthur

This 2004 incarnation of the legendary tale of King Arthur and round table was mostly filmed in Ireland.  The movie starred Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Ray Winstone and Keira Knightley.

Britain’s beautiful old buildings and structures were in fact mostly filmed in Ardmore Studios, County Wicklow. What might have seemed to be Hadrian’s Wall was in fact Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare and the Luggala and Powerscourt Estates in County Wicklow were also used.

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Nster.com