When Hollywood is set loose on the Emerald Isle, incredible things tend to happen. Not necessarily good incredible, yet always worth tuning in for.
Lindsay Lohan’s new blarney-powered romance Irish Wish is already making waves, landing a spot at number 1 on Netflix. It reunites the Mean Girls star with her Falling for Christmas director Janeen Damian for a romance that has her book editor, Maddie, flying to Ireland to be a bridesmaid for her BFF Heather – even though Heather is marrying the love of her life.
But for Tinseltown, Ireland is a place of perpetual magic, only ever a good pub singalong away from curing the world’s ills, can be a refreshing dose of escapism. (Or, as in the case of Leap Year, not so much.) So when Maddie makes a wish for true love, she enters an alternative reality where she’s met ‘the one’ – or so she initially thinks.
Alongside all the twisty-turny affairs of the heart, Irish Wish is richly adorned in glorious Irish landscapes and locations. Here’s where the magic happened.
Killruddery House and Gardens
This magnificent country pile, dating back to 1618, is used as Paul Kennedy family’s estate in the movie. It’s found in Bray in County Wicklow and comes with serious movie pedigree, having appeared in My Left Foot, Far and Away, Excalibur and Angela’s Ashes (not to mention The Tudors). The orangerie, with its domed conservatory, is an in-demand spot for weddings IRL – and pops up in the film.
Powerscourt Estate
Other Kennedy estate scenes were filmed at this elegant Wicklow pile – along with a scene in which Paul does a signing of his book. Once a medieval castle, it’s now a private, 68-room mansion. You can’t tour it but the 47 acres of gardens are open to the public.
Lough Tay
A picnic on the banks of this famous lake about 40 miles south of Dublin introduces the idea of a fairy – more on that later, folks! – and it turns out, is a key setting in Paul’s book. The lake is also an origin story for your next pint of Guinness – the water used to make Ireland’s famous stout is sourced from this corner of the country. Lough Tay adjoins the Guinness family estate, and a white sand beach on one side was imported lock, stock and barrel by the Guinness clan. The wishing chair on which Maddie sits to spark her fairy encounter is on a hillside above the water.
The Cliffs of Moher
The spectacular cliffs, located on West Clare’s rugged, Atlantic-battered coastline, are where Maddie and James head to scope out possible spots for a wedding photoshoot – in the alternative reality, at least. ‘I think I just stepped into a James Joyce novel,’ says Maddie of her favourite author. Head for O’Brien’s Tower, a spectacular lookout, but remember to book to visit: it’s €7 from the official site. For the record, Joyce references the cliffs in ‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man’.
Tutty’s Bar, Hollywood
In the movie, Maddie tries to find James at the pub he’s been staying in. The pub’s exteriors were filmed at Matt Molloy’s in Westport – owned by The Chieftains musician of the same name – but the interiors were shot at Tutty’s Bar in County Wicklow. Back in 1997, Meryl Streep popped by this during filming on Dancing at Lughnasa, as did Julia Roberts during the shoot for Neil Jordan's Michael Collins.
Westport, County Mayo
The seaside County Mayo town of Westport features heavily in Irish Wish, with an early wedding dress shopping scene filmed in Kelly’s Tweeds & Knitwear and the town square used for a later encounter between Maddie and James.
The Clarence Hotel, Dublin
Irish Wish opens with a publicity event for Paul’s new book at New York’s Soho Hotel. The actual location? Dublin’s U2-owned Clarence Hotel.
Who’s in the cast?
Starring alongside Lohan is Ed Speleers, aka Jimmy Kent in Downton Abbey, who plays a handsome English photographer Maddie has a chance encounter with at the airport.
Outlander’s Alexander Vlahos plays Paul Kennedy, an author that Maddie has feelings for, but who is betrothed to her bestie Heather (TV cook-turned-actress Ayesha Curry).
Her other bestie, Emma, is played by Top Boy actress Elizabeth Tan. Legendary English actress Jane Seymour plays Maddie’s mum Rosemary. Look out for Lohan’s little brother, Dakota, in a cameo too.
How to watch Irish Wish
It’s streaming now on Netflix.