From Hollywood to Hogwarts: The Ring of Kerry’s Secret Film Locations

Hello, John O’Connell here again from Cork Luxury Travel, and I’ve a confession to make. After decades of driving the Ring of Kerry, showing visitors our stunning landscapes and ancient monuments, I only recently discovered we’d been driving through Hollywood history all along. It happened when an American film buff asked me to show him where Tom Cruise stayed while filming here. “Tom Cruise?” I said. “In Kerry?” That question opened up a whole new world of stories I’d been driving past without knowing.

Now, when I take folks around the Ring of Kerry, I don’t just show them beautiful views. I show them where movie magic happened. And let me tell you, once you know these stories, you’ll never look at our landscape the same way again.

Charlie Chaplin’s secret Irish haven

Let’s start with my favorite Hollywood story, because it’s not really about Hollywood at all. It’s about finding peace. Drive into Waterville on any given day, and you’ll spot a bronze statue of a small man in a bowler hat, twirling a cane. That’s Charlie Chaplin, and his connection to this little fishing village is one of the most heartwarming tales I know.

Picture this: It’s 1959, and the world’s most famous comedian is tired. Charlie Chaplin, despite all his success, is looking for somewhere to vacation with his large family. Somewhere quiet, somewhere real. His friend Walt Disney (yes, that Walt Disney) had stayed at the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville back in 1946 and raved about the fishing. So Charlie packed up his wife Oona and their eight children and headed for Kerry.

What happened next sounds like something from one of his films. The Chaplins fell completely in love with Waterville. But here’s the beautiful part: Waterville fell in love with them right back. For over ten years, the family returned every summer, and Charlie became just another local. He’d fish on Lough Currane, walk the beach, play with his children. No paparazzi, no fuss. In an era when television was still rare in rural Kerry, many locals didn’t even recognize him at first.

Today, when I stop at Charlie’s statue with guests, I love sharing the little details. How he’d stay in the same suite at the Butler Arms every year. How local fishermen taught him the best spots for salmon. How his children played with local kids on the beach. The hotel still has photos of those visits, and the current owners, the Huggard family, have stories passed down from their parents about Charlie’s gentle humor and kindness.

Every August, Waterville hosts the Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival. If you time your visit right, you might see the town filled with bowler hats and twisted canes, locals and visitors alike celebrating the little tramp who found peace in their village. It’s not just a tourist attraction. It’s a town remembering a friend. This kind of authentic local connection is what we mean when we talk about the art of slow travel in Ireland, taking time to discover the real stories behind the places.

When Star Wars came to Kerry

Now, if Charlie Chaplin’s story is about finding peace, the Star Wars saga is about finding the extraordinary in our backyard. When I heard they were filming the new Star Wars films here, I thought someone was pulling my leg. Luke Skywalker in Kerry? But it’s true, and the story of how it happened is almost as good as the films themselves.

The filmmakers were looking for somewhere that looked like another planet. Somewhere untouched, ancient, almost impossible. They found it on Skellig Michael, those extraordinary rocky islands you can see from many points along the Ring of Kerry. The ancient monastery perched on those vertical cliffs, where monks lived in “beehive” huts 1,400 years ago, became Luke Skywalker’s hideaway.

But here’s what the movie doesn’t show you: the incredible impact on our local communities. The cast and crew set up base in Portmagee, a colourful little fishing village that suddenly found itself at the center of the movie universe. Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, and the whole gang stayed at local hotels, ate in local restaurants, and became temporary locals themselves.

My favourite story from the filming? After they wrapped, Chewbacca himself, actor Peter Mayhew, showed up at the local school in full costume. Can you imagine? These Kerry kids, some who’d never been to a cinema, suddenly had a seven-foot Wookiee reading them stories. The photos from that day still make me grin.

When I take guests through Portmagee now, I point out the restaurants where the cast ate, the pier where they caught boats to Skellig Michael, the B&Bs where crew members stayed. But I also make sure they understand that while Star Wars brought Hollywood glamour, the real star has always been the landscape itself. Those ancient rocks, that wild Atlantic, the monastery that has weathered fourteen centuries of storms.

The Ring of Kerry’s supporting role

Of course, Kerry’s film history goes back much further than Charlie or Luke Skywalker. In 1969, David Lean arrived to film “Ryan’s Daughter,” and what happened next was extraordinary. Instead of using an existing village, Lean built one from scratch near Dunquin. Not a flimsy film set, mind you, but a proper village built of stone, just like our ancestors built them.

For months, 200 local workers laboured to create Kirrary, the fictional village where the film was set. The stone buildings were so well constructed they could have lasted centuries, which makes it all the more poignant that they were torn down after filming. Today, when I drive guests past the site, all that remains are the cobblestones and foundation marks. But the stories! Every local family has someone who worked on that film.

Robert Mitchum stayed for months, becoming a regular in local pubs. Sarah Miles brought her four dogs because she couldn’t bear to leave them in quarantine. The whole production battled the Kerry weather, waiting days for the right light, the perfect storm, the exact shade of gray in the sky that Lean demanded. It drove everyone half-mad, but it created something beautiful. Speaking of weather, don’t let a little rain stop your adventure. We’ve got plenty of ideas for enjoying rainy days in the south west of Ireland.

Then in 1992, another Hollywood invasion, this time with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman filming “Far and Away.” I was just starting in the touring business then, and I remember the excitement. They built another village, this time near Dingle, and for weeks, Kerry was transformed into 1890s Ireland. Tom learned to milk cows, Nicole practiced her Irish accent, and once again, Hollywood money flowed into local communities.

Hidden locations and secret spots

What I love about showing people these film locations is that they’re often hidden in plain sight. Take Inch Beach. To most visitors, it’s just a stunning stretch of golden sand. But this is where they filmed scenes for “Ryan’s Daughter” and “The Playboy of the Western World.” When the tide is out and the light is just right, I can show you exactly where the cameras rolled.

Or take the Gap of Dunloe. Tourists come for the jaunting cars and mountain views, but this is also where crucial scenes in “Excalibur” were shot. When the mist rolls in (and it often does), you can almost see King Arthur and his knights riding through. The landscape hasn’t changed. It’s as mythical now as it was then.

Even “Harry Potter” has a Kerry connection! While they used digital effects to place our Lemon Rock in front of the Cliffs of Moher, the actual rock where Harry and Dumbledore stood is right here in Kerry. I’ve taken more than a few Potter fans to see it, and their excitement is infectious.

These hidden gems are exactly why hiring a private driver is the ideal way for small groups to tour Ireland’s south west. We can take you to places the tour buses simply can’t reach.

More than just locations

But here’s what makes these film locations special on our tours. It’s not just about pointing and saying, “Tom Cruise stood here.” It’s about understanding why filmmakers keep coming back to Kerry. It’s about the quality of light that photographers call magical. It’s about landscapes that can be prehistoric one moment and ethereal the next. It’s about communities that welcome film crews like extended family.

When I take you to these places, we don’t just drive by. We stop. We explore. We imagine. At the site of the fictional village of Kirrary, we’ll walk those ancient cobblestones and I’ll show you photos of what it looked like during filming. In Portmagee, we might stop for lunch at the same restaurant where J.J. Abrams discussed the day’s shooting. In Waterville, we’ll have tea at the Butler Arms, sitting perhaps in the same lounge where Charlie Chaplin played piano for other guests.

This personalized approach is exactly why a private driver is the best way to experience a Ring of Kerry tour. You have the flexibility to linger at places that capture your imagination.

Creating your own movie moments

What’s wonderful about these film locations is how they enhance the natural drama of the Ring of Kerry. Our landscape doesn’t need Hollywood to make it spectacular, but knowing that filmmakers traveled thousands of miles to capture it adds another layer to the experience.

I’ve had guests recreate scenes from their favourite films. Couples kissing on Inch Beach like in “Ryan’s Daughter,” Star Wars fans practicing their Jedi moves with Skellig Michael in the background. One group even dressed as Charlie Chaplin for photos by the statue. Why not? Travel should be fun, and if Hollywood found magic here, so can you.

The local perspective

What strikes me most about Kerry’s film history is how it weaves into our local story. These weren’t just film locations. They were community events. Everyone has a connection. The butcher’s father was an extra in “Ryan’s Daughter.” The B&B owner’s mother cooked for the “Far and Away” crew. The fisherman who takes tourists out to Skellig Michael told Mark Hamill about the puffins.

These Hollywood connections brought more than money (though the economic boost was welcome). They brought confidence. They showed us that what we’d always known, that Kerry is special, was true on a global scale. They put villages like Portmagee and Waterville on the international map.

If you’re wondering about other aspects of touring Ireland, you might find our guide to answers to questions about touring Ireland you were afraid to ask helpful in planning your visit.

Your Hollywood tour awaits

So here’s my invitation: let me show you the Ring of Kerry through a different lens. Yes, we’ll see all the classic sites. The mountains, the lakes, the ancient stones. But we’ll also discover the hidden Hollywood history that most tour buses rush past.

We’ll have time to explore, to take photos, to hear the stories. In our comfortable Mercedes, we can reach places the big coaches can’t go. The narrow road to the “Ryan’s Daughter” schoolhouse, the clifftop where “Excalibur” was filmed, the quiet spots where Charlie Chaplin fished.

This isn’t just a film location tour. It’s a journey through the landscape that has inspired storytellers for generations. From ancient Irish bards to Hollywood directors, creative souls have always been drawn to Kerry’s magic. And when you see these places for yourself, when you stand where Charlie Chaplin found peace or where Star Wars found its spiritual heart, you’ll understand why.

At Cork Luxury Travel, we believe every tour should tell a story. And what better story than how the Ring of Kerry became Hollywood’s favourite secret? From the world’s most famous comedian finding sanctuary in a fishing village to the world’s biggest franchise finding mystery on ancient islands, Kerry has played every role with distinction.

Come discover your own starring role in the Ring of Kerry’s continuing story. Because while the film crews may have gone home, the magic they found here? That’s permanent. That’s Kerry.

Lights, camera, adventure!

Ready to discover the Ring of Kerry’s Hollywood secrets? Contact us to create your own blockbuster tour of Ireland’s most photogenic peninsula.