Photos show what 6 'Irish Wish' locations look like in real life

Ayomikun AdekaiyeroMar 15, 2024, 23:21 IST

Ed Speleers as James Thomas and Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly in "Irish Wish."Netflix

"Irish Wish," out now on Netflix, is Lindsay Lohan's latest romantic comedy.
The movie follows American editor Maddie (Lohan) as she attends her crush's wedding in Ireland.

"Irish Wish," Netflix's latest movie starring Lindsay Lohan, transports viewers to the stunning views of Ireland's mountains, lakes, and sea cliffs.

The new rom-com follows Maddie (Lohan), an American editor with a major crush on her client, Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos). When Paul falls for Maddie's best friend, Emma (Elizabeth Tan), Maddie is forced to attend their wedding in Paul's home country, Ireland. Chaos ensues when Maddie makes a wish to be Paul's fiancée, and it comes true.

"Irish Wish" is directed by Janeen Damian, the director behind Lohan's other Netflix rom-com, "Falling for Christmas."

"Falling For Christmas" was an immediate hit for Netflix and spent six weeks on the streamer's top 10 most-watched movie list in 2022. Such was the hype around Lohan, she signed a two-picture partnership deal with Netflix to produce and star in two Holiday-themed movies for the streamer, before "Falling for Christmas" was even released.

"Irish Wish" is one of the movies and the other, "Our Little Secret," will be released later this year and also stars Kristin Chenoweth and Chris Parnell.

"Irish Wish" also banks on Lohan's charm, although three Irish counties, Mayo, Wicklow, and Clare, do a lot of the heavy-lifting, too.

Here's what the locations look like in real life.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Irish Wish," available to stream on Netflix.

Maddie lands in Mayo, West Ireland, at the beginning of the movie.

Cronin's Sheebeen in "Irish Wish" and in real life.Netflix / Google Maps Street View

When Maddie, Paul, Emma, and their friend Heather (Ayesha Curry) fly from New York to Ireland, they land at Ireland West Airport, also known as Knock Airport.

According to Google Flights, a week-round economy-class trip from New York to Knock Airport starts at $954.

After losing her bag, Maddie takes a bus from the airport to Paul's family home, Kennedy Estate.

On the way, she passes Cronin's Sheebeen, an award-winning pub in County Mayo, where Knock Airport is situated. Cronin's Sheebeen is just under an hour's drive from Knock Airport.

When Maddie, Paul, Emma, and their friend Heather (Ayesha Curry) fly from New York to Ireland, they land at Ireland West Airport, also known as Knock Airport.

According to Google Flights, a week-round economy-class trip from New York to Knock Airport starts at $954.

After losing her bag, Maddie takes a bus from the airport to Paul's family home, Kennedy Estate.

On the way, she passes Cronin's Sheebeen, an award-winning pub in County Mayo, where Knock Airport is situated. Cronin's Sheebeen is just under an hour's drive from Knock Airport.

Paul's family home is Killruddery House on Ireland's east coast.

Killrudery House in "Irish Wish" and in real life.Netflix / Google Maps Street View

Maddie eventually gets to Kennedy Estate, which in real life is called Killruddery House, an 800-acre privately owned estate.

Killruddery House was rebuilt in 1651 after the original was destroyed by a fire in 1645. The house has been owned by the Brabazon family since 1618 and is under the stewardship of Anthony and Fionnuala Brabazon, the Lord and Lady Ardee. The private property can be hired for weddings, events, and films.

Lord Ardee told RTE in March 2023 that Killruddery House hosts roughly 25 weddings a year.

A car journey from Knock Airport to Killruddery House would take almost three hours because it's Wicklow, on the east coast of Ireland. The trip to Killruddery House from the airport would be in the opposite direction to Cronin's Sheebeen, which means Maddie's journey does not really make sense.

Maddie eventually gets to Kennedy Estate, which in real life is called Killruddery House, an 800-acre privately owned estate.

Lord Ardee told RTE in March 2023 that Killruddery House hosts roughly 25 weddings a year.

Lough Tay is also in Wicklow and is nearly a half-hour drive from Killruddery House.

Lough Tay in "Irish Wish" and in real life.Netflix / Dawid Kalisinski Photography / iStock / Getty Images Plus

In the film, the wedding party decides to have a picnic by a lake before the big day. They visit Lough Tay, a lake in Wicklow. It is there when the magical mayhem begins after Maddie makes a wish to the Irish saint Brigid (Dawn Bradfield).

Lough Tay is part of the Guinness Estate, meaning it's privately owned and can only be viewed by the public from the Sally Gap mountain pathway.

The Irish Times reported that Italian Count Luca Rinaldo Contardo Padulli di Vighignolo bought the property in 2019, but the publication estimated that he paid less than the property's over $30 million price tag.

Lough Tay is part of the Guinness Estate, meaning it's privately owned and can only be viewed by the public from the Sally Gap mountain pathway.

Although Scruffy Murphy’s is a real location, the pub used in "Irish Wish" is an amalgamation of two buildings in Ireland.

Scruffy Murphy's in "Irish Wish" and Matt Molloy's in Ireland.Netflix / Google Maps Street View

At least four scenes in "Irish Wish" play out in or around a pub called Scruffy Murphy's. While this is the name of numerous Irish pubs in and outside Ireland, the "Irish Wish" pub is completely fictional.

RTE reported that the crew used Matt Molloy's in Mayo for the exterior shots of Scruffy Murphy's. And the interior scenes were shot in the Hollywood Inn and Tutty's of Hollywood, two pubs situated next to each other in Wicklow.

At least four scenes in Irish Wish play out in or around a pub called Scruffy Murphy's. While this is the name of numerous Irish pubs in and outside Ireland, the Irish Wish pub is completely fictional.

There are numerous scenes in WestPort, which is in Mayo.

Westport in "Irish Wish" and in real life.Netflix / Google Maps Street View

Many scenes in "Irish Wish" unfold in a small town in Mayo called Westport. This is where Maddie reconnects with James Thomas (Ed Speleers), a photographer she fights with at Knock Airport. After the magical wish goes away, Maddie also meets James again in the same town center.

West Coast Rare Books, the bookshop James enters in the film, and Westport Florist, the other shop James walks past, are real stores in Westport. The roundabout area where Maddie falls into James' car is called the Octagon.

The bridal shop where Maddie is given her wedding dress is, however, not real. According to RTE, Kelly's Tweeds & Knitwear in the Octogan was transformed into a bridal store for the film.

Many scenes in Irish Wish unfold in a small town in Mayo called Westport. This is where Maddie reconnects with James Thomas (Ed Speleers), a photographer she fights with at Knock Airport. After the magical wish goes away, Maddie also meets James again in the same town center.

The bridal shop where Maddie is given her wedding dress is, however, not real. According to RTE, Kelly's Tweeds & Knitwear in the Octogan was transformed into a bridal store for the film.

The Cliffs of Moher are actually in County Clare. It would take more than three hours to drive there from Killruddery House.

The Cliffs of Moher in "Irish Wish" and in real life.Netflix / George Karbus Photography / Getty Images

The Cliffs of Moher are a scenic coastal area used halfway through the movie and again at the end. James and Maddie visit it together because it's their favorite spot.

The Cliffs of Moher aren't in Mayo. They are found in County Clare, roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Westport.

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most popular tourist destinations. In 2022, over 1.3 million people visited the site, the majority (41%) coming from the US, according to the Cliff of Moher Visitors website. An adult ticket to the site costs $7.62.