Oscar film sparks tourism in Irish islands – 02/17/2023 – Tourism

With a long list of thanks, Colin Farrell didn’t forget to mention Achill and Inishmore Islands when he was awarded for his role in “The Banshees of Inisherin”. The Irish islands are already benefiting from the tourist interest generated by the film.

“We are all one big family,” said the actor, upon receiving the Golden Globe for his performance in the work that subsequently received nine Oscar nominations. The film is showing in Brazilian cinemas.

“Fingers crossed of course,” Achill’s tour manager Chris McCarthy told AFP of his Oscar crowd. “We’ll accept any of the nine awards, we’re not picky,” he joked.

Between July and November 2021, the island’s landscapes of cliffs, peat bogs and beaches were transformed for filming.

The east coast fishing port, Purteen Harbor, was the site chosen for the construction of a harbor street lined with 1920s-style shops. and was built from scratch.

The film’s director, Martin McDonagh, wanted the actors to “feel the atmosphere of the Atlantic” when they opened the door, says McCarthy. “It’s something that couldn’t be recreated in a studio”, he explains from the lookout, where the wind throws drops of sea water that hit against the rocks.

Production boosted the local economy by injecting US$ 1.8 million (about R$ 9.3 million) in an area with less than 3,000 inhabitants.

Now, the island takes advantage of the film’s promotion to boost local tourism — each time its images or an award speech go viral on the internet, reservations increase.

Among the memorabilia decorating the Lynott bar, a pair of scissors used by violinist Colm, played by Brendan Gleeson (nominated for supporting actor), is displayed on the wall.

According to Mick Lynch, owner of the establishment, this small tavern – originally a 16th-century prison with stone walls covered by a thatched roof – is the real version of the one created for the film.

Big fan of the film, American singer Taylor Swift asked that the fictional bar be built so that she could visit it. “No need”, says Lynch, “you can come here”.

Alan Gielty, manager of the Achill Coaches bus company, created a guided tour named after the feature, in which he passes through locations used in the filming.

“In the last month, many people have been traveling to the island just to make visits related to the film”, he says. “It’s already awakening a lot of interest from abroad and it’s going to be very, very crowded,” she says.

One of the film’s 120 extras, Madeline Condell says the island is already buzzing with anticipation for the Oscars. She also stated that there will be more than one party on the night of the awards ceremony.

“We think that suddenly we also deserve an Oscar for the beauty of the region,” said Condell. “It is a very good place to visit and those who come always fall in love”.