Two romantic films set in Ireland are hitting Video on Demand (VOD), Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sky Movies, Google Play, Apple, XBOX, Itunes, this month. Due to the Pandemic cinemas have been closed for many months.
The first Wild Mountain Thyme was released on April 30. It has been lambasted widely for the terrible Irish accents of Emily Blunt. Christopher Walken and the not so bad Jamie Dornan. The Irish Times film critic, Donald Clarke described it as “Micksploitation.”
Supposedly set outside Mullingar based on a play by John Patrick Shanley. It was filmed around Crossmolina, Ballina, and Mount Nephin in Co Mayo. It is a romantic story of two neighbouring farms with eligible young people. Rosemary Muldoon, played by Emily Blunt is an outspoken woman farmer and shy reclusive Anthony Reilly, played by Jamie Dornan, her love interest.
The wily father played by Christopher Walken brings things to a head when he proposes selling the Reilly farm to an American nephew, played by Jon Hamm of Madmen. The rolling countryside of Mayo, the majestic Mount Nephin, and the opening backdrop of the Cliffs of Moher will entice you to visit Ireland. Just ignore the accents.
Carlingford is a character in Finding You
The village of Carlingford, Co Louth is an unexpected character in “Finding You”, due for release on May 14. Starring Rose Reid, Jedidiah Goodacre, Saoirse Monica Jackson, of Derry Girls, Katherine McNamara, Tom Everett Scott, Patrick Bergin, and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based on the coming-of-age book, There You Will Find Me by Jenny B. Jones.
This romantic drama follows Finlay Sinclair, played by Rose Reid as she travels to Ireland from the USA to study abroad. She begins her trip in Carlingford where the romantic heartthrob Beckett Rush, played by Jedidiah Goodacre is filming his latest medieval blockbuster. There are some hilarious moments with Saoirse Monica Jackson who is a big Beckett Rush fan.
Romance sparks between Finlay and Beckett and over their journey, he helps her transform her music. She finds the soul that was missing. Finlay in turn emboldens Beckett to reach beyond his teen-idol image.
Locals from Carlingford were involved in the filming as extras. Zoe Conway the well-known violinist and fiddle player, who lives there, also appeared in the film as a double for Finlay Sinclair.
There are wonderful scenes of medieval Carlingford, Ghan House B&B, Magee’s pub, Carlingford Lough, Taaffe’s Castle, St. John’s Castle, the Tholsel Arch, and a great night out on the quay. Carlingford, a lesser-known village in the northeast on the shores of Carlingford Lough, framed by the Cooley Mountains and the Mountains of Mourne, was a great setting for the film and well worth a visit.
