Dublin Old And New: The 5 Best Film Portrayals of the Capital

Once (Dir. John Carney, 2007)
To capture the romantic and musical atmosphere of John Carney’s heart-wrenching love story Once, start in Stephen’s Green, where an opportunistic thief tries to steal Glen Hansard’s guitar. Then wander slowly down Grafton Street, where Hansard’s character and Marketa Irglova’s young woman meet and walk. After that, turn onto George’s Street and visit Waltons, the iconic music shop where the duo first play that Oscar-winning love song ‘Falling Slowly’. Finally, take a stroll on Killiney Hill, where Irglova – in Czech, natch – tells Hansard she loves him.

Ordinary Decent Criminal (Dir. Thaddeus O’Sullivan, 2000)
Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s 2000 retelling of the Martin Cahill story stars Kevin Spacey as Michael Lynch (an obvious version of The General), an intimidating criminal mastermind controlling a network of criminals and gangs across Dublin (and also features Colin Farrell in one of his first visible roles!). Notably, the film gives us a different and varied view of Dublin city, with pivotal scenes taking place in benefits offices, art galleries, inner-city kerbsides and hidden getaways. A pivotal scene showing the gang dividing up and going in different directions takes place on Dublin’s famous Ha’penny Bridge. Michael crosses the Liffey, away from his former peers and confidantes, with the growing rift becoming wider. It’s a great use of this historic landmark.

The Commitments (Dir. Alan Parker, 1991)
Alan Parker’s hilarious adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s novel about a Dublin soul band is set in the fictitious ‘Barrytown’, based on Kilbarrack, and was filmed in both Dublin’s northside and the city centre. For one of the only real Kilbarrack locations, visit the area’s Dart station, where Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) convinces Outspan and Derek that they should play ‘Dublin Soul’. The must-visit locations also include the Palace nightclub on Camden Street, where the band rehearses, and the Croften Bray Head Inn in Bray, where Jimmy first hears the powerful (and alcohol-fuelled) voice of Deco Cuffe.

Agnes Browne (Dir. Anjelica Huston, 1999)
Now even more poignant and nostalgic given the closure of Clery’s, a pivotal scene in Anjelica Huston’s film takes place in what was the oldest department store in Dublin. Eyeing up a dress in the window, Huston’s character is allowed to dream of a more glamourous life. The Clery’s clock also makes a vital appearance when Huston’s character has a flirtatious interaction with fellow trader Pierre; an exchange that’s heightened by the reputation of Clery’s clock as the meeting place for young lovers.

Michael Collins (Dir. Neil Jordan, 1996)
Neil Jordan’s 1996 film Michael Collins doesn’t attempt to romanticise Dublin city, or present it as a character in the film. Instead he takes iconic locations like O’Connell Street and the GPO and presents them as the terrifying warzones that they were during both the 1916 Rising and the events depicted in the film, which largely takes place in 1922. The impressive and imposing GPO, complete with bullet marks from the Rising, casts a literal and figurative shadow over the film’s action, showing how the bloody battle for independence darkened the physical and emotional landscape of the city.