Westmeath Film Locations
Welcome to film locations in County Westmeath. There are a variety of locations throughout this midlands county that are just waiting for your production crew to start shooting. Whether it’s the rolling hills of North Westmeath, the beautiful lake lands, the flowing River Shannon or the architectural heritage of some of Westmeath's protected Structures there is a wide variety of choices.
Situated in the heart of Ireland, Westmeath is a county which can boast a very unique landscape, good road and rail infrastructure and plenty of enthusiasm for hosting film productions. The eastern part of the county is situated within the commuter belt of Dublin with the western parts border the Shannon River.
In August 2010 "The Lotus Eaters" by Alexandra McGuinness was shot in Westmeath. “The Lotus Eaters” is set amongst the limitless privilege of the bright young things of contemporary London, the film follows Alice, an ex model and struggling actress, who finds herself unable to afford the lifestyle that her friends furiously pursue. Spending her time dodging bailiffs she struggles to make sense of a life that she has become numb to. The film was shot on location in Turbotstown House, Coole and other locations in North Westmeath (visit www.lotuseatersmovie.com).
Please contact the arts office if you are you are considering Westmeath as a location for your next film production or click one of the images below to view some sample images:
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Architectural Heritage & Historic Buildings Being located in close proximity to Dublin and on relatively good quality land, Westmeath proved to be a popular location for country house construction during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The numerous lakes in Westmeath also provided an attractive setting for demesnes and country seats.Belvedere is the high point of the planned landscape in County Westmeath and represents one of the finest ornamental demesnes in Ireland.Westmeath has a fine collection of churches, mainly dating from the early nineteenth-century to the mid twentieth-century. The extraordinary activity of the Church of Ireland's Board of First Fruits during the early nineteenth-century resulted in the construction of numerous small-scale churches throughout the county. |
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Athlone Athlone is a thriving business and shopping town centrally located in the Midlands of Ireland on the banks of the River Shannon. The town has experienced major development in many sectors in recent years and its population has grown to 17,544 (based on the 2006 Census Report). Present day Athlone is a busy and prosperous town with an abundance of interesting tourist attractions and excellent restaurants each with its own distinctive character catering for all the family. Dominating the town is Athlone Castle Visitor Centre - a Norman castle with panoramic views of the Shannon. Athlone is strategically located in the centre of Ireland, on the border of two counties; Roscommon in the province of Connaught and Westmeath in the Province of Leinster. Given its central location, Athlone is a natural hub for transport. It is easily accessed by both rail and road with frequent bus and rail schedules. The extensive military barracks in Athlone is a particularly interesting complex with a number of buildings dating to the immediate aftermath of the sieges of Athlone in 1690 and 1691. The increased threat of uprising and/or French invasion during the early nineteenth-century resulted in an extensive reconstruction programme at Athlone Barracks and many new buildings were added to the complex at this time. Athlone Castle was also remodelled during the early nineteenth-century to provide additional defence against artillery and a new series of earthen gun enclosures know as 'The Batteries' were laid out on the west bank of the Shannon. |
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Canals, Lakes & Waterways Westmeath is famous for its rivers and lakes, from the majestic River Shannon and Lough Ree to the Mullingar lakes and the Royal Canal. The County has a long tradition of boating and water sports largely due to its location on the banks of the River Shannon just south of the spectacular stretch of water of Lough Ree and its inner lakes. In North Westmeath, Lough Lene is a popular local swimming area. From Donore Shore near Multyfarnham you can visit Lough Derrvaragh associated with legend the Children of Lir. Lough Ennell, located south of Mullingar can be viewed from Ladestown Tudenham and Lilliput.Lough Owel at Portnashangan can be accessed straight off the N4. Mullingar Sailing Club is located nearby. Lough Ree, a lake of the Shannon (the longest river in Ireland and Britain) is situated north of Athlone town. Some points of access include; Hodson Bay, Coosan Point and Portlick. Forest walks and picnic spots are available in Portlick where the Millennium Forest is located. |
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Landscapes The central focus point is the Hill of Uisneach situated west of Mullingar town between the villages of Ballymore and Loughnavalley. The Hill of Uisneach was the ancient seat of the Kings of Meath and it was linked to Tara in County Meath by a chariot road. Mullaghameen Forest is the largest planted beech forest in Europe is near Castlepollard in North Westmeath and provides a range of walks with stunning lake views from many points. The center of Mullaghameen is 264m high which is the highest point in County Westmeath. |
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Mullingar Mullingar is centrally located with a superb selection of accomodation, wide variety of visitor entertainment, quality restaurants, shopping and other activities. Mullingar, being the county town of Westmeath, has a significant collection of public and civic buildings. Built on the River Brosna and encircled by the Royal Canal, Mullingar is a thriving commercial centre . Originally a busy market town, many buildings date back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, notably the Courthouse and the Market House. The earliest public building still extant in Mullingar is probably the former County Infirmary to the east of the town, built c.1770. The Royal Canal was constructed as far as Mullingar in 1806 and there is a fine harbour and a dry dock to the north of the town.Columb Barracks, was built the west of the town at the same time. Mullingar Railway Station, built in 1849 to designs by J.S. Mulvany, is uniquely sited on the fork of the Dublin-Sligo and Mullingar-Athlone lines. |
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