Vikings lead horde of invading film projects
Vikings is, in fact, a new series being filmed in Co Wicklow for the History Channel. Due to be screened next year, it is the brainchild of Michael Hirst, who created The Tudors, another historical series filmed in Ireland.
While the long boats and Nordic settlements dotted on the fringes of Lough Tay could make you feel as though you have discovered time travel, the film set is just one of a number in production in Ireland.
According to the Irish Film Board, the list of projects just completed or soon to begin is also lengthy, and includes:
* Ripper Street — a large production filmed in Dublin for the BBC which is due to air in September/October.
* Run and Jump — partly shot in Kerry, the debut feature film for Oscar winning director Steph Green finished their shoot last month and is an Irish-German co-production.
* Stay — starring Aidan Quinn and shot in Galway earlier this summer.
* Foyle’s War — the ITV drama which is filming in Dublin until December, and produced by Octagon.
* Calvary — directed by John Michael McDonagh of The Guard fame and also starring Brendan Gleeson, will start filming next month.
* A Thousand Times Goodnight — an Irish Norwegian co-production that will start filming next month
* Standby — a romantic comedy which is due to start filming next month and the feature debut for the IFTA winning Rob and Ronan Burke and starring Brian Gleeson.
As for Vikings, its cast is headed by Gabriel Byrne as Earl Haraldson, a Nordic leader whose position is threatened by young descendant of the gods, Ragnar Lothbrok, who once ruled Denmark and Sweden.
Hundreds of extras were drafted in for the shoot, which began last month. The 10-part series is the History Channel’s first scripted series, and is being shot in the Ashford Studios in Ballyhenry.
Anyone visiting the set might consider dressing up as Brian Boru, just to see the reaction…
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