Liam Neeson, Russell Crowe, Robert Sheehan: Why are film producers choosing Limerick?

From Limerick’s Georgian quarter to coastal towns in Clare to the castles and hills of Tipperary, the Mid-West has a lot of offer in terms of picture-perfect locations, writes Manon Gilbart

In October, Misfits actor Robert Sheehan was spotted by bemused residents with a fridge on Limerick’s Henry St, blood dripping down his face, for an adaptation of one of Blindboy Boatclub’s short stories. Picture: Darren Ryan

From Robert Sheehan dragging a fridge down the streets of Limerick to Liam Neeson robbing a bank in the city, the Treaty city has enjoyed somewhat of a star billing of late.

In October, Misfits actor Robert Sheehan was spotted by bemused residents with a fridge on Limerick’s Henry St, blood dripping down his face, for an adaptation of one of Blindboy Boatclub’s short stories.

Then Liam Neeson brought his star power to the city for the adaptation of the dark heist comedy,

4 Kids Walk Into a Bank

— which saw the streets transformed into 1990s America.

But while Limerick and Mid-West may seem to be enjoying their moment in the sun, their popularity as a go-to film location has been slowly developing over the past few years. 2023 was a bit of a bumper year, with some scenes for Russell Crowe’s The Pope’s Exorcist filmed in the region. 

Liam Neeson on the set of '4 Kids Walk Into a Bank' in Limerick.

In the winter of that year, the old Cleeve’s Condensed Milk Factory was turned into Nazi Germany with soldiers, prisoners, and a pack of well-trained German Shepherds on set. The reason? Bonhoeffer, a historical drama thriller about the German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which brought its €22m budget to the Mid-West region.

Regional film manager, Paul C Ryan, says it is important Ireland's film industry widens its reach outside the capital.

“I think in the last decades, it's been focused around Dublin and Wicklow and has been incredibly successful. 

We have a strong international reputation as a sort of premier production location and to grow the industry, we need to look at growing it nationally. 

"With the development of Troy Studios and the film office in Limerick for the Mid-West region, it’s been a real focus to make film a priority and to create employment and attract productions,” Mr Ryan said.

From Limerick’s Georgian quarter to coastal towns in Clare to the castles and hills of Tipperary, the Mid-West has a lot of offer in terms of picture-perfect locations. And it is not just film productions, but also TV series that have come calling. 

For example, in Clare, a pilot for The Wayfinders, a medieval fantasy show starring McKenzie Crook of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, was filmed in Cratloe Woods.

“What we found with picking Limerick as a sort of base, we’ve managed to find these amazing locations around Clare and Tipperary, and it offers a whole wealth of hidden gems,” Mr Ryan said.

“With Four Kids Walk Into a Bank, producers keep coming back to me, talking about why the locations here are just really amazing and really accessible as well. That everybody, that the whole region just seem really up for getting involved. There’s so much support.

“Places outside of Dublin and Wicklow are not really what comes to mind when people think ‘I'm going to go film in Ireland, because that's where the studios are. So we're introducing an alternative sort of offering.” 

For Mr Ryan, people are key to making this possible.

“I think in Limerick we can give ourselves a hard time and poke ourselves down a bit, but at the same time, I think there's plenty of people who are dreamers and who can see what a small city like Limerick can actually achieve.

Bonhoeffer. Picture: Angel Studios

“And in Ireland, we’re known for that sort of casual, laid back lifestyle — or at least we tell ourselves we are anyway. But I do think that's true that people seem to really like working with Irish crews.” 

He didn’t always plan to work in the film industry. For him, it came as a surprise as “being creative” wasn’t always encouraged when he was growing up.

“The film industry is really interesting because it doesn't care about your educational qualifications, you could have people on the set who have left school when they were maybe 14, and you'll have somebody else on the same set who might have a doctorate, and it'll probably never come up in conversation.

“There's something very powerful about that in terms of how it can draw people from a lot of different backgrounds, quite a diverse range of people. Growing up, being creative wasn't really seen as something that was work, so it wasn't really appreciated,” he said.

Location manager, Sean Flynn, had never particularly intended to work into the film industry. But after finding himself as a trainee after his travels, weeks quickly turned into months. Years later, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I had no intention of becoming a location manager, but as time went by, I tried out different positions in different departments, and locations suited my personality and my skills the best,” he explained.

Paul C Ryan (left) and Sean Flynn Location Manager at the Film of 4 Kids walk into a Bank. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

As part of his job, he scouts locations for a TV shows or films after being given a script by a producer.

“You’re always trying to get the closest to what a director has in their head or what's on the page, then that has to be practical. We have to get all our equipment there, our trucks there, our personnel there. 

"We have to be able to afford it, then get all the permissions with the council and property owners. You're co-ordinating with all the various departments about what's needed because it comes in stages.” 

But not everyone will want to see their kitchen turned into a movie set.

“We usually pay location fees, so you try to work within your budget. For most people, what's nice about this, it's usually not about the money. 

"But you always try to be fair for the amount of time you're taking up in a house or a business, and you make an offering, sometimes people are fine with that offering, sometimes it's just not worth it.” 

Bonhoeffer. Picture: Angel Studios

“I always say to people that if you did what I did for a living, your faith in humanity would be restored because when I'm working, I encounter hundreds, if not thousands of people over the course of a job and most people are lovely and will do what they can to help.” 

And for Sean Flynn, some moments have been more memorable than others. He recalls filming in Shannon Airport for the criminal drama Hidden Assets.

“We've filmed in Shannon Airport on planes, that was pretty spectacular. They were hugely supportive. We were filming there during covid, so it was a rare experience.”