Locations > Macroom

Macroom

Macroom is a traditional Market Town that sits right in the middle of the main road between Cork City and County Kerry. This very strategic position has led to it having a very eventful, if not altogether happy, History as battles between rival Irish clans were fought continually and, later, the Town was garrisoned as an Army Barracks by the British. This has left it with some fine period buildings, however, including the remains of an old castle right in the centre of Town, and a pleasing Square with some grand buildings and an old stone Town Hall.  Unfortunately, the traffic is a serious issue in Macroom, as all traffic heading to Kerry from Cork must past right through the centre of the Town, causing tailbacks of heavy lorries most of the time.

Below the Castle is a beautiful park running along by the river and this offers some of the best filming opportunities in the area. The countryside around is very interesting photogenically, with the eerie remains of The Gearagh, a sunken forest, just outside and the backdrop of the Cork/Kerry Mountains offering a wealth of possibilities. There is a fully restored Mill & water wheel at Bealick Mill just outside town that would make a great location and the Square itself offers some possibilities for filming if traffic were controlled properly.

The famous Irish speaking areas, (‘Gaeltacht’), of Ballyvourney and Ballingeary are nearby if you are doing cultural programmes and there is a strong community spirit in the Town, meaning the locals would be very happy to assist film crews. They have an active amateur Dramatic society and their own Theatre which is worth checking out.
It is a good place to base a crew if filming in both Cork & Kerry, due to its strategic location and it being the only Town of any size with Hotels and production support in the whole area. The locals are called ‘Macrumpians’ incidentally!

Distance from Cork:  30 minutes
Address: N22 Cork – Killarney Main Road.
Region: Muskerry West
Website: www.macroom.ie

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Ancient / Architectural / Bars / Buildings / Castles / Churches / Commercial / Rivers / Rural Landscapes / Streets / Streets/Laneways / Towns & Villages