Cahir Castle is Crowned the Winner of the EUFCN Location Award 2021

Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Lorraine Egan, Cahir Castle, with the EUFCN Location Award 2021 plaque

Cahir Castle, one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved castles, is the winner of the fifth edition of the EUFCN Location Award, the award for best European location in the film and TV industries organized by EUFCN – The European Film Commissions Network.

Cahir Castle served as a key setting for David Lowery’s film The Green Knight, a fantasy retelling of the famous medieval story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, produced by Wild Atlantic Pictures. The Location was submitted by Screen Ireland, a member of the EUFCN.

“I am delighted that Cahir Castle has won the EUFCN Location Award, which spotlights one of Ireland’s most iconic filming locations and is a recognition of Irish crew’s work on The Green Knight, one of the many international productions that chose Ireland as its home,” says Steven Davenport, Head of US Production and Partnerships at Screen Ireland. “The collaboration between state agencies like Screen Ireland and the OPW enables film and television productions, both national and international, to benefit from the breath-taking range of filming locations across Ireland and bring them to life on screen.”

The award was accepted by Killian Dowling, Locations Coordinator, on behalf of Screen Ireland, together with film commissioners and professionals in the film industry during the EUFCN Location Award Ceremony at the European Film Market 2022.

@Fáilte Ireland / Tourism Ireland

Cahir Castle is a designated National Monument of Ireland and is cared for by the Irish Government’s heritage conservation agency, the Office of Public Works. The Location Award plaque was received by Eleanor Morrissey, Site Manager at Cahir Castle.

“All of us working in Cahir Castle and in the Office of Public Works are immensely honoured and very proud to win this award that acknowledges how special this fortress is not only in Ireland but in Europe,” says Eleanor Morrissey. “Anybody who has visited it will easily see how its impressive battlements rising above the River Suir make it a dream location for internationally acclaimed fantasy films such as last year’s The Green Knight or The Last Duel. I want to thank all the people who voted for our site to win the EUFCN Location Award 2021. The team and I are delighted to be able to welcome one lucky winner who participated in the voting to Cahir Castle soon.”

Dating back to the mid-12th century, Cahir Castle was built to be a state-of-the-art defensive fortress and it has been the scene of sieges and bombardments for centuries. Appearing to grow from the actual rock on which it stands, and featuring battlements, heavy gates, turrets, towers and a stunning courtyard, the castle was the perfect double for Camelot, the legendary castle associated with Arthurian legend. This was the second time Cahir Castle has been used as a double for Camelot, the first being its use in the 1981 film Excalibur.

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“The Location Award once again succeeded in highlighting the fundamental work of our film commissions and the valuable relationship between film professionals and tourism offices,” says EUFCN Network Manager Angelica Cantisani. “Their joint forces are what make such incredible locations shine on screen. This Award is something we, as EUFCN, truly believe in. We hope that next year we will be able to celebrate it live in Berlin.”

During the first phase of the competition, EUFCN film commission members had the opportunity to submit one location from a film or a TV series shot in their country and released between September 21st 2020 and September 11th 2021.

The EUFCN Location Award 2021 Jury, a five-member jury of distinguished professionals, selected the 5 locations in the shortlist. The general public had then the chance to vote for their favourite on the EUFCN website.

One lucky name picked among the voters will have the chance to travel to Cahir Castle and to experience the location in the most authentic way.

The finalists of the EUFCN Location Award 2021:

Berlin for The Queen’s Gambit – Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission (GERMANY)

Cahir Castle for The Green Knight – Screen Ireland (IRELAND)

Kornati National Park for Murina – Filming in Croatia (CROATIA)

Malaga for The Crown (Season 4) – Andalucía Film Commission (SPAIN)

Stadlandet for Dune – Western Norway Film Commission (NORWAY)

The European Film Commissions Network is a non-profit association that supports and promotes the European film industry and culture. It currently represents 92 European film commissions and film institutions from 30 different countries.