The beautiful scenery of Sligo and historic locations in Dublin are wowing viewers across Britain and the US – in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s popular novel Normal People, which began airing this week on BBC and on the online streaming platform Hulu.
Tourism Ireland – in conjunction with production company Element Pictures – has created a short, behind-the-scenes film using footage shot during filming for Normal People, in which director Lenny Abrahamson, producer Catherine Magee and actress Daisy Edgar-Jones (Marianne) describe and praise the special locations chosen for filming.
To view the behind-the-scenes film, click here. The film will be shared with Tourism Ireland’s fans and followers on social platforms in Britain, the US and Canada.
Filming for the highly anticipated 12-part TV series took place here last year – on Streedagh Beach, at Ben Bulben and in Tubbercurry, in Sligo. The Dublin scenes were filmed in a number of real-life locations, including bars, cafés and streets – with much of the drama unfolding in Trinity College Dublin, where the characters Marianne and Connell, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, go to university.
Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “We are extremely grateful to Element Pictures for their generosity in agreeing to make this behind-the-scenes film with us. It allows us to keep the beauty of Ireland to the fore and to showcase our authentic home-grown talent. While we may not be able to travel just now, this film will inspire people for their future visit.”
In the behind-the-scenes film, director Lenny Abrahamson praises Ireland, saying: “It felt wonderful to be bringing such an amazing novel to life in the country where I’m from and in the landscapes which I love and know so well, both urban and rural.”
Speaking about Sligo, Daisy Edgar-Jones, who plays Marianne, said: “One of my favourite places to film would probably have been Sligo. It was just the most jaw-dropping entrance to any place I’ve ever experienced. When you see Ben Bulben in the distance, it’s just immense.”
