If you watched Wild Mountain Thyme and found yourself wanting to book a trip to the Irish countryside, you are not alone. The rolling fields, stone walls, misty mountains, and cozy pubs in the movie look almost too good to be true. But they are all completely real.
Here is everything you need to know about where Wild Mountain Thyme was filmed, what scenes were shot at each location, and how to visit them.
Where was Wild Mountain Thyme filmed?
Wild Mountain Thyme was filmed in North County Mayo, close to the town of Ballina and the village of Crossmolina. The green patchwork fields and high mountains you see throughout the movie are all located in that area.
The film was also partly shot in New York for the scenes where Rosemary visits the city.
Director John Patrick Shanley explained exactly how he found the main location. He told his scouts to find the most beautiful farm in Ireland and the most beautiful mountain. They found both in the same place in County Mayo, a town called Crossmolina. He visited the farm and called it the most beautiful he had ever seen, and he made a deal with the family who owned it to shoot most of the film there.
| Location in the Film | Real Place | Where It Is | Open to Visitors? |
| Main farm (Rosemary and Anthony’s land) | Connor family farm | Crossmolina, County Mayo | No (private) |
| Local pub scenes | The Thatch Inn | Crossmolina, County Mayo | Yes |
| Local pub scenes | Hiney’s Bar | Crossmolina, County Mayo | Yes |
| New York bar scene | Mount Falcon Estate | Between Foxford and Ballina | Yes (hotel) |
| Mountain backdrop | Mount Nephin | County Mayo | Yes (hiking trail) |
| New York waterfront scene | North 5th Street Pier and Park | Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY | Yes |
Wild Mountain Thyme Filming Locations
Crossmolina, County Mayo: The Main Setting
Most of the movie was shot around the town of Crossmolina and Ballina, which is also known as President Joe Biden’s ancestral home.
Crossmolina is a small, quiet town in the northwest of Ireland. It sits near Lough Conn, a large lake known for fishing, with Mount Nephin rising up in the background. The area looks like it was made for a romantic movie, which is exactly why the director chose it.
Director Shanley also talked about how the weather played a role. He said that whatever happened with the weather while they were shooting, he just told himself it was exactly what he had hoped for, and it always seemed to work out.
How to visit: Crossmolina is about 10 miles from Ballina, which is the closest large town. You can reach Ballina by bus from Dublin or Galway in a few hours. From there, Crossmolina is a short drive.
Also read: Unchosen Filming Locations: Where Was the Netflix Show Filmed?
The Thatch Inn and Hiney’s Bar, Crossmolina: The Pub Scenes
Some of the local pub scenes in the film were shot at The Thatch Inn and Hiney’s Bar, both in Crossmolina.
Emily Blunt was even spotted at The Thatch Inn during filming, learning how to pull a pint of Guinness. Both bars are real, working pubs in the town.
How to visit: Both pubs are open to the public in Crossmolina. Stop in for a pint and soak up the same atmosphere you see in the movie.
Mount Nephin, County Mayo: The Mountain in the Background
Mount Nephin, the second-highest peak in the West of Ireland, is featured prominently throughout the film. It towers over the landscape in many of the outdoor shots and acts as a constant backdrop to the story.
The disputed piece of land in the movie sits underneath the mountain, and it can be reached by taking the 4.9-mile Nephin Mountain Trail.
How to visit: The Nephin Mountain Trail starts near Crossmolina. It is a moderately challenging hike. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. The views from the top on a clear day are worth the climb.
Mount Falcon Estate, Ballina: The “New York Bar”
One of the more surprising locations in the film is Mount Falcon Estate. The crew filmed scenes there that were meant to look like a New York bar. The estate is located between Foxford and Ballina, and the crew even stayed at the four-star hotel on site while shooting in North Mayo.
So if a scene in the film feels like it has slightly grander interiors than the rest of rural Mayo, that is why. It was a grand estate all along, just dressed up to look like New York.
How to visit: Mount Falcon Estate operates as a hotel and is open to guests. You can stay, dine, or just visit the grounds.
North 5th Street Pier and Park, Brooklyn, New York: The New York Scenes
Not everything in the film was shot in Ireland. The scene where Adam takes Rosemary to New York was filmed at Williamsburg’s North 5th Street Pier and Park, which opened in 2019.
The park sits along the East River in Brooklyn, with views of the Manhattan skyline. It is a modern waterfront spot that gives a strong contrast to the quiet Irish countryside shown throughout the rest of the film.
How to visit: North 5th Street Pier and Park is a free public park in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. It is open year-round and easy to reach by subway.
Also read: Where Was Age of Attraction Filmed? Every Real Location From the Netflix Show
Is the farm real?
The farm is real, but it is a private home belonging to the Connor family in Crossmolina. The farm borders a river in the area, and the family made a deal with the production to allow filming there. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, do not attempt to visit or enter the property.
What is Wild Mountain Thyme?
Wild Mountain Thyme is a 2020 romantic comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley. It is based on his play Outside Mullingar, which ran on Broadway in 2014. The film stars Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Dearbhla Molloy, and Christopher Walken.
| Release date | December 11, 2020 |
| Director | John Patrick Shanley |
| Main cast | Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Christopher Walken |
| Based on | Outside Mullingar (2014 Broadway play) |
| Primary filming country | Ireland |
| Main filming county | County Mayo |
| Primary town | Crossmolina |
| New York location | Williamsburg, Brooklyn |
| Filming period | September to November 2019 |
The story is set in the Irish Midlands and follows two misfit farmers in their 30s who have lived next door to each other their whole lives. Rosemary is in love with Anthony, but he seems completely unaware of her feelings until his American cousin shows up and threatens to buy the family farm.
The film was released in the United States on December 11, 2020.
What the cast said about filming in Ireland?
The cast clearly loved their time in County Mayo.
Emily Blunt said in a behind-the-scenes film made with Tourism Ireland: “You just feel completely transported.”
Producer Bradley Gallo said he was most excited for audiences to experience a slice of what he was lucky enough to call his office for a few months in 2019.
Locals in the Crossmolina area even started bouncing around the idea of conducting Wild Mountain Thyme tours to show off filming locations to visitors after the movie came out.
Also check: Where Was Widow’s Bay Filmed? Every Real Location You Can Visit
Can you do a Wild Mountain Thyme filming tour?
Yes, and it works well as part of a broader trip through the west of Ireland. Here is a simple order to visit the main spots:
| Stop | What You Will See | Travel Tip |
| Crossmolina town | The pub locations, town feel | Base yourself here or in Ballina |
| The Thatch Inn | The pub from the film | Order a Guinness |
| Hiney’s Bar | Another pub used in the film | Right in Crossmolina |
| Mount Nephin | The mountain backdrop | Allow half a day for the hike |
| Mount Falcon Estate | The “New York bar” interior | Book a meal or stay the night |
| Ballina town | Biden’s ancestral home, good base | 10 minutes from Crossmolina |
What else is near the filming locations?
If you are already making the trip to North Mayo, there are a few other things worth seeing nearby.
Lough Conn is right next to Crossmolina. In Gaelic, the name means “Lake of the Hound.” It is known for great trout and salmon fishing.
Errew Abbey, a former 13th-century Augustinian monastery, stands on a small peninsula on the banks of Lough Conn. It was destroyed in the mid-1500s and now stands as a ruin worth exploring.
The Titanic Memorial Park in nearby Laherdane holds a memorial garden dedicated to the 14 victims of the Titanic sinking from the local parish of Addergoole.
Final Thoughts
Wild Mountain Thyme may have gotten mixed reviews for its accents, but nobody argued with the scenery. County Mayo is one of the most stunning parts of Ireland, and the film does a good job of showing that off. Whether you go for the rolling green hills, the mountain hikes, the cozy pubs, or just to say you stood where Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan filmed a movie, North Mayo is well worth the trip.
Just bring a raincoat. The director said the weather always worked out, but better safe than sorry.
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