LOHAN BEHOLD
Ireland’s stunning vistas are set to co-star with Mean Girls actress Lindsay Lohan in a Netflix film tipped to ignite a tourism boom, says CHYNNA JONES
THE wind whips around me as I gaze across the Atlantic Ocean. I’m approximately 5,000 miles away from Hollywood, the home of countless celebrities, but the place I’m standing in is about to gain its own A-list status as the highlyanticipated movie Irish Wish launches on Netflix.
I’m in Ireland for the next four days checking out some of the key filming locations in Wicklow, Clare and Mayo. Directed and produced by couple Michael and Janeen Damian, the plot follows the story of Maddie (Lindsay Lohan), who is forced to set aside her feelings when the love of her life, Paul, becomes engaged to her best friend... That is until she makes a wish that she were the one about to walk down the aisle in her best pal’s place.
With backdrops as engrossing as the plot, the film is tipped to stir up tourist interest in the Emerald Isle.
COUNTY WICKLOW
Lough Tay, or Guinness Lake as it’s also known, is used as the setting for a key turning point of the film, when Maddie wakes up to find her wish has come true.
I don’t know if it’s the shadow of the mountains or the depth of the water, but coupled with the strip of sand around its edge, the lake really does look like a pint of Guinness when I arrive.
Peter Conway, the location manager for Irish Wish, explains to me that mountain-wrapped Lough Tay is often used in films and TV productions, such as Braveheart, Excalibur and Vikings, due to its picturesque setting.
The lake itself is part of the 5,000acre Luggala Estate, which was previously owned by the Guinness/Browne family, but was sold to an Italian aristocrat in 2019.
Although the estate is closed to the public, there are cottages available to rent on the land, which have been used by the likes of Michael Jackson and The Beatles. Interestingly, a Browne family member, Tara, was a friend of the Fab Four. His death in a car crash would inspire their classic song A Day In The Life. He is buried on the estate, and I can just about see his grave from where we’re standing.
The cottages on the estate are undergoing renovations, so are not currently available to rent, but will be back on the market once the work is finished.
Our next location is Killruddery House, which is used as Paul’s family’s country estate in the film. Peter introduces me to Anthony Brabazon, a British and Irish peer previously known as Lord Ardee.
He and his family live in the house, which is open to the public between April and October.
Dating back to the 17th century, the house has been rebuilt several times. Anthony shows us around, pointing out the various rooms used in the film, including the Orangery (the domed section of the house) where the wedding scene was filmed. Anthony tells me Killruddery hosts around 25 weddings a year, although none quite like the one in Irish Wish.
Our next stop of the day is Powerscourt Distillery, where one of the bars was used as a New York bar in the film. Peter chose it as a location because it has an Art Deco feel to it.
Gerry Ginty, the director at the distillery, gives us a tour and takes us through the process of whiskey making. I taste some of the Fercullen Whiskey, the Powerscourt brand. I’m not a whiskey drinker, so the flavour is a bit strong for me, but I can detect a slight hint of florals in one, while another reminds me of bonfire toffee.
Tara (Browne) was a friend of the Fab Four. His death in a car crash would inspire their classic song A Day In The Life. He is buried on the estate... On the Beatles connection to Luggala, the former family home of the Guninness/Browne brewing dynasty