Ireland's Most Haunted On-Screen Counties Ranked: Where is Ireland's horror hotspots

Ireland has long been a spine-chilling backdrop for some of the creepiest and most supernatural films ever to haunt our screens. With its ancient ruins, mist-covered landscapes and eerie folklore, it’s no surprise that Hollywood keeps coming back to the Emerald Isle when terror is on the script. 

From demonic possessions to haunted woods and mysterious disappearances, Ireland is a natural home for horror. With Virgin Media’s Broadband and TV packages, you’ll have all the chills and thrills you need at home, no haunted woods required. 

But which counties have become the nation’s true horror hotspots? 

To uncover the most cursed corners of the country, our team analysed the top horror movies and thrillers filmed in Ireland, revealing where the frights really come to life…  

Ireland’s capital is no stranger to spooky happenings on screen. From chilling thrillers like The Hole in the Ground to cult horrors like Citadel, filmmakers love setting supernatural chaos loose in Dublin’s suburbs, forests and hidden laneways. The city’s blend of urban grit and ancient mystery makes it the perfect haunt for horror.

Known as the “Garden of Ireland” … but also a garden of ghouls. Wicklow’s gloomy forests and remote estates play host to nightmares like Without Name, The Other Lamb, The Ghost, and The Lodgers. With sprawling woodland and windswept mountains, it’s a ready-made horror set.

From vampire flick Byzantium to folk-horror stories like The Eclipse and Beyond the Woods, Cork’s misty landscape and rugged coastlines give every production a haunting edge. Even Samhain legends have emerged from the region, as seen in Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain.

The eerie wilderness of the West has terrified audiences in films such as Night People and Spiderhole, pairing paranormal plots with stunning, isolated scenery. Perfect for anyone whose worst fear is getting stranded in the middle of nowhere… 

Donegal’s dramatic cliffs and wild terrain bring beauty and dread together. Titles like The Farmer and the Devil and Grabbers show how the county’s sheer isolation adds a sinister twist, whether the monsters are supernatural or straight from the sea.

Northern Ireland’s haunting coastline and crumbling ruins made the perfect demonic playground for The Devil’s Doorway, not to mention chilling paranormal tales including Mandrake and Morgan.

Deep in Ireland’s midlands lies one of the country’s most unexpectedly haunted filming locations. The Hallow put Offaly’s dark forests on the horror map, proving you don’t need to go far from home to encounter a nightmare.

With castle ruins and eerie countryside, Limerick has given rise to ghostly storytelling, including the supernatural classic High Spirits. Who said the River Shannon only carries water? 

Clare’s dramatic coastline and rural isolation provide the perfect setting for psychological haunts such as The Yellow Wallpaper and The Perished. The Cliffs aren’t the only thing that will give you chills…

No stranger to folklore and ghost stories, Mayo’s landscapes set the scene for unsettling horrors like The Cellar, where darkness lurks in far more places than just the basement.

Whether you prefer ghosts, demons or mysterious woodland creatures, Ireland has provided the perfect nightmare fuel. 

If you’re brave enough to stream them, explore our latest TV and broadband packages so you can binge every fright from the comfort (and safety!) of your own home… 

Just make sure you keep the lights on… 

We analysed 100 horror movies filmed in Ireland, using IMDb data to identify and compile the primary filming locations for each production, revealing the top haunted filming hotspots across the country. 

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/