Filming at Castle Freke
Castle Freke has unique attributes as a filming location that lend themselves to a wide variety of film genres. It’s wildly romantic setting offers some of the most spectacular coastal scenery to be found in Ireland: dramatic headlands with crashing surf, sweeping sandy beaches, and endless woodland tracks and trails. `Most of this is completely free of modern development, with unspoilt farmland extending to the cliffs and shoreline.
The access is excellent and parking would accommodate a full crew of trucks, trailers and buses. The Castle is located on the coast of West Cork, about an hour’s drive due south from Cork airport.
The castle itself dates from the mid 18th century, but has the character of a vast medieval fortress perched on its hilltop. The main block of the castle is mostly restored on its exterior, and would work well in an 18th or 19th century context, while its many towers and its courtyards offer a great variety of backdrops. The state rooms of the interior feature extraordinary ceilings, columns, fireplaces and other decorative features for the more formal settings, while its upper floor offer a variety of large rooms that still have unfinished stone walls and high ceilings, ready to move sets in for any interior scenes. The half basement, including a lovely old kitchen hall and long stone passageways, is all still bare stone, for a much darker atmosphere. The entire space is very versatile and could be dressed and interpreted in a multitude of locations from a mid 90's brick loft in Manhattan, to a timeless prison cell block to a majestic period piece and beyond.
The ruined chapel, set in an ancient graveyard, has an alter with many mosaic panels intact and arched windows, and is approached through a dark forest trail with the trees creating a light dappled tunnel. Once at the chapel, the view is over the fields to the sand dunes and ocean with no modern intrusions on the scene. There's also an elegant historic stable block and cobbled courtyard, and the family’s fine horses are potentially available for filming. There are also finished rooms furnished authentically with antiques and paintings that would be available for filming in a very evocative and more intimate setting.
Our West Cork region is noted for the warmth and welcoming attitude of its people, as also for the charm of its villages, the quality of its food, and the exuberant wildflowers that greet the visitor at every turn. We have a vast reserve of musical talent in this area so mustering musicians to perform traditional Irish music, including a cappella singers, is not a problem at quite short notice. We also have a baroque orchestra, a brass band and a slew of internationally known guitarists in our immediate town.
On site we have accommodation for cast and production crew, up to 10 bedrooms on the castle estate, and numerous options in the immediate area for additional rooms, and can also provide catering if required.
Castle Freke has a close collaboration with West Cork Film Studios
(‘westcorkfilmstudios@gmail.com’, Tel. 00353 872859814 ) located in Skibbereen a short drive down the coast from here. This newly opened studio and production facility, designed and led by highly experienced individuals from the international film world, offers a full film crew list, with HOD'S from every department. The studios have 2 large sound stages, several offices, art dept, hair, makeup, costume and drapes, canteen, a well equipped construction and paint room, spray booth, an extras holding area and ample parking. Also high-speed broadband and a maritime consultant on site. A data base of a variety of alternative filming locations in the area are available and also a data base of locally available extras.
