$name

"We just wanted to make one of the most beautiful Irish films we could possibly make," says Martin McDonagh, the London-Irish born writer, director and producer of the acclaimed new film, The Banshees of Inisherin. Set on the fictional island of Inisherin in 1923 during the Irish Civil War, filming took place on Inis Mór in County Galway and Achill Island in County Mayo – two stunning locations on the Wild Atlantic Way. The west coast of Ireland's vast seascapes and rolling green fields provide a dramatic backdrop for this black comedy.

Inis Mór

Much of the action was shot on idyllic Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands, which lie just off the coast of County Galway. Famed for its high sea cliffs, miles of dry-stone walls and cute cottages, Inis Mór is well worth the short boat trip or flight from the mainland. Don't miss Dún Aonghasa, an ancient stone fort that's perched on the cliff-edge above the roaring Atlantic Ocean.

"This is an extraordinarily harsh place with all this bare limestone rock but there's a softness about it and it's the most extraordinary thing," says Brendan Gleeson of the place.

Whereas Martin McDonagh is quick to point out the island's "literary associations." Indeed many writers have been wowed by this magical spot. JM Synge called it "the last outpost of ancient Europe."

Achill Island

Achill Island in County Mayo was the other main filming location for the movie and it wasn't about to be outdone by its island neighbour! "Inis Mór was really moving and then when we came to Achill, I felt like it changed gears very much like the script," says Kerry Condon, who plays the role of Siobhán. This is a landscape of rugged beauty and remote beaches. In fact, the gorgeous Keem Strand features in the official poster for the film as well as providing the shoot location for some of the key scenes.

"The places that we have been lucky enough to inhabit have really held the story together – our dreams and our disappointments and our fears and our need to allow the story breadth and vastness," notes Colin Farrell. There's no doubt that the story is heightened by the spectacular mountains, lakes and big Atlantic skies of Achill Island.