Golden Globes 2023: the cast and filming locations behind ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ as film leads nominations

‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ is leading the way for the 2023 Golden Globe nominations as the Irish dark comedy gets eight nods.

Four of the nominations lie in the acting categories as Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon have all scooped a nomination for this year’s awards.

The Irish cast tell the story of friends Padraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson) who fall out in the 1920s and the road to mending that friendship.

Padraic involves his sister and a younger islander, Keoghan and Condon respectively, from their island home to find a solution, before Colm delivers a devastating ultimatum.

British-Irish playwright Martin McDonagh wrote, directed and produced the film that premiered in November, and was rewarded for his efforts with nominations in the Best Director and Best Picture categories.

Rounding out the eight nominations, the Banshee of Inisherin received mentions in screenplay and score groups competing against the likes of ‘The Fablemans’ and ‘Women Talking’.

Who is the cast of Banshees of Inisherin?

Banshee’s leading man Colin Farrell is one of Ireland’s biggest stars in Hollywood having roles in films such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Gentleman and The Batman. Despite securing his place across the pond, Colin was born in Castleknock, Dublin and was set to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle who were professional athletes. However, Colin picked up roles in TV shows after dropping out of the Gaiety School of Acting in Temple Bar, Ireland, and went on to much bigger things including winning a Golden Globe in 2009 for McDonagh's ‘In Bruges’.

Brendan Gleeson grew up in Dublin, Ireland and found his love for acting through classical text, leading him to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon. While he had a successful career on stage, at the age of 35, Brendan decided to try out for movies which added to his already impressive CV. Credits for Brendan include Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York and Steven Spielberg’s A.I Artificial Intelligence, but his most notable role came as Hamish in Braveheart opposite Mel Gibson.

As many recognise Brendan from Braveheart, today’s audience will remember Barry Keoghan from Dunkirk and The Eternals. Dublin-born Barry has starred with Colin Farrell before in the 2017 movie The Killing of a Sacred Deer, after getting into acting through replying to an advert for non-professionals to train at a school. According to IMDB, Barry is also a talented amateur boxer who represents the Celtic Core.

Lastly, Irish actress Kerry Condon rounds out the top-billed cast for The Banshees of Inisherin. Kerry has multiple film and television credits to her name including Oscar-winning movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, comedy series Better Call Saul and voicing Friday in various Marvel films. Much like Brendan Gleeson, Kerry started her career on stage, becoming the youngest actress to play Ophelia in Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Where was The Banshees of Inisherin filmed?

Director Martin McDonagh said they wanted to ‘make the most beautiful Irish film’ they could, and the stunning scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way and the West coast of Ireland provide a backdrop for the story.

Although the Banshees of Inisherin is based in a fictional town, the cast filmed on location in Ireland at two destinations.

Colin Farrell and crew descended upon Achill Island and Inis Mor to capture the rural setting of the movie and to show off its cinematic views.

Visit Ireland made a promotional video showcasing the two beautiful locations, in which cast member Barry Keoghan said: “You kind of realise that when you come back from living in London, or being in the States, you miss it more because you realise how good the people are and how beautiful your country is.”