Small Things Like These Filming Locations: New Ross and Ireland

Have you ever wanted to step into the world of a film that captures the heart of 1980s Ireland? Cillian Murphy’s powerful performance in Small Things Like These brings Claire Keegan’s Booker-nominated novella to life against the backdrop of some of Ireland’s most atmospheric locations. The film’s success lies not just in its acting, but in how the filming locations themselves become characters in this haunting story of conscience and courage.

Shot primarily in County Wexford with additional scenes in Dublin and the Wicklow Mountains, the film offers a masterclass in location selection. At ConnollyCove, our work documenting Irish cultural heritage through video production has given us deep familiarity with these locations. This guide provides the cultural context, practical information, and insider insights you need to experience these sites as they appear on screen.

New Ross, County Wexford: The Heart of Small Things Like These

New Ross serves as the primary filming location, transformed meticulously to recreate the atmosphere of 1985 Ireland. This historic town on the banks of the River Barrow wasn’t simply a convenient backdrop – it was deliberately chosen for its authentic architecture and the emotional weight it carries in Irish history.

Quay Street and The Tholsel: Bill Furlong’s Route

Quay Street served as the primary filming location for Bill Furlong’s coal delivery scenes. The street runs parallel to the River Barrow and features mixed-use buildings typical of Irish market towns. During filming in early 2023, modern shopfronts were temporarily replaced with hand-painted signage reflecting 1980s styles.

The Tholsel, New Ross’s historic town hall, appears prominently in the film’s opening scenes. Built in the 19th century, this distinctive building with its clock tower and stone facade provided visual continuity between the film’s 1985 setting and the town’s actual historical architecture.

When visiting today, walk along Quay Street in the early morning. The low winter light creates the same atmospheric quality captured by the film’s cinematographer. The River Barrow provides natural fog that often rolls through the town, particularly in autumn and winter months.

St. Aidan’s Cathedral and Town Centre

St. Aidan’s Cathedral features in several key scenes, its Gothic Revival architecture representing the Catholic Church’s presence in Irish community life. The cathedral’s spire dominates the New Ross skyline, visible from multiple angles throughout the town.

From a filming and content creation perspective, the cathedral’s exterior provided establishing shots that ground the narrative in a specific time and place. The stone construction and traditional design communicate historical continuity – important for a film dealing with Ireland’s complex relationship with religious institutions.

The 1985 Transformation

The production team’s work in New Ross represents one of the most detailed period transformations in recent Irish filmmaking. Over several weeks, modern New Ross was systematically reverted to match the mid-1980s aesthetic through repainting shopfronts in period-appropriate colours, installing vintage signage, sourcing period vehicles like Ford Sierras, and replacing modern street furniture.

For digital content creators and video production work, this transformation demonstrates how location selection impacts storytelling. The town’s authentic foundation required minimal digital enhancement, allowing the production to focus resources on period details rather than extensive CGI work.

Over 300 local residents participated as extras, adding genuine familiarity with the town’s geography to crowd scenes. This community involvement created authenticity, difficult to replicate with hired extras unfamiliar with the location.

The Convent and Historical Context

While exterior convent scenes were shot in New Ross, interior scenes depicting the Magdalene Laundry were filmed elsewhere due to specific spatial requirements. New Ross had a Good Shepherd Convent, one of many Irish institutions that operated Magdalene Laundries until the late 20th century.

The film handles this sensitive historical subject with appropriate gravity. Bill Furlong’s coal deliveries to the convent provide the narrative mechanism for him to witness conditions inside. For visitors interested in this history, the New Ross Heritage Centre provides respectful, factual information about local social history, whilst the Dunbrody Famine Ship offers context on another chapter of Irish history.

Dublin: Urban Film Locations

Dublin’s role in Small Things Like These provides contrast to the intimate scale of New Ross. The capital’s filming locations add visual and thematic depth to the story.

Trinity College and The Long Room

Trinity College’s iconic Long Room appears in scenes showing Bill’s introspective moments. Founded in 1592, Trinity houses the famous Book of Kells. The Long Room, with its dramatic barrel-vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, creates an atmosphere of scholarly reflection.

The warm wood tones, natural light from high windows, and geometric precision of the bookshelf arrangement make the Long Room exceptionally photogenic for content creators. Filming here requires special permissions and awareness of preservation requirements.

Marshalsea Yard

Marshalsea Yard, located in Dublin’s Liberties area, provided another filming location. This former debtor’s prison has been transformed into a cultural quarter, housing galleries, studios, and small creative businesses. The stone walls and narrow passages retain the atmosphere of the original 19th-century prison.

The choice to film here adds another layer to the film’s exploration of institutional power and individual conscience. For visitors, Marshalsea Yard offers an authentic Dublin atmosphere away from typical tourist routes.

Wicklow Mountains: Dramatic Natural Backdrop

The Wicklow Mountains provide the film’s most visually striking exterior scenes. Rising directly south of Dublin, this mountain range creates a dramatic backdrop that mirrors the emotional weight of the story.

Glendalough and Mountain Landscapes

Glendalough Valley, with its early Christian monastic settlement and two glacial lakes, appears in establishing shots throughout the film. The round tower, stone churches, and Celtic crosses date from the 6th to 12th centuries, providing visual connections to Ireland’s deep historical roots.

The valley’s steep sides and dark waters create natural drama. For visitors, Glendalough remains one of Ireland’s most photographed locations. Early morning or late afternoon visits in autumn or winter offer the atmospheric conditions closest to the film’s aesthetic.

The Sally Gap, a mountain pass crossing the highest points of the Wicklow Mountains, provides sweeping vistas featured in landscape sequences. From our experience producing heritage and cultural content in Ireland, these mountain landscapes provide powerful visual metaphors for emotional states and historical weight.

Visitor Guide: Planning Your Visit

Visiting the Small Things Like These filming locations requires thoughtful planning to make the most of your time in County Wexford and beyond. This practical guide covers transport options, optimal visiting times, and accommodation recommendations to help you experience New Ross and Ireland’s other film locations authentically.

Getting to New Ross

From Dublin, New Ross lies approximately 145km south of Dublin. Drive via the M11 motorway to Wexford, then take the R733 to New Ross. Journey time: 2 hours.

From Rosslare Europort: The ferry port serves routes from Pembroke and Fishguard in Wales. New Ross is 40km from Rosslare via the N25 and R733. Journey time: 35 minutes. This makes New Ross accessible for UK visitors seeking an authentic Irish experience.

By Public Transport: Bus Éireann operates regular services between Dublin, Waterford, and New Ross.

Best Times to Visit

To experience locations as they appear in the film, winter months (November through February) provide the closest atmospheric match. Low sun angles, shorter days, and frequent mist create the film’s visual mood.

November-December: Matches the film’s Christmas setting. New Ross holds festive markets. Cold, crisp days alternate with grey, drizzly weather – perfect for capturing that cinematic Irish atmosphere.

January-February: Quietest months for tourism. Accommodation is more readily available and less expensive.

March-May: Spring brings longer days and flowers, though the atmosphere differs from the film.

Walking the Furlong Route in New Ross

To experience New Ross as Bill Furlong would have known it:

Start: River Barrow quays at the eastern end of town. Route: Walk west along Quay Street, passing sites of Furlong’s coal deliveries. Key Points: The Tholsel on Main Street, St. Mary’s Church ruins, and St. Aidan’s Cathedral on rising ground. Distance: Approximately 2km Time: 1-2 hours, allowing for photography

Accommodation and Practical Tips

New Ross offers B&Bs and small guesthouses. For more options, consider Waterford (25km east) or Kilkenny (45km northwest), both historic cities with comprehensive visitor facilities.

Dublin Locations:

• Trinity College: Monday-Saturday 9:30-17:00, Sunday 12:00-16:30 (entry fee applies)
• Marshalsea Yard: Free access during daylight hours

Wicklow Mountains:

• Glendalough: Free access, visitor centre admission fee applies
• Arrive before 10:00 or after 15:00 for easier parking
• Weather changes rapidly – check forecasts before visiting
• Multiple walking trails from 20 minutes to 4+ hours

Experiencing the Film’s Ireland

Visiting the filming locations of Small Things Like These offers more than seeing where scenes were shot. These locations connect you to authentic Irish history, culture, and landscapes that shaped both Claire Keegan’s novella and the film adaptation.

The locations continue to tell important stories about Irish history, community, and conscience. Whether you’re a film enthusiast, cultural tourist, or content creator documenting Ireland’s heritage, these places offer authentic connections to Ireland’s complex past and vibrant present.

For content creators and videographers, these locations demonstrate how authentic Irish settings create powerful narratives. The combination of historic architecture in New Ross, Dublin’s cultural institutions, and Wicklow’s dramatic natural beauty shows why Ireland remains a compelling destination for both filmmaking and heritage documentation.

Plan your visit to walk Bill Furlong’s route through New Ross, explore Dublin’s historic sites, and experience the atmospheric beauty of the Wicklow Mountains that brought Small Things Like These to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visitors planning trips to Small Things Like These filming locations often have similar questions about access, logistics, and historical context. These answers cover the most common queries from film fans and travellers exploring New Ross, Dublin, and the Wicklow Mountains.