Normal People has taken the world by storm. So, if you’re a fan, here is a three-day itinerary of Ireland’s Normal People filming locations.
Irish author Sally Rooney released her third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, on 7 September 2021.
Like its predecessors, it has shot to the top of best selling charts globally. The adaptation of her first book, Conversations with Friends, will air as a TV adaptation in 2022.
Yet it is her second novel Normal People, and the BBC/Hulu adaptation that aired in 2021 that secured Rooney’s worldwide fame.
Normal People follows Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron from their school years in County Sligo to graduation from Trinity College Dublin. Their relationship is complex and painful but also tender, as both make the difficult transition into early adulthood.
Here’s a 3-day itinerary of Normal People filming locations that will take you from the Wild Atlantic Way to the streets of Ireland’s capital city, Dublin. Whether you’re a Sally Rooney fan or not, you’re sure to enjoy this scenic trip.
Day one – Wild Atlantic Way and Co. Sligo
The Wild Atlantic Way is a spectacular route across the north and south coasts of Ireland.
Covering 2,500 km (1553 miles), the popular driving route passes through nine counties. County Sligo is one of them and where Marianne and Connell’s relationship begins.
Grab some breakfast at Lyons Café
Before you head off to see the sights, stop by Lyons Café in Sligo town for a hearty breakfast. The food is affordable, homemade, and adventurous.
Lyons focus on fresh ingredients sourced locally to make wholesome and comforting dishes. There is a range of vegetarian and vegan options, priced from around €4 to €13. There’s also a bakery downstairs, selling bread and all sorts of sweet treats.
Address: Quay St, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo
Visit Tubbercurry town
The first of our Normal People filming locations is Tubbercurry (also spelt Tobercurry). This is the second-largest town in County Sligo and where Rooney’s imagined town of Carricklea was set.
By car, the drive from Sligo town to Tubbercurry will take just under 30 minutes. By bus, the journey time can range from just over 30 minutes to just under 40 minutes.
Address: Tubbercurry, County Sligo
Day one (afternoon) – a walk on the beach
Walk along Streedagh Point
Enjoy a relaxing walk on Streedagh Point, the beach that Marianne and Connell walk along. After you’ve taken in the sea air, have a drink or two.
Brennan’s and Killoran’s are two pubs on Teeling Street (in Tubbercurry) that were Normal People filming locations. Brennan’s is Sligo’s oldest pub, famous for Céili sessions every Friday night.
Address: Streedagh Point, Streedagh, County Sligo
Stay over at the Sligo Park Hotel
Stay the night at the Sligo Park Hotel, where the cast of Normal People stayed during filming. This 4-star hotel and leisure club is located 2 km (1.24 miles) from Sligo town. Amenities on offer include an indoor swimming pool and spa.
Address: Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo, F91 Y762
Day two – head to college
At school in Sligo, Connell is the popular one and Marianne, the outcast. When both start studying in Dublin, these roles are reversed.
Tour around Trinity College Dublin
A visit to Trinity College Dublin, the prestigious university attended by both Marianne and Connell, is an essential stop on our Normal People filming locations itinerary.
Numerous locations were used for filming on campus. These include the Robert Emmet Theatre (Arts Building), the brutalist Berkeley library, the cricket pitches, and Parliament Square.
In the summer months, tourists can stay in Trinity’s accommodation.
Address: College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
Day two (afternoon) – discover the city
You can find Connell’s childhood home in a terrace row in Shankill, south Dublin. Contrastingly, you can find Marianne’s student flat in a Georgian house on Wellington Road, Ballsbridge.
Exploring both these areas of the city will give an insight into the different class backgrounds of the couple.
Finish your day in Dublin with a visit to the Blackbird pub on Rathmines Road (lower). The famous pool scene was filmed here.
Address: Blackbird, 82-84 Rathmines Rd Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 Y5Y8
Day three – explore Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
On the last day of your trip, head out of Dublin. Here, you will find the last stop on our itinerary of Normal People filming locations.
Marianne’s grand family home, where she lives in material luxury but experiences domestic and sexual abuse, is located in Enniskerry, County Wicklow.
Visit Knockmore House
Driving to Enniskerry from Dublin will take just under an hour. Getting the bus there will take just over an hour.
Knockmore House is located at the base of the magnificent Wicklow mountains. The house is a private residence, but you can take a peek at the outside and then enjoy the amazing air, views, and calm in the mountains.
Knockmore was built as a summer house in 1859, designed in a classical style. Interestingly, it was the childhood home of former Minister for Transport, Shane Ross.
Address: Knockmore House, Cookstown, Enniskerry, Wicklow
