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From Screen to Scene: Bad Sisters’ Stunning Dublin Locations
As the Emmy Awards season approaches, Irish stars will be hoping to build on the remarkable success of recent years during what many are calling a golden era for Irish screen talent. One standout example is Bad Sisters, a recent hit that showcases the brilliance of Sharon Horgan, who rose to prominence in the London comedy and acting scene. She leads in the re-making of a Dutch dark comedy (Clan) for Apple TV. Bad Sisters follows the darkly comic adventures of the four Garvey sisters, and their close relationships with each other and with crime. The show also highlights the charm of Dublin’s lesser-known seaside villages—hidden gems that lie off the typical tourist trail and offer perfect inspiration for scenic day trips in and around the city. If you haven’t seen Bad Sisters, it’s a great show to catch up on to prepare for your Irish East Coast adventures.
Key filming locations include Malahide and Howth - spanning marinas, historical sites, picturesque harbours and cliffside scenery. The show also features locations like the Forty Foot swimming spot in Sandycove, Skerries Mills and many golf clubs.
The seaside suburb of Malahide is just 30 minutes from the city centre and has an idyllic setting and wonderful vies of the coast. The town and marina, coastal walks, and castle serve as backdrops for various scenes in the show. The main street is beautifully utilised as an attractive spot for dinner and drinks and a special evening. Not to be missed in Malahide is the wonderful castle and grounds. The castle has an 800 year history and the gardens offer a haven of tranquillity.
Howth Village sits on a peninsular jutting out into the Irish sea. This affluent suburb is home to Eva's clifftop house and the area is featured in several episodes, including the golf course scenes at Deer Park. Howth is a busy fishing port with fantastic cliff walks and views over Dublin Bay and the islands. On a weekend, catch Howth Market and sample a vast array of organic produce, freshly baked goods, jewelery, clothing, antiques and much more. Finish the day with Fish and Chips on the pier from the famous Beshoffs, and a pint of Guinness in The Abbey Tavern.
A visit to Howth or Malahide is easily combined with a round at Portmarnock Golf Club—one of Ireland’s finest courses, steeped in history since 1894.
On the other side of the city, the iconic Forty Foot swimming spot in Sandycove is anintegral part of the series. The sisters regularly meet for a chilly dip followed by a sisterly EGM to plot murder over flasks of fortified tea. The Forty Foot has been a swimming spot since the 1740s. For most of its history, it was a men-only bathing place, and the name “Forty Foot” likely comes from the 40th Foot, an army regiment that was stationed nearby. Women weren’t allowed to swim here until the 1970s, and even then, it took a group of determined female protesters to change the rules. They staged a “swim-in” on Easter Sunday 1974, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Forty Foot has become a symbol of Dublin’s quirky, resilient spirit—so pack your swimsuit for a summer evening dip in Dublin Bay, where you can float beneath the open sky and gaze back at the city. There is excellent food to warm up brave swimmers afterwards at the critically acclaimed restaurant, Cavistons of Glasthule. Cavistons Food Emporium started out as a small fish shop, bought in 1948 for £300 by Jim Caviston, a medical student, after a night’s drinking in the pub across the road. Endeavouring to stop the cheque the next morning, he found it had been cashed. Nearly 80 years later, the classic brassiere serves up the freshest of seafood paired with a great wine list.
Sandycove is also home to the Martello tower from the first chapter of James Joyce’s Ulysses. It houses the James Joyce Tower and Museum which is a place of pilgrimage for Joyceans, particularly on Bloomsday.
This Martello tower is one of a network built by the British along the coast of Dublin in the early 19 th century to defend against a Napoleonic invasion. Many are still intact around the entirety of Dublin Bay.
Skerries itself is a beautiful welcoming seaside town a little further north thanMalahide with long sandy beaches. It was recently shortlisted for the Irish Times Greenest Place in Ireland. The passionate members of this community have a
commitment to green activities including a pollinator-friendly corridor from Skerries Mills to Ardgillan Castle.
Although referred to as a Castle, the residence at Ardgillan is a large country-styled house with castellated embellishments originally built in 1738. Initially, the site was heavily wooded, the name Ardgillan being derived from the Irish “Ard Choill” meaning High Wood. It is a wonderful spot with views over the sea and a range of amenities which include Castle Tours, Spectacular Gardens, an Art Gallery, Open Art Studios, a Craft Shop, a Walking Heritage Trail and Castle Tearooms.
Even if you’ve never seen Bad Sisters, its filming locations offer the perfect guide to Dublin’s most enchanting spots by blending centuries-old architecture, breathtaking scenery, and a charm that’s unmistakably Irish.