A picture-postcard village in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East is being transformed into a Disney wonderland.
Powerscourt Gardens/Photo courtesy: www.ireland.com
Huge film sets are being constructed in the beautiful County Wicklow village of Enniskerry, as Disney sprinkles its magic for Disenchanted, a sequel to the much-loved Enchanted, which starred Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey.
With the locals delighted and waiting and wondering what is going to happen next, a massive town hall is currently being constructed on one side of the village, and several shops and businesses are getting new temporary fronts to suit the theme of the film.
Teams of builders, carpenters and painters are also building a castle set, and it is thought one of the roads in the town will be painted purple before the cameras start to roll. A casting call was issued for Irish extras for the movie, further increasing the excitement in the air around Enniskerry.
With key members of the original Enchanted cast set to return for the sequel, filming for Disenchanted is due to take place between May and August. Other locations in Wicklow and Dublin are also expected to be part of the production.
This will be the second time Hollywood A-lister Amy Adams has worked in Enniskerry, having previously starred in Leap Year (2010), part of which was filmed there.
Just a 30-minute car or train journey south of Dublin, Enniskerry features a host of welcoming cafés and shops, attractive cottages and a charming triangular village centre, complete with clock tower. As one of Ireland’s loveliest and most popular villages, it is regarded as the gateway to County Wicklow, which is known as the Garden of Ireland.
Just outside the village lies Powerscourt House and Gardens, voted the third best garden in the world by National Geographic, while some of Ireland’s most beautiful gardens, including the world-renowned Mount Usher, Killruddery Gardens and the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh illustrate just part of how Wicklow earned its nickname.
The surrounding Wicklow Mountains National Park is peppered with forests, lakes and streams, as well as a host of megalithic tombs, standing stones, rock art and ceremonial circles. In this part of Ireland’s Ancient East, walking or hiking the self-guided Wicklow Way is one of the best ways to experience the endless natural beauty and captivating history.
After exploring sights such as the famous monastic settlement of Glendalough, climbing Sugarloaf Mountain, admiring the Powerscourt Waterfall or the views over Lough Tay, a nice reward is to make your way for refreshment and traditional Irish entertainment at Johnnie Fox’s, the highest pub in Ireland and only 10 minutes away from Enniskerry.
Wicklow has a long history as a film location hotspot, and with a stunning variety of locations in a relatively small area it has previously been the host for the likes of Braveheart, PS I Love You, Vikings, The Tudors and many more.
Film buffs will enjoy the variety of film tours and drives in the area – and can now bookmark a future visit to see the Disney world of Enniskerry.
