Normal People Filming Locations in Ireland: Complete List in Dublin and Beyond!

The Normal People filming locations in Ireland are so easy to find, especially the ones in Dublin that I’ve listed here for you to follow including a handy marker-map.

When I first read Normal People, I finished it in just two sittings and then binge-watched the series when it was released and knew I wanted to visit all the places in Ireland one day. So I re-watched the series ahead of my weekend in Dublin and wrote this fun guide to the locations.

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Contents

About Normal People by Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney is one of my favourite authors and her second novel, Normal People, gained international success including nominations and winning multiple awards. But it is the relatability and complexity of her characters that made it so popular with readers.

The book was made into a 12 episode TV series and filmed on location in Dublin meaning the Normal People cast lived there for several months.

The culture and language used in Sally Rooney Normal People book and TV show are true-to-life and cements the realism of the locations.

So what is Normal People about? Normal People is the story of two young people separated by class and wealth but pulled together by interests, personality and love. The story follows them from school to college and beyond. While it’s a simple story what transpires through Rooney’s words is deep and moves the reader. I think the series did a fantastic job at bringing the novel to life.

How to Use This Normal People Guide

I’ve listed the locations as they appear in the episodes of the TV series along with a short synopsis of the scene, the address and how to find it, and Normal People quotes.

I visited the very best Normal People Dublin filming locations and researched everywhere else they filmed the series and curated this ultimate list so you can use it to see for yourself.

Normal People Dublin Locations Map

I stayed in Fitzsimons Hostel which was an excellent location in the centre of Temple Bar and walkable to lots of Normal People locations.

All Normal People Filming Locations in Ireland

Normal People was set in Ireland and the shooting locations for the series remained true to the novel. To start, here’s some answers to where was Normal People filmed outside of Dublin.

County Sligo

Tobercurry/Tubbercurry is a town in County Sligo found in North West of Ireland and served as the filming location for Marianne and Connell’s fictional hometown of Carricklea. So where is Normal People set?

This county is used for the majority of the first three Normal People episodes. Notable spots include Wolf Square, Brennan’s Pub, The Ghost House, Centra, and St John the Evangelist Church.

Marianne and Connell’s School  

Hartstown Community College is a school in Dublin that was used for all the school scenes in the Normal People show.

Address: Hartstown Rd, Hartstown, Dublin 15

‘I’m not acting maybe I am that type of person’

Marianne’s House

The large home was filmed in Knockmore House in Enniskerry, County Wicklow just an hour outside of Dublin.

The mansion is a key location in the TV series as it’s where Connell’s mother works as a cleaner for Marianne’s family but provides Marianne with support and warmth that she lacks from her own mother. The juxtaposition of Marianne receiving warmth from Connell’s mother in her large, cold home reminds the viewer of the contrast between Marianne and Connell and a reason behind Connell’s mother’s defence of Marianne.

It’s the place where Connell and Marianne share private moments they don’t have in school and where their story begins.

Cookstown, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

‘I actually read it already. I don’t know why I picked it up’

Connell’s House

Connell lives with his mother in a home found in a neighbourhood in Shankill, South Dublin to represent the difference in wealth between our two protagonists.

When you think of Connell Normal People, you think of THAT chain, his love for books and this home. Lots of moments happen in his house.

Streedagh Beach  

With the Sand Dunes and Ben Bulben mountain in the background, Streedagh Beach is a striking place to use for the scene of the secret couple’s walk. The quietness and vastness of the beach is an obvious place for a secret date. The beach is used again in a later episode when Marianne and Connell meet during summer.

‘Point at any patriarchal structure and say that’

Fundraiser Party and The Debs  

The White Sands Hotel in Portmarnock and the Tamango nightclub inside were both used for the scenes of the fundraiser party and later the ‘Debs’. For non-Irish viewers, the Debs is sort of like a prom which occurs at the end of school.

Tubbercurry town centre in general was used for scenes with the students and in later episodes when Marianne awkwardly bumps into her mother while staying with Connell’s mother over Christmas.

‘Will you act normal, will ya’

All Normal People Dublin Filming Locations

Here’s the Normal People filming locations you can easily visit in Dublin. Starting with ‘Love Alley’ where you’ll find some Normal People book quotes along with other Irish literature quotes.

Connell’s House in Dublin

Connell is a typical student that moves from the country to the city for college. Connell also lives in a house-share with Niall who later becomes a good friend. They live in a humble house located in the Templeogue suburb of Dublin.

This house was used for all Connell’s Dublin home scenes.

Address: 20 Cypress Park, Templeogue, Dublin

‘It’s Dublin. Its exciting’

Trinity College

The college is almost like another character in the Normal People series and filming took place during a summer when students weren’t actually there. If you’ve been here though, it is a very busy place so I’d be interested to know the logistics behind filming!

Some notable places are listed later but other locations at the college include Robert Emmet Theatre, Graduates Memorial Building, St Patrick’s College and Public Theatre.

‘I would miss you if you didn’t want to see me anymore’

Normal People Book Characters Mural

Something any fan of Normal People Sally Rooney needs to see is a lovely bit of street art by Eve Fitzart found outside Trinity College as so:

This mural can be found on Westmoreland Street, if you’re looking at the entrance of Trinity College, take a left and walk around and you’ll see it on your right hand side, next to the fences of the college.

Berkeley Library and Marsh’s Library

Berkeley Library is a grand building in the main campus where Connell is always found studying. Marianne’s study scenes, however, were shot in Marsh’s Library.

‘Ive missed having you in my life. And that maybe it’d be nice to like um, have you in it again’

Gareth’s House

Marianne’s college boyfriend is the pretentious Gareth and we see his house in a few scenes. The most memorable being that where Connell discovers Gareth’s girlfriend, also from Carricklea, is none other than Marianne. This is the first time the pair see each other since school and spend the majority of the evening together and their magnetic energy is clear.

Gareth’s student accommodation is on the grounds of the college and the real life filming location can be found behind Parliament Square in the main grounds of the college.

‘Maybe that’s normal.’ ‘It’s not’

Marianne’s House in Dublin

Marianne lives in the most unrealistic student accommodation I’ve ever seen. But when you read the novel and get to know Marianne and her family, maybe not so unrealistic for them. Marianne’s mother owns this house in the wealthy neighbourhood of Ballsbridge in Dublin and Marianne stays here throughout her time at Trinity.

I visited the real-life location and marvelled at these homes as well as walking through Herbert Park and visiting the Sunday market. A lovely nature-spot to visit outside the hustle of Temple Bar.

Address: 79 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

‘The hallway’s great’

Also see the Grand Canal near Marianne’s house which her mother describes as ‘the loveliest walk along the canal, nearby’.

Around Dublin

Some of the streets, houses, cafes and pubs around Dublin were used for Normal People Sligo and Dublin. Here’s some:

• Brother Hubbard is the restaurant where Connell works 
• Blackbird Bar in Rathmines is the pub where Marianne and her friends play pool
• Mish Mash on Capel Street, north of the Liffey River for Connell and Marianne’s Cafe Date
• Anseo on Camden Street for the Christmas party
• M&L Szechuan Chinese Restaurant where Connell eats with his girlfriend and her family
• St Kevin’s Park where Connell walks while on the phone to his mother
• On the outskirts of Dublin, an undisclosed grand house was used for the pool party at Sophie’s

‘You’d never have a normal life though’ ’Yeah but who wants a normal life?’ (one of my favourite quotes from Normal People)

Schols Announcement

Filmed in the grand Front Square of Trinity College, it’s a sweet moment where both Marianne and Connell receive an undergraduate award and we once again see the difference, yet similarities, between wealthy Marianne and working-class Connell.

‘How I act with her is my normal personality’ 

Temple Bar

One of the most visited areas of Dublin for all tourists is Temple Bar. You’ll definitely go here during your trip and you’ll be able to see some familiar locations used in the Normal People TV show such as Dame Lane and Henry Street where Connell and his girlfriend walk.

Marianne’s Italian Villa

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During a summer, while Connell and Niall are backpacking Europe on a budget, they’re invited to stay at Marianne’s villa where she is spending the summer with friends. Talk about a change in travel style.

Although in the show it’s set in Trieste, it was actually filmed in Tenuta di Verzano Il Casale, a beautiful home near Rome.

This luxurious villa is available to book on Airbnb so you can recreate Normal People filming locations for yourself. I’ve got it saved for when I go!

Address: Tenuta di Verzano Il Casale, Località, Via Verzano, 24, 00060 Sant’Oreste

Fun fact, this villa was also used as a filming location for Eat, Pray, Love!

Art Gallery in ‘Venice’

In the novel, the gang head to Venice as a day trip from Marianne’s villa and visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin was the real filming location where crew/designers recreated the set in the gallery’s atrium.

‘Sweden’

Although set in Sweden during Marianne’s year abroad, the scenes for the series were all filmed in Dublin.

Two cafes were used as the places where Marianne has her birthday party and meets with Luka: Fumbally Cafe and Forest Avenue.

St Patrick’s College which was previously used for intermittent shots of Trinity College was also the backdrop for some of the scenes in ‘Sweden’.

For Luka’s loft, an area within the National College of Art and Design was cleared and used as the set for Luka’s minimalist apartment and some of the most uncomfortable scenes of the show.

Fancy a guided literary tour of Dublin? Try these top-rated tours:

And that’s a wrap for the TV show that entertained us after the moving Normal People novel.

More TV Series Filming Locations

• Gavin and Stacey in Wales
• Schitt’s Creek in Toronto
• New York: FRIENDS, Gossip Girl, Sex and The City
• Paris: Emily in Paris, Sex and The City, Gossip Girl
• The Last of Us in Canmore, Canada
• The Sopranos in Italy

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