Summary

• Bodkin's fictional setting was filmed in Union Hall, County Cork, and showcases the scenic beauty of coastal Ireland.
• Filming locations like Glandore Village in Cork and Sally Gap in County Wicklow offer stunning views.
• Real locations in Julianstown, County Meath, and Howth Castle in Dublin add an authentic touch to the series.

The crime mystery series Bodkin was filmed on location in certain areas of Ireland. The cast of Bodkin features a star performance from former Saturday Night Live cast member Will Forte as Gilbert Power, a happy-go-lucky professional podcaster. Gilbert is accompanied by Emmy (Robyn Cara), his ambitious yet inexperienced assistant, and Dove (Siobhán Cullen), a no-nonsense investigative journalist who is running from a dark past of her own. Early reviews of Bodkin have been mostly positive, leading to a Rotten Tomatoes score of 60% on its premiere date of May 9, 2024.

The primary setting of the series, Bodkin, Ireland, is entirely fictional. Despite Bokdin's trailer claiming the series to be "Based on a true story...overheard at a pub", executive producer Alex Metcalf confirmed that it is "It’s a fake town, it’s a fake place. The mystery itself, we worked very hard to find something that is in no way adjacent to a real true crime story. The fictionality of it was very deliberate." (via Tudum). Although Bodkin is not a true story, there is a realistic sense of the sensationalism of actual true crime podcasts, and the coastal Ireland setting is gorgeously scenic.

County Cork, Ireland

Union Hall Village

A majority of the filming in Bodkin was done in Union Hall, Cork County, which acted as the fictional town of Bodkin in the Netflix series. Union Hall is a quiet, remote fishing village about 47 miles west of Cork City known for its beautiful and scenic natural locations, including green rolling hills and plenty of beaches. Very few people actually live in Union Hall, with its last recorded population being less than 300 people.

Glandore Village

Production for Bodkin also took part in other parts of County Cork, such as Glandore Village, which is located less than 2 miles from Union Hall in the southern part of West Cork. Poulgorm Bridge, which can also be seen in Bodkin, connects Union Hall and Glandore by car, resulting in roughly a 5-minute drive between each village. Glandore is slightly more populated than Union Hall with an estimated 1800 inhabitants. Both Union Hall and Glandore feature similarly mild climates year-round.

Dromadoon Pier

Some of the exterior shots seen in Bodkin also take place in Dromadoon Pier, which is located at one of the southernmost points in all of Ireland. Dromadoon Pier is about a 20-minute drive from Union Hall, offers stunning views of the ocean, and is a great place for boating and kayaking.

County Wicklow, Ireland

Belmont Demesne

Parts of Bodkin were also filmed in County Wicklow, which is located south of County Dublin and north of County Cork. Production of the Netflix series also took place at Belmont Demesne, a popular walking and biking trail located near the eastern coastal resort town of Greystones.

Enniskerry’s Carnegie Library

Bodkin was also filmed at Enniskerry’s Carnegie Library, which is in the heart of the historical Enniskerry Village Square in Kilgarran. Kilgarran is roughly a 10-minute drive from the eastern coastal town of Bray, about 13 miles south of Dublin.

Sally Gap

One of the most scenic points in County Wicklow is Sally Gap, which can also be seen in Bodkin. Sally Gap is located in the remote area of the Wicklow Mountain range. The closest town is Roundwood, located roughly seven miles to the south with a population of less than 1000 people.

Travelahawk Beach

One notable scene in the Bodkin series finale was filmed at Travelahawk Beach, located in the eastern coastal town of Wicklow. Although it's a county town, Wicklow has a small population of roughly 13,000 people and an estimated 156,000 people throughout the county.

County Dublin, Ireland

Howth Castle

Howth Castle in County Dublin is one of the most recurring and noticeable settings in Bodkin as it is the home of the nuns such as Mother Bernadette. Howth is a small peninsula outside of Dublin full of golf courses and hiking trails. Howth Castle is located on the Deer Park golf course. Filming for Bodkin also took place in Howth Village, which is located on the eastern side of the peninsula and is roughly 11 miles outside of Dublin City.

Fenian Street

Some of the filming for Bodkin took place on Fenian Street in Dublin City, located a few blocks from Trinity College Dublin. It's one of the few filming locations in a major Irish city.

Leopardstown Racecourse

Parts of Bodkin were also filmed at the historic Leopardstown Racecourse, located about 10 miles south of Dublin City.

County Meath, Ireland

Julianstown

The classic "American" diner in Bodkin is located in Julianstown, County Meath at a real Elvis-themed restaurant called Dave's Diner about 25 miles north of Dublin.

Source: Tourism Ireland