Where was Bodkin filmed? The Will Forte Netflix show was filmed entirely in Ireland, with Union Hall in West Cork, County Cork, standing in for the fictional town of Bodkin. Confirmed additional locations include Glandore, Wicklow sites, Dublin locations, and Dave’s Diner in Julianstown, County Meath.
Bodkin’s landscapes can look like one connected coastal community, but the production used a multi-county location footprint. West Cork is the geographic centre of the fictional town; Wicklow and Dublin supply additional environments, while the diner is far away in County Meath.
Key takeaways
- Union Hall in West Cork, County Cork, stands in for the fictional town of Bodkin and is the series’ principal filming location.
- Bodkin was filmed entirely in Ireland, with confirmed locations in West Cork, County Wicklow, Dublin, and County Meath.
- Other West Cork locations include Glandore, Drumadoon Pier, and Poulgorm Bridge.
- Wicklow locations include Belmont Demesne, Enniskerry Carnegie Library, Sally Gap, Travelahawk Beach, and Ardmore Studios.
- The confirmed Dublin locations are Fenian Street, Howth Village, Howth Castle, and Leopardstown Racecourse.
- The diner setting was filmed at Dave’s Diner in Julianstown, County Meath, not in Cork.
Where Was Bodkin Filmed?
Bodkin was filmed entirely on location in Ireland. Union Hall in West Cork, County Cork, stands in for the fictional town of Bodkin, while additional confirmed locations extend across West Cork, County Wicklow, Dublin, and County Meath. The series uses real harbours, villages, beaches, roads, estates, and businesses rather than filming in a real town called Bodkin.
The principal location guide comes from Tourism Ireland’s official report on Bodkin, which identifies the production’s confirmed locations and describes the show as a seven-part series filmed in Ireland. Netflix’s official material separately confirms that Bodkin is a fictional place and that the story is not a real true-crime case.
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What town was used for Bodkin?
Union Hall, a harbour village in West Cork, was used as the main stand-in for Bodkin. The village supplies the visual identity of the show’s fictional coastal community: waterfront views, colourful buildings, narrow streets, and the surrounding Irish landscape.
Union Hall is not the real Bodkin. Netflix Tudum describes the setting as “a fake town,” and creator Alex Metcalf summarizes the premise as “Not a real story, not a real place.” The production deliberately created a fictional town rather than depicting an actual disappearance or adapting a documented true-crime case. Read Netflix Tudum’s official Bodkin overview for the show’s premise and fictional-setting explanation.
Siobhán Cullen, who plays Dove, described Union Hall as a particularly strong match for the production: “Union Hall makes the perfect Bodkin because it’s so stunning and it kind of encapsulates all of what people imagine about the beauty of Ireland – it’s all here, it’s such a stunning place.”
Which Bodkin filming locations are in West Cork?
West Cork contains the show’s main cluster of confirmed filming locations. In addition to Union Hall, the production used Glandore, Drumadoon Pier, and Poulgorm Bridge.
| Location | County or region | Role or visual character |
|---|---|---|
| Union Hall | West Cork, County Cork | Principal stand-in for the fictional town of Bodkin; harbour village and streets |
| Glandore | West Cork, County Cork | Additional village setting |
| Drumadoon Pier | West Cork | Waterfront and coastal imagery, including ferry-related visuals |
| Poulgorm Bridge | West Cork | Bridge location used in the West Cork filming area |
Tourism Ireland groups these locations together as part of the production’s West Cork footprint. The geography explains why the series feels rooted in one fictional coastal community even though filming took place at several real sites. The official source confirms the locations, but it does not provide a complete episode-by-episode or scene-by-scene map.
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Will Forte, who plays Gilbert, highlighted the production’s use of real landscapes: “One of the most exciting things about working in Ireland is getting to shoot on location. Most of the time we’re just out in these beautiful rolling pastures or on these cliff sides. Every scene seems like it’s taking place in this delicious morsel of Irish landscape.”
Was Bodkin filmed in Wicklow?
Yes. Bodkin was filmed at several confirmed locations in County Wicklow as well as in West Cork. The Wicklow sites add rural, estate, library, mountain-pass, beach, and studio environments to the production.
| Wicklow location | Visual character or production role |
|---|---|
| Belmont Demesne | Estate and grounds setting |
| Enniskerry Carnegie Library | Library and village setting |
| Sally Gap | Rural mountain-pass landscape |
| Travelahawk Beach | Beach and coastal landscape |
| Ardmore Studios | Studio component of the Wicklow-area production footprint |
The Wicklow locations broaden the show’s visual geography beyond the fictional harbour town. They should not be treated as parts of Union Hall or as evidence that Bodkin is a real place; they are separate confirmed production sites listed by Tourism Ireland.
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Was Bodkin filmed in Dublin?
Yes. Confirmed Dublin filming locations include Fenian Street, Howth Village, Howth Castle, and Leopardstown Racecourse. Dublin provides an urban and east-coast contrast to the West Cork village landscapes.
| Dublin location | Visual character |
|---|---|
| Fenian Street | Urban street setting |
| Howth Village | Coastal village setting |
| Howth Castle | Historic estate setting |
| Leopardstown Racecourse | Racecourse and event setting |
The official location inventory confirms these Dublin sites, but it does not assign every on-screen scene to a particular location. Scene-by-scene identifications found elsewhere should therefore be treated as unofficial unless the production or an authoritative source documents them.
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Where was the diner in Bodkin filmed?
The diner in Bodkin was filmed at Dave’s Diner in Julianstown, County Meath. Julianstown is geographically separate from the main West Cork filming cluster, so the diner should not be described as a Cork location or as part of the fictional town’s real-world equivalent.
Dave’s Diner is identified in the official Tourism Ireland location material and is also corroborated by the RadioTimes location guide. The diner is best understood as a confirmed additional setting used for the show’s American-diner environment.
How were the filming regions used in Bodkin?
The confirmed locations divide into four practical groups: the fictional-town core, surrounding coastal and rural scenery, urban and east-coast settings, and the separate diner location. This framework is more reliable than assigning individual scenes based only on visual resemblance.
| Production function | Confirmed places | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Fictional-town core | Union Hall | West Cork, County Cork |
| Nearby coastal and village scenery | Glandore, Drumadoon Pier, Poulgorm Bridge | West Cork |
| Rural, estate, beach, mountain, and studio settings | Belmont Demesne, Enniskerry Carnegie Library, Sally Gap, Travelahawk Beach, Ardmore Studios | County Wicklow |
| Urban, coastal, historic, and event settings | Fenian Street, Howth Village, Howth Castle, Leopardstown Racecourse | Dublin |
| American-diner setting | Dave’s Diner | Julianstown, County Meath |
RTÉ reported that the production used West Cork, Wicklow, and Dublin, while Netflix’s 2022 production announcement said filming would begin in Ireland. Netflix’s production announcement described Bodkin as a seven-episode darkly comic thriller. According to Tourism Ireland (2024), the completed production is a seven-part series filmed on location in Ireland.
Can you visit the Bodkin filming locations?
Many of the named locations are identifiable Irish villages, roads, coastlines, public-facing sites, or businesses, but visitors should verify access before planning a trip. A confirmed filming location does not automatically mean that a site is open to the public, available for tours, or permissible to enter.
- Start in West Cork: Union Hall, Glandore, Drumadoon Pier, and Poulgorm Bridge form the most relevant cluster for seeing the landscapes that stand in for Bodkin.
- Add Wicklow: The Wicklow sites offer a different itinerary focused on estates, rural scenery, a library, a beach, and the production’s studio footprint.
- Treat Dublin separately: Fenian Street, Howth, Howth Castle, and Leopardstown Racecourse are not all part of one compact filming set.
- Plan the diner as a separate stop: Dave’s Diner is in Julianstown, County Meath, rather than West Cork.
- Check current conditions: Confirm opening hours, public access, parking, local restrictions, private-property rules, and business status directly before travelling.
Because the locations span multiple counties, an Ireland travel guidebook or Ireland road-trip guide can be useful for combining the filming sites with nearby destinations. The guidebook would be a general trip-planning resource, not official Bodkin merchandise or a Netflix tie-in.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTourism Ireland has presented Bodkin as a screen-tourism opportunity, but the production’s locations should be approached respectfully: do not obstruct residents, enter restricted areas, or assume that a recognisable building is open because it appeared on screen.
How many episodes of Bodkin were produced?
Bodkin is a seven-episode, or seven-part, series. Netflix announced the project in June 2022 as a seven-episode darkly comic thriller, and Tourism Ireland described the completed production as a seven-part series in 2024. The episode count does not provide a scene-by-scene location guide; the confirmed evidence supports a location inventory rather than a complete map of every shot.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the most accurate way to describe Bodkin’s locations?
The most accurate description is that Union Hall stands in for the fictional town of Bodkin, with additional filming across West Cork, Wicklow, Dublin, and County Meath. Avoid saying that Union Hall is Bodkin itself, that the series is based on a real disappearance, or that every location seen by viewers has been officially matched to a scene.
The location list is strongest when it distinguishes confirmed production facts from viewer speculation. Tourism Ireland is the primary source for the location inventory, Netflix is the strongest source for the fictional status of the town, and RTÉ provides additional production context. The official sources do not support an episode-by-episode scene map.
Sources and production context
RTÉ’s production coverage quoted creator and co-showrunner Jez Scharf describing the show as exploring “what making a true crime podcast might be like.” That premise explains the series’ darkly comic investigative setup without making Bodkin a dramatization of a real case.
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For the most authoritative location list, use Tourism Ireland’s 2024 location report. For the fictional setting and premise, use Netflix Tudum’s official feature. These sources support the central conclusion: Bodkin is fictional, Union Hall is its principal real-world stand-in, and the production filmed across several parts of Ireland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Bodkin filmed?
Bodkin was filmed entirely in Ireland, not in a real town called Bodkin. Union Hall in West Cork, County Cork, stands in for the fictional coastal town, with additional filming in Wicklow, Dublin, and County Meath.
What town was used for Bodkin?
Union Hall in West Cork, County Cork, was the principal real-world stand-in for Bodkin. The Netflix series’ town is fictional, so Union Hall is not the real Bodkin.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Is Bodkin a real place in Ireland?
No. Bodkin is a fictional town and the series is not based on a real disappearance or true-crime case. Netflix’s official material describes the setting as a fake town and the story as fictional.
Where was the diner in Bodkin filmed?
The diner in Bodkin was filmed at Dave’s Diner in Julianstown, County Meath. Dave’s Diner is not in Cork or in the West Cork cluster used for the fictional town.
The Bottom Line
Bodkin was filmed in Ireland, with Union Hall in West Cork standing in for the fictional town. The confirmed production footprint also includes Glandore, Drumadoon Pier, Poulgorm Bridge, several Wicklow and Dublin sites, and Dave’s Diner in Julianstown, County Meath.
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