Angela’s Ashes

Images of The Lanes in Limerick are shown during the titles. The streets are sets and Tony Hanna explains that an open space off Benburb Street in Dublin was used for the set depicting the slums.

Tony provides this shot of the area as it appears now adding that a gym is under construction on part of the site.

A set depicting The Lanes where Frank McCourt spent much of his childhood.

The titles continue with another shot of the damp and miserable conditions.

An establishing shot of Limerick from across the River Shannon where most of the film is set. Clancy's Strand looking towards King John's Castle in the City of Limerick, County Limerick.

The view across the Shannon by Paschal Newell.

After returning from America, the McCourt family arrive in Ireland. Cobh in County Cork.

Peter Brown took this view from the appropriately named West View. The spire of St Colman's Cathedral just visible on extreme left.

Angela McCourt (Emily Watson), her husband Malachy (Robert Carlyle) and children including Frankie (Joe Breen) and young Malachy (Shane Murray-Corcoran) climb the hill from the docks. Fiona O. advises that it was her children who played the twins and that this hill is looking towards Pearse's Square from Lower Midleton Street in Cobh, County Cork.

The McCourts set out for Dublin by bus. The bridge between Cobh and Fota Island with Belvelly Castle to the right.

The Dublin bound bus passes over a bridge. The Cork Road bridge between Cobh and Fota with the Martello Tower in the background.

Another bus arrives as the McCourt family gather in a Dublin bus station in pre Busáras days. Tony Bird advises that this is inside the old Iveagh Market located on Francis Street in Dublin. The opening behind the bus leads onto Dean Swift Square near it's junction with Lamb Alley.

Mark o'Neill was refused entry so he and we have to be satisfied with a reverse shot from outside. Thanks for trying! (RL)

Malachy carries young Malachy from the bus station. This exit from the Iveagh Market leads out to Dean Swift Square in Dublin 8. Information from Tony Bird.

Mark witnesses building work in progress. (RL)

Malachy is refused pension money from the IRA. Unidentified location.

Frankie's father tells a story as they walk back to the rest of the family. Unknown location.

The McCourt family arrive in Limerick. Pearse railway station on Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Alterations inside the station have left this area as a car park. (PW)

A slightly different angle from the previous image sees passengers alighting. Pearse railway station in Dublin, which can also be seen in 'Term of Trial', 'Johnny Nobody' and 'Ulysses'.

The gate line now cuts through the scene. (PW)

The family head for a house on Windmill Street in Limerick.

Keith McCormack identifies this as Gerald Griffin Avenue, Cork and sends in this Google image to support. (RL)

It's night time as the children are woken from sleep by fleas in the mattress. Farren Street in Cork.

Malachy beats fleas from the mattress outside on Windmill Street. Facing the corner of Wrixon's Lane and Farren Street, Cork.

The roads are now known as Straw Hall and this is the same place in daylight. (PW)

The yard's gates are closed as Malachy arrives with a docket for coal. Lána Theach An tSiúcra (Sugar House Lane), Dublin 8.

Mark reveals that very serious work is underway. (RL)

Malachy and Frankie return home as poor folk pick dropped coal from the road. Rainsford Street in Dublin. The tracks belong to the defunct Guinness Brewery narrow gauge railway.

The building has changed little even if the road has. Mark was, like us all, guided by parked vehicles. (RL)

The funeral cortege of Oliver McCourt passes through the streets. Carnew Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7. (SR)

The cortege continues along the street. Carnew Street. (SR)

Oliver is laid to rest. Unknown location.

After the funeral, Frankie's father spends what money they have on drink. Barrack Street in Cork.

Frankie gets into a fight at school. Steve Randall discovered that this is Inchicore Model School at the corner of Grattan Crescent, Dublin 8 and Sarsfield Road in Dublin 10.

Young Frank McCourt waits in the street whilst his father drinks in a pub. The Crescent in Limerick with the O'Connell Monument in the background.

David Ahern captures a rather less desperate scene. (RL)

Another funeral as Oliver's twin brother Eugine dies. The Crescent, Limerick .

A different type of horse power is now evident from David's shot. (RL)

Frankie and Malachy run home in the pouring rain. Keith McCormack advises that the flight of steps are off Lower John Street, Cork and called Carrolls Hill.

The doorway on the left was hidden for the purposes of filming. (RL)

Malachy McCourt looks for work without success. Unidentified location.

Frankie and his friends go to the Lyric Cinema. Tony Hanna tells us that "The real Lyric cinema stood in in James Street and was a fleapit. I think it had been demolished by the time filming took place so the entrance to The Granary on Pim Street, Dublin 8 was dressed to look like the cinema."

The same location taken by Tony.

Frankie's school class cross the street on their way to church. The Crescent near the junction with Barrington Street, Limerick.

David captures a less active scene. (RL)

Aunt Aggie (Pauline McLynn) and Grandma Sheehan (Ronnie Masterson) walk with the McCourts to attend Frankie's Communion. The Crescent in Limerick again.

David's clear view unfortunately obscured by parking. (RL)

The family head for the church. An Corrán i Luimneach (The Crescent, Limerick).

Paschal Newell returned to the location.

The congregation leave the church after Communion. Unknown location.

A horse and cart passes Grandma Sheehan's house. Carnew Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin. (SR)

Other than the addition of cars, Pat Cleary found that nothing has really changed over the years. St. Gabriel's National School in the background dates from 1895.

An older Frank (Ciaran Owens) complains to his mother as she takes him to Irish Dancing classes.

Keith McCormack advises that this is Hodders Lane, Cork now redeveloped save for the old house and part of the wall at the top left of the lane way. (RL)

Frankie kicks a football in the street.

Keith McCormack identifies this as Gerald Griffin Avenue and sent in this Google image to support. It looks as if the door at the end is still red. (RL)

Malachy takes Frankie to become an altar boy. The Crescent, Limerick.

David had to avoid parked cars to secure this shot. And they were on a double yellow line! (RL)

Father and son wait for a priest to open the door. Unidentified location.

The pair walk away after being told that there is no room. Unknown location.

Frankie follows his father and pleads with him not to spend money on drink. Coming out of Tower Street onto Barrack Street, Cork with Nancy Spains Bar to the centre. John Hegarty worked in the bar and advises that all the costumes and props were stored there during filming and also updates us that the building was demolished in 2021 to make way for apartments.

A closer view of the corner. (PW)

Malachy tells Frankie to go home. Facing south-west on Barrack Street.

The same street, looking a little more colourful. (PW)

The class from school pass the Our Lady of Liberty public house. Alan Bourke found the junction of Russell Avenue, Whitworth Avenue and Whitworth Terrace in Drumcondra, Dublin 3 with the Russell House "pub" on the left.

Pat Cleary found the red brick so much more attractive that how it appears in the film.

Frankie looks up at the Statue of Liberty outside the pub. With no help from the painted out street sign, Alan Bourke found Russell House at the corner of Russell Avenue and Whitworth Avenue in Drumcondra.

With the bright sun fast encroaching, Pat Cleary had to take this shot slightly off-angle.

Another rainy day in Limerick. John Hegarty identifies this as Barrack Street in Cork City.

Angela and the children see Malachy off as he goes to England to find work. Dublin Pearse railway station. Manuel Gurtner advises that the prominently staged K2 class 2-6-0 locomotive No. 461 was originally built for the Dublin & South Eastern Railway in 1922 by Beyer Peacock. The tender loco, retired in 1962, was borrowed from the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland for filming.

Looking back at the train shed. With thanks to David of Irish Rail at Pearse station for assistance in obtaining images of the location.

After their father departs, Angela takes the children home. The ramp onto Sandwith Street Upper from Pearse station in Dublin.

The same ramp. With thanks to David at Pearse station. (PW)

A group of poor women wait outside the priest's house for leftovers. Unidentified location.

Frank spots his mother outside the priest's house waiting for charity. Unknown location.

Frankie waits as his mother borrows from moneylender Mrs. Finucane (Eileen Pollock). Alan Bourke found that here, we're facing number 13 The Crescent in St. Luke's, Cork.

Angela McCourt walks home with her son. From outside number 13 looking along The Crescent towards the junction with Gardiner's Hill, located by Alan Bourke.

After the shame of seeing his mother beg and borrow, Frankie gets a job helping a coalman. Grúdlann Gheata Naomh Séamuis, Sráide Marcus Rainsford, Baile Átha Cliath.

Mark's shot reveals that at least one railway track remains in the road. (RL)

Frankie runs alongside Mr Hannon (Shay Gorman), the coalman. Rainsford Street, Dublin.

Mark was unlikely to capture a coalman during his visit. (RL)

Frankie and Hannon deliver coal. Identified by Alan Bourke, this is number 2 Ardeevin on Gardiner's Hill, St. Luke's in Cork city.

More coal is carried. Looking up at number 2 Ardeevin on Gardiner's Hill in Cork located Alan Bourke.

After a hard and dusty days work, Hannon and Frankie head for the pub. Clancy's Strand, Limerick.

With thanks to David Ahern. (RL)

Frankie runs home with his wage. The Crescent in Limerick.

The same location now from David. (RL)

Frankie feels like a man after being called Frank by Mr Hannon. Unconfirmed location.

Frank continues to deliver coal until conjunctivitis forces him to stop. Unidentified location.

The family wait but Malachy McCourt doesn't return. Dublin Pearse railway station. The station and the ramp to Sandwith Street were also seen in 'Johnny Nobody' and 'Term of Trial'.

Malachy finally returns home at Christmas but soon leaves and is not seen again.

Keith McCormack advises that this is Wrixons Lane, Cork and send this picture to support. (RL)

After being evicted from their home in The Lanes, the McCourts move in with Angela's cousin, Laman Griffin, on the story's Rosbrien Road.

In reality, Roche's Buildings, Cork. (PW)

Frank (Michael Legge) returns to the house after emptying Laman's chamber pot. Roche's Buildings off Goldsmith's Avenue in the north of the city.

This time, on a chilly but bright morning. (PW)

Angela takes Frank to the Christian Brothers to see if there are any educational opportunities for him. Unknown location.

Angela walks away with her son after the Father says no and slams the door. Bishop Lucey Park, Cork. (SR)

Further along the street from the previous capture. Bishop Lucey Park. (SR)

Angels tells her son 'You're never let anyone slam the door in your face again'. Bishop Lucey Park. (SR)

Frank walks to the post office to start a new job and meets Aunt Aggie on the way. Unidentified location.

Just have a little drop of tea . . . . . Ah, go on . . . . . (Sorry, it had to be done!)

Frank begins his new job delivering telegrams for the post office. The Crescent once more.

David continues to capture the Crescent for us. (RL)

Telegram messengers cycle through Limerick streets. The Crescent, looking towards Gardiner's Hill in St. Luke's, Cork recognised by Alan Bourke.

Telegrams are delivered and tips are received. Alan Bourke explains hat this is one of the houses on Ard Alainn Terrace, Ballyhooley Road near the junction with Gardiner's Hill in St. Luke's, Cork.

More messages to deliver. Alan Bourke found Gardiner's Hill, St. Luke's in Cork city, outside number 2 which was seen earlier.

Frank finds out that nuns and priests don't give tips. Unidentified location.

A colleague tells Frank that he is lucky to get a telegram for the Carmody's as they are big tippers. Unidentified location.

Frank skids and falls from his cycle. Unidentified location.

After recovering himself, Frank calls at the house of Theresa Carmody and begins a relationship with her. Unknown location.

Frank returns home to Aunt Aggie's where he has been living. Carnew Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin. (SR)

When calling at Mrs. Carmody's house one day, Frank finds out that her daughter has been taken to the sanatorium. Unidentified location.

Frank rushes to see Theresa at the sanatorium. Located by Alan Bourke, this is Castleknock College at Castleknock, Dublin 15.

Closer to the sanatorium. Castleknock College, Castleknock identified by Alan Bourke who adds "Actor Colin Farrell and Father Ted co-creator Arthur Mathews went to school here."

Frank finds that Theresa has passed away. Pat Cleary's research led him to find the grounds of the former St. Ita's Psychiatric Hospital in Portrane, Fingal, about 12 miles north of Dublin. The facility closed its doors for the last time in 2014. Looking like a distant island on the horizon is the Howth Peninsula.

Pat also provides this view with Howth Peninsula still just about visible through the now higher foliage.

Thoughts fill Franks head as he looks back at Theresa's grave. Tony Hanna advises us that this is Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. (RL)

And Tony provides the comparative shot for us. (RL)

Frank arrives at Mrs. Finucane's house and finds her dead. Unidentified location.

Frank reads Mrs. Finucane's debtors ledger before throwing it into the River Shannon. Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland.

A calmer River Shannon when David was there. (RL)

Frank McCourt arrives in America. The Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, New York, United States.