Butcher Boy, The

Date: 1997
Director: Neil Jordan
Production Company: Geffen Pictures

Stars: Stephen Rea, Fiona Shaw, Eamonn Owens, Brendan Gleeson
Location(s): County Down, County Meath, County Monaghan, County Wicklow, Dublin, Fingal

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

With a violent, alcoholic father and a depressive, suicidal mother the pressures on a young boy are immense as he sinks deeper into paranoia, fantasy and madness.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

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  • 26 Mar 2022

Francie (Eamonn Owens) and his friend Joe play Red Indians in the countryside near fictional Carn, the small town where they live. Pat Cleary explains that the location is Lough Tay, deep in the Wicklow Mountains but that the shot is matted, as there is no rocky outcrop that obscures the right hand section of the beach. Lough Tay can also be seen in 'The Gentle Gunman' and was a location for the television series 'Vikings'.

Pat's comparison view of the scenery that will never change.

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Back in Carn, Francie and Joe Purcell (Alan Boyle) make their way across a wall near the church to go scrumping. St. Tiernach’s church in Clones, County Monaghan.

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Joe hesitates after Francie slides down the corrugated sheets. Another aspect of St. Tiernach’s church.

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Phillip Nugent (Andrew Fullerton) heads indoors when Mrs. Nugent (Fiona Shaw) shouts down at the pair causing them to run away with their stolen apples.

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Mrs. Nugent pays a visit to Francie’s house. Looking onto The Diamond in Clones with St. Tiernach’s church to the right of centre.

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  • 22 Jan 2026

The annoyed neighbour knocks at the Brady’s door. At the far end of the alleyway lies The Diamond.

Philip O'Duffy provides this view of the alley just off Fermanagh Street in Clones.

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Suffering a nervous breakdown, Mrs. Annie Brady is taken away to hospital leaving Francie in the care of his drunken father. The Diamond, Clones in County Monaghan.

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Phillip Nugent and his mother walk through Carn. Fermanagh Street in Clones.

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Francie taunts Mrs. Nugent and her son. Fermanagh Street with buildings on The Diamond in the background.

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When Mrs. Nugent gets away, Francie runs back to Joe. Facing north- west on Fermanagh Street in Clones.

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On one of the coldest days of the year, Joe and Francie smash ice in the town’s fountain. The Jubilee Fountain in The Diamond with the Bank of Ireland in the left of centre background.

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Francie runs across the square when he sees a car bringing his mother home. The east side of the northern part of The Diamond.

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Annie embraces her son, picking him up and swinging him around. The Diamond, Clones.

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That Christmas, Francie leaves home after seeing his father hit his mother.

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Leaving his dysfunctional parents behind, the lad walks across the square. The Diamond with the 10th Century High Cross to the right.

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  • 26 Oct 2017

Having managed to get a lift, Francie arrives in Dublin. The pair of rolling lift bascule bridges dating from 1935 that carry North Wall Quay over the entrance to the Royal Canal in Dublin 1.

At least some things remain the same as evidenced by Marcas Uí Neíll. (RL)

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  • 26 Oct 2017

Francie stands on the quayside before stealing money from a chip shop and buying a present for his mother. Looking across the River Liffey from North Wall Quay to Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. Opening in 2009, Samuel Beckett Bridge now follows the line of this shot.

Marcas Uí Neíll provides the proof. (RL)

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Returning home, Francie finds the townsfolk following his mother’s coffin. The Diamond in Clones, County Monaghan.

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As he leaves school, Francie bullies Phillip, asking if he likes him, before taking him to a chicken shed and beating him up.

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After breaking in and defiling the Nugent’s house, Francie looks back from the police car that he’s driven away in. The Diamond in Clones, County Monaghan.

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Francie is taken into the care of Father Bubbles at the reform school. Headfort School, Headfort Demesne in Kells, County Meath located by Steve Randall.

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  • 26 Mar 2022

Father Bubbles (Brendan Gleeson) leads his boys into the hills to start work. Pat Cleary recognised the location as the mountain road between Kippure and the Sally Gap in County Wicklow, at the crossroads where, taking a left, will bring you right up to Lough Tay seen at the start of the film.

Pat took an early morning trip in the glorious sunshine to be sure, to be sure. For a "lonely" shot he had to get out there before the lads on the mountain bikes arrived! He met them on the way back.

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On another day, Francie walks alongside Jimmy (Tom Hickey) as he cuts the school's grass. Steve Randall found the Main Courtyard at Headfort Demesne, next to the school.

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Francie and the gardener share a cigarette. Headfort Demesne at Kells identified by Steve Randall.

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In an effort to cover up abuse by Father Sullivan, Francie is released from the school and returns to Carn. The canopy over the Jubilee Fountain in The Diamond was destroyed in a traffic accident. It is not known whether the one seen here is a prop in the style of the original Victorian memorial.

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At their place by the river, Francie tells Joe about his time in the reform school before he returns home to find that his Da has got him a job with Mr. Leddy, the butcher.

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After his father passes away, Francie watches Joe and Phillip walk together. The Diamond, Clones.

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Told that his friend Joe is at boarding school in the film’s Bundoran, Francie cycles to the resort. In reality, facing the Pier & Public Baths from Seaview in Warrenpoint, County Down.

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Francie rides down onto the beach. The ramp onto Warrenpoint’s beach from Seaview with the corner of Queen Street in the background.

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Leaving his bike, the troubled youth finds the Tarzan & Jane photo-prop from his parent’s past. The beach in Warrenpoint with the junction of Seaview and Slieve Foy Place in the centre distance.

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Running along the promenade, Francie finds the Over the Waves hotel. Seaview in Warrenpoint on the north shore of Carlingford Lough.

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The hotel was played by St. Joseph’s Nursing Home on Seaview, Warrenpoint.

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That evening Francie heads to St. Vincent’s College where he finds Joe and Phillip amongst the sleeping boarders. Dowdstown House, Navan, County Meath. (SR)

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Returning to Cara, Francie cycles up to Jimmy The Skite (Pat McCabe) as he walks towards the church. Cara Street in Clones.

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Francie escapes from the police after disposing of Mrs. Nugent.

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An Older Francie (Stephen Rea) is released from the institution that he’s spent most of his life in. Steve Randall's research uncovered St. Ita's Hospital, Portraine in Fingal, formerly County Dublin.

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Francie pauses after speaking with a vision of the Virgin Mary. St. Ita's Hospital in Portraine, Fingal identified by Steve Randall.