Hear My Song

The scene is set by the Liverpool skyline, however, the film is almost entirely shot in Ireland.

Struggling Liverpool nightclub Heartlys is shown. In reality this is the Merrion Hall, Merrion Street Lower, Dublin.

Merrion Hall was a former Plymouth Brethren church completed in 1863 and in use until the early 1980s. After featuring in this film, it was destroyed in a suspicious fire, with only the facade remaining, which now fronts the Davenport Hotel in Merrion Street Lower.

Pat Cleary's comparison shows that the lower central frontage of the building has been altered substantially with ramps and a "penthouse" has been added up top.

The club's proprieter Mickey O'Neill (Adrian Dunbar) fly posts ads for his latest booking, Franc Cinatra, a Sinatra impersonator.

When the police take an interest, Micky's bill stickers (John Dair, Stephen Marcus), depart hurriedly.

Franc Cinatra having flopped, Micky bills the mysterious Mr. X who claims he cannot be booked as Jo Locke due to legal issues. Micky's associates perform a celebratory dance outside the theatre. Merrion Hall, Dublin.

Pat's comparison shows a closer view of the reconstruction.

Following a tiff, Micky attempts to reconcile with his girlfriend Nancy Doyle (Tara Fitzgerald) in a taxi in the rain.

Word has got around about the arrival of Mr. X and news cameras turn up. Looking out from Merrion Hall towards Fenian Street.

Pat's comparison is taken in front of the "theatre" (Merrion Hall). The red-brick building in the background, Dunlop Oriel House dating from 1872, is now the CONNECT Research Centre for Trinity College Dublin. Pat remembers passing by at the time of filming and seeing the crew and crowd gathered.

In flashback, Jo Locke is seen judging a beauty contest and taking a shine to the winner, Cathleen Doyle (Shirley Anne Field). Pat Cleary found the old Blackrock, Dublin sea baths with the now long-gone diving board.

Cathleen's family wave as Jo and Cathleen drive off.

Jo is chased by the cops for unpaid taxes.

More police join the chase.

Jo escapes to Ireland in a small boat.

After Mr. X is exposed as a fraud, and Mickey is sacked and bankrupted, he sets off for Ireland in an attempt to bring back the real Josef Locke.

As Micky nears his destination, his boat passes the Poolbeg Lighthouse at the mouth of the River Liffey in Dublin.

32 years later on another sunny day, Paschal Newell's ferry back to London passed the same way, providing this great comparison shot.

Micky arrives at Dublin Port

Grabbing a snack, Mickey heads for a taxi.

The taxi drops Micky off at 7a Poolbeg Street, Dublin 2.

Micky enters next door at number 7 Poolbeg Street.

Pat Cleary discovers that this now looks in much better shape with even a mat to wipe your feet on. Mulligan's famous Dublin pub to the right.

Panning upwards to the first floor we see the office of Micky's friend Fintan O'Donnell.

Reflected in the windows in Pat's comparison is the new building that replaces the infamously ugly Hawkins House which itself controversially replaced the majestic old Theatre Royal in the early 60's. Pat adds "As an aside, I worked in Hawkins House from its opening but we had moved six years before the film was shot. It certainly was the ugliest glass building in town from the outside. It was a very sturdy building, however, with thick walls centrally and took an eternity to demolish when its fate was finally sealed."

Micky takes Fintan (James Nesbitt) to the pub next door to persuade him to join the quest for Jo Locke. Mulligans, 8 Poolbeg Street.

Originally dating from 1782, Mulligan's transferred their business to Poolbeg Street in 1854. A legendary old-school watering hole enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The info comes from Pat Cleary who supplies this comparison shot.

The pair head off down the road past isolated houses.

Another isolated building. Maybe the scenery will help identify the location.

Micky and Fintan are getting adrift. Here are some useful signposts to help with finding the location. Pat Cleary was not distracted by the fake signposts on the right, and recognised Sally Gap, a crossroads high in the Wicklow Mountains. Turning left leads to Glenmacnass Valley, Laragh and Glendalough.

Modern signs take over at the Sally Gap in Pat's comparison shot.

Pausing on a bridge, Mickey and Fintan debate how they had missed the tower of Doonagore. Pat Cleary Identifies this as the Ballysmuttan Bridge, County Wicklow, a bridge which also appears in 'P.S. I Love You'.

The bridge was renamed Ciarán Jones Bridge, after a Garda who lived nearby but tragically drowned during a major river flood in 2011. He was swept off the severely damaged bridge as he ran to warn motorists not to cross it. It was repaired and a memorial prominently placed at the centre of the bridge. Pat Cleary's shot shows the bridge as it appears now.

After a plea to the fairies, the tower is seen in the distance. Doonagore Castle, Doolin, County Clare.

Arriving at a country pub, the pair unexpectedly spot Jo Locke.

Leaving the pub, Fintan stops to make a phone call.

Micky sees Jo Locke (Ned Beatty) driving to a cattle auction.

Having accidentally outbid Josef for a cow, the pair lead the animal to an angry Jo. Pat Cleary advises that here you can see the same tall mountain in the background as in the following capture.

Mickey anticipates a tricky negotiation at Jo's home. Discovered by Pat Cleary, this is Cloghoge House in the Luggala Demesne, Co. Wicklow beside Lough Tay. It has been thoroughly modernised since the film shoot in the 90's. The "Vikings" TV series is shot at Lough Tay.

Micky, cow, peacock, and house. Now identified as Cloghoge House, Co. Wicklow thanks to Pat Cleary.

Mickey accepts the offer of a drink from Jo, who takes him to the Cliffs of Moher. Lislorkan North, County Clare, Ireland.

Jo's drinking hideaway is in a tower at the top of the cliffs. O'Brien's Tower. Burren Way, Lislorkan North, County Clare.

Micky follows Jo into the tower, where he is offered poteen. O'Brien's Tower, Cliffs of Moher.

The pair walk to the cliff's edge. The Cliffs of Moher.

Jo's heavies arrive and Micky is dangled over a cliff and interrogated. This scene was filmed at Howth Head, north of Dublin.

After Josef agrees to perform in Liverpool, Mickey travels with him to the point of departure. Roundstone, Cloch na Rón County Galway Ireland.

The harbour comes into view. Roundstone Harbour also features in 'The Mackintosh Man'.

A boat waits at the end of the jetty ready to depart. Roundstone Harbour.

The group drive to the boat along the jetty at Roundstone.

Fintan waves goodbye. as the boat departs. Roundstone Harbour.

The boat departs carrying Jo back to Liverpool.

Jo's henchmen sneak up on Mr. X at his home. Saint Anne's, Dublin Road, Shankill, Dublin.

The men have come to abscond Mr. X (William Hootkins), who is happily mowing his lawn. Saint Anne's, Dublin Road.

Through a gap in the trees, Pat Cleary captured the best angle available with all the surrounding foliage. The property is a protected structure and recently went on the market with an asking price of €2.25m. A "sold" sign is now at the rather dilapidated gate entrance.

Micky arrives at a music shop to get the parts for the band, but is unsuccesful. Charles Byrne Musik Instrumente at 22 Stephen Street Lower.

Comparison from Pat Cleary, who notes that this iconic Dublin music store was opened by the first Charles Byrne in 1870 but, sadly, closed upon the last Charles Byrne's death in 2022. A listed heritage building that dates back to the mid 18th century.

Mickey visits the dentist's surgery where Nancy works, to patch things up with her. 40 Dame Street, Dublin.

Now a solicitor's office this doorway was also seen in "Ambush at Leopard Street", notes Pat Cleary, providing this comparison shot.

Jo and Cathy Doyle, the beauty queen he deserted, also have patching up to do. Blackrock sea baths in Dublin, discovered by Pat Cleary.

Josef and Cathleen bury their grievances and dance together. Pat Cleary recognised the old diving board at Blackrock Baths in Dublin, now demolished, and also witnessed some of the shoot at the "theatre" (Now Davenport Hotel) while passing by.

Everything is set up for Jo's epic performance.

After a triumphant concert, Jo makes his escape from the police through the roof with the help of heavy lifting equipment.