OPW Explore the Extraordinary case study
For its Explore the Extraordinary campaign, the Office of Public Works asked us to film a guide at each of five heritage sites. Each guide places a map-of-Ireland marker at the spot they love most and tells you why. We filmed them in May and June 2026, one in Irish at the Blasket Centre in Kerry, and the OPW signed off the series in July.
Five heritage films for the OPW, one guide and one favourite spot each, one of them in Irish.
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What the OPW needed, and what we made
- When
- April to July 2026
- Where
- Five sites in Dublin, Kildare, Tipperary, Clare and Kerry
- Films
- Five “My Favourite Spot” films, one in Irish
What they needed
Short films for the OPW’s Explore the Extraordinary campaign, one per site: Rathfarnham Castle, Castletown House, Swiss Cottage, Ennis Friary and the Blasket Centre. Each guide would show their favourite spot, and one film had to be in Irish.
What we filmed
Each guide placing the marker and talking to camera at their chosen spot, the rooms and grounds around it, and drone shots of each site where flying was allowed. At the Blasket Centre the guide spoke in Irish.
What we delivered
- Five films, 1:10 to 1:30 each
- One film in Irish, with English subtitles
- An end card translated into Irish
- Drone clips from the sites
- Stills of each guide with the marker
- Every cut reviewed on Vimeo
Five films, 1:10 to 1:30 each, one film in Irish, with English subtitles, an end card translated into Irish, drone clips from the sites, stills of each guide with the marker, every cut reviewed on Vimeo.
The five films, site by site
Each one follows the same idea: one guide, one marker, one favourite spot. In the order we filmed them.
14 May 2026
Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
The first film in the series. A guide places the marker in the Long Gallery, the spot they love most, and tells you why. It went to the OPW on 3 June with Castletown House, and was on the OPW’s social channels by 10 June.
One film
14 May 2026
Castletown House, Kildare
Filmed the same day as Rathfarnham. The guide’s favourite spot is above the entrance hall, and the film moves from there through the rooms and grounds around it, with drone shots of the house. It was one of the first two films sent to the OPW.
One film
22 May 2026
Swiss Cottage, Tipperary
A guide’s favourite spot at the Swiss Cottage in Cahir, filmed at the cottage and in its grounds, with drone shots over the thatched roof, the trees and the paths around it. The OPW approved the film with no changes.
One film
29 May 2026
The Blasket Centre, Kerry
A half-day at the Blasket Centre in Dún Chaoin, where the guide spoke in Irish. The centre’s manager checked our English subtitles against the Irish; we revised them, the order of a few shots and the end card, now in Irish, before sign-off in July.
One film
June 2026
Ennis Friary, Clare
The guide’s favourite spot at Ennis Friary, filmed from the ground and, on 11 June, from the air, the last shots of the series. Like Swiss Cottage, it was approved with no changes, and the OPW signed off the whole series on 17 July.
One film
From brief to sign-off
Five sites, four shoot days and three months from the brief to the last approval.
Step 01
April 2026: the brief
The OPW’s heritage marketing team sent the idea on 17 April: a guide at each site, a specially made map-of-Ireland marker, and one film in Irish. Our plan for the shoot days was agreed on 28 April.
Step 02
May 2026: four sites
Rathfarnham Castle and Castletown House on 14 May, Swiss Cottage on 22 May, then a half-day at the Blasket Centre on 29 May, filmed in Irish.
Step 03
June 2026: Ennis Friary and the first cuts
The first two films went to the OPW on 3 June, and the Rathfarnham film was on the OPW’s social channels by 10 June. Drone shots at Ennis Friary followed on 11 June, and Ennis Friary and Swiss Cottage were approved with no changes.
Step 04
July 2026: the Irish film and sign-off
The Blasket Centre’s manager checked our English subtitles against the Irish. We revised them, the order of a few shots and the end card, now in Irish, and the OPW signed off the series on 17 July.
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