Banshees of Inisherin spent €213,455 on animals and handlers

The producers of the multi-Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin did not get the breakout star of the film, Jenny the Donkey, and her animal co-stars on the cheap.

Accounts for the Martin McDonagh directed movie production show the amount spent under the heading of animals/handlers for the production shot on Achill Island and Inis Mór totalled €213,455.

The accounts, lodged by Laneways Productions DAC with the Companies Office, show the total spend on the film for the 12 months to the end of April last amounted to €18.89 million.

The film has made more than double that at the global box office with revenues of $48.6 million (€44.5 million) and has also generated additional revenues from streaming on Disney+.

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Figures published by the Revenue Commissioners show that the production received Section 481 corporation tax credits of €5 million-€10 million.

Two donkeys, Jenny and lookalike Rosie, were featured in the film alongside Padraic, Colin Farrell’s character. The dog belonging to Brendan Gleeson’s character, Colm Doherty, also featured prominently.

The team training and handling the animals was 10 strong, with the film’s closing credits listing three animal trainers and a further seven animal handlers.

The film was shot in August to October 2021 and the accounts provide an insight into the costs of producing a movie here.

Oscar nominations

Farrell, Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon each received Oscar nominations for their performances and the accounts show that the principal cast shared pay of €2.07 million while the supporting cast shared €271,647.

The extras were paid €191,740, while production staff received €1.24 million. The costs for the director totalled €1.39 million while the producer’s costs are listed as €272,569.

Set construction came in at €1.59 million and set dressing cost €757,273. Camera costs amounted to €776,680.

Wardrobe costs were €570,157, make-up and hair came to €245,929, special effects €156,520 and props €126,077.

[ Diarmaid Ferriter: Banshees of Inisherin a dark twist on myths of western islands ]

[ The Banshees of Inisherin film review: An impeccable cast eats up the succulent dialogue ]

The success of the film is expected to provide a tourist dividend this summer for Achill Island and Inis Mór. The costs under the heading of locations came to €501,679.

Covid-19 added significantly to the budget for the film with €1.8 million spent under the heading of “Covid hard costs”. During the shoot the production employed a Covid consultant, a supervisor and two Covid officers and a trainee, the accounts show.