Kells community artist Mark Smith painting symbols for the Traitors Ireland at the country's only inland lighthouse in Kells which is attracting attention now as a film location.

Film requests roll in for 'Traitors' folly in Kells

Published: Wed 8 Oct 2025, 11:19 AM

Louise Walsh

More requests to film at an inland 'folly' used at a location in Traitors Ireland have already been received by local authorities who are also expecting more interest in the site when the show is broadcast to the UK audience next year.

Traitors and faithfuls had to dash up the 164 steps at The Spire of Lloyd in Kells in order to complete their last challenge in the thrilling finale which eventually saw faithfuls Kelley Higgins, Oyin Adeyemi and Vanessa Ogbonna correctly identify and banish two traitors Nick O'Loughlin and Ben Donohue to take the prize pot of €42,900.

The Spire is Ireland's only inland lighthouse and was built as a folly in 1791 by Lord Headford, apparently to be able to watch the hunt and nearby races. The lighthouse is about 45km away from the sea.

The landmark building is open at certain times for viewing but due to the popularity of the Traitors Ireland, Meath County Council has extended its touring season at the Spire until the end of this month.

Mark Smith speedily drew symbols on the ground at the location in Kells before filming started.

They are also hoping it, and Slane Castle where the majority of the series was filmed, will cause a tourism windfall for the county next year.

In a statement the council said it has received further requests for filming at the location following the site being featured on the Irish version of the Traitors on RTE.

"With the Irish version expected to air to a UK audience on BBC 2 in November, it is expected this beautiful inland lighthouse will generate even more interest in 2026."

It is understood the requests were in relation to a variety of other productions.

Kells community artist Mark Smith revealed that he started to paint symbols at the tower just hours before contestants flew in by helicopters in the scene which was filmed last April.

"I arrived to paint ancient symbols on the ground with non-permanent paint."

"I was working on the last symbol when a camera man said that I had to also paint wording on them. I was nearly finished at that stage and had been on my knees, without pads since 7am. A friend who was helping me was chuckling away, waiting for my reaction."

"A director came up and said there had been a last minute decision made the night before and would I mind drawing the wording."

"The only way I had time to do so was if I chalked out the words and the film crew followed me and coloured the words in. I think we were on the last lettering when the first helicopter arrived."

Mark said the the Spire of Lloyd was open to the public periodically and generated a lot of interest because it was so far from the sea.

"Sure it would take a Kells man to build a lighthouse in the middle of nowhere."

Meanwhile Slane Castle has added extra dates for its Castle tours with a Traitors Twist due to what it describes as 'phenomenal demand'.

The tours with afternoon tea, will give participants a chance to play a mini game of 'Traitors' around the rooms featured in the series and even include a look inside the Traitors conclave.

The conclave itself was a basement used as a keg store during the days of the nightclub in Slane and it was the first time it was opened in 40 years to film the scenes where the Traitors plotted, schemed and murdered.