On a dry morning in early May of 2025 our animator, Ivan, woke up before sunrise to capture a timelapse sequence for the end of our game. It rains regularly in the spring in the SouthWest of Ireland, so he had been waiting for just the right conditions. He packed up 3 mice & his camera gear and drove out to Lough Gur in Limerick County.
The morning was perfect: no rain, a lovely mist resting on the surface of the lake and the sound of birds greeting the early light. As Ivan approached the corner of a stone wall to set up, to his great surprise a tiny mouse appeared from a crack in the wall squeaked in alarm and then darted into a different crack. It seemed like a sign that the corner of the wall was the right place to set the 3 wooden mice for the moment in Éalú where the mouse finds freedom, community and the natural world.
If you enjoyed our game, happen to be in Ireland or visiting and want to re-trace the mouse's wheel tracks, Lough Gur is an amazing location. Humans have inhabited the area surrounding Lough Gur for roughly 5,000 years and the site features stunning views and walks including a trail that goes through the site of a neolithic settlement. There's also a visitor's center with a wealth of information on the history of the area. Check out their website here: Lough Gur Visitor Centre & Lakeshore Park
The stone wall corner seen above is at the edge of a lovely picnic area:
If you do find your way to the site of the end of Éalú, feel free to tag @beyondthebarkpuppets on Instagram and let us know! We hope that this might help new people to experience this wonderful place.
