Two of County Tipperary’s most famous visitor attractions, Cahir Castle and the Rock of Cashel, have an unexpected connection to a new showbusiness love story after “The Wayfinders” co-stars Issy Knopfler (English television actress and producer) and Sam Buchanan (English television and film actor) announced their engagement.
Issy, the daughter of ‘Dire Straits’ legend Mark Knopfler, and actor Sam Buchanan met while working on the fantasy adventure series, which made extensive use of Ireland’s and Tipperary’s historic landscapes.
Of particular interest to Tipperary is the fact that filming for “The Wayfinders” took place at Cahir Castle and beside the spectacular Rock of Cashel. The production also filmed around counties Limerick and Clare, using the Mid-West’s castles, woodland and ancient sites to create its medieval fantasy world. Battle scenes were among those shot in the Cashel area.
That gives two of Tipperary’s best-known tourist landmarks another screen credit.
Cahir Castle, dramatically positioned on a rocky island in the River Suir, is one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved medieval castles, while the Rock of Cashel is among the country’s most instantly recognisable historic sites. Their imposing towers, stone walls and remarkable settings make both natural choices for a fantasy production centred on a medieval world.
“The Wayfinders” follows three high-school students who are transported into a dangerous realm of swords, magic and monsters and must find a route home. Issy plays ‘Aurora’, while Sam stars as ‘Kavan’.
Their working relationship developed into romance, and the couple have now revealed their engagement following Sam’s proposal during a romantic break. The announcement was made in early October 2026, two years after the pair first met while working on the series.
Both actors were already familiar faces. Sam previously appeared as ‘Fitzy’ in EastEnders, while Issy’s television credits include “Silent Witness” and “Before We Die”.
The couple have also moved behind the camera together, launching independent production company ‘Silent Knight Productions’, in November 2025.
For Tipperary, however, the story provides another reminder of the extraordinary screen potential of Cahir Castle and the Rock of Cashel; two historic attractions now forming part of the backdrop to a fantasy series and the real-life romance that grew from it.
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