There are so many incredible Irish films to enjoy this St Paddy’s Day, but here’s a short breakdown of some of the best to stream this March 17.
Irish actors have been taking over Hollywood in the best possible way in the past decade.
The Emerald Isles are filled with talent from the likes of Paul Mescal, Saoirse Ronan, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott and Aidan Turner, who are picking up the mantel from the older generation.
Some of these fantastic actors have appeared in some of the best films to come out of Ireland in the past few years.
So, if you’re feeling like celebrating St Paddy’s from your sofa, how about enjoying some of these amazing films?
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The Banshees of Inishirin
The Banshees of Inishirin was released in 2022 and stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson – along with Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon.
The absurd dark tragi-comedy focuses on a man named Pádraic (Farrell) who lives a sheltered life on the remote island off the west coast of Ireland, Inishirin.
The story begins as tragedy strikes Pádraic’s life when his best friend Colm (Gleeson) tells him that he doesn’t want to be friends anymore.
The story is heartbreaking and visually stunning and has earned an incredibly high ranking of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Available to stream now on Channel 4.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a 2015 romantic drama starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, and Domnhall Gleeson.
The story focuses on Eilis Lace (Ronan) an Irish immigrant who moves to Brooklyn in the 1950s and quickly falls in love with an Italian-American she meets at a dance.
Just as she is becoming less homesick, her past disrupts things, and she must choose between her old and new life.
The period film has a 97% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and was lauded by critics for its stunning acting performances.
Available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
’71
’71 was released in 2014 and stars Jack O’Connell as Gary Hook, a new recruit in the British Army who finds himself stuck in Belfast, separated from his unit during the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland.
The film is a tense thriller that has been highly regarded for its emotive storytelling and acting performances, earning a 96% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Irish Times called the movie a ‘visceral reminder of the dark days’.
Available to stream now on Netflix and ITVX.
Sing Street
Sing Street is a musical romantic-comedy-drama set in 1980s inner-city South Dublin.
The story focuses on Conor Lalor, a teenager who starts a band to impress a girl named Raphina. The love story is the central pillar of Conor’s life as his family crumbles around him.
The film is a musical delight that stitches together different music eras and debuts original music on its excellent soundtrack.
The film was released at Sundance and smashed box office expectations.
Available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video
Philomena
Philomena stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan and is inspired by the real2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith.
The film focuses on an Irish woman’s attempt to reconnect with her son, who she was forced to give up for adoption after falling pregnant when she was a teenager.
The heartbreaking true story has moments of levity and tells a real story that affected many women in Ireland who were subjected to this cruel treatment in the 1950s.
Available to stream now on Netflix
Belfast
Belfast is a 2021 coming-of-age drama starring Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, and Jamie Dornan.
The film follows a nine-year-old boy named Buddy and his life in Belfast at the beginning of the troubles in 1969.
The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards and has an 89% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
The website’s critic consensus reading: ‘A deeply personal project for writer-director Kenneth Branagh, Belfast transcends its narrative deficits with powerful performances and directorial craft.’
Available to purchase on Amazon Prime.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
The Wind That Shakes The Barley is an Irish war drama set in during the Irish War of Independence between 1919 and 1921.
The film focuses on Damien (Cillian Murphy) and Teddy O’Donovan (Pádraic Delaney), who join the Irish Republican Army to fight against the UK for Irish Independence.
But, in a tragic twist of fate, the brothers find themselves on opposite sides during the subsequent Irish civil war.
The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and was applauded by critics who praised director Ken Loach’s incredible cinematography and directing.
Available to purchase on Amazon Prime.
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