The Best Irish Movies Of All Time
Are you a cinema fan?
Don’t miss this trip among the most wonderful Irish must-watch films!
Ireland has a rich tradition in acting and film, providing a special and captivating experience for a global audience. Irish movies often feature powerful storytelling, touching on themes like identity, history, struggle and resilience. From heartwarming stories to compelling historical epic poems, the Irish cinematic industry has created unique works of art that we have all heard of.
Keep reading to find out some Irish masterpieces you have to see, must-watch movies for anyone who appreciates amazing textures, great acting performances and unforgettable landscapes!
- MY LEFT FOOT (Jim Sheridan, 1989)
Based on the book of the same name, this heartwarming movie tells the life of Christy Brown, an Irish man, born with a very serious physical disability. The only part of the body which has any function is the left foot. From this small miracle, Christy becomes an excellent and highly appreciated painter, poet and author. It’s the story of a man who fought for a life full of meaning, despite all the difficulties, with the confidence that his place in the world would become clear and his need to be loved, corresponded. The film star is Daniel Day-Lewis, whose performance earned him his first Oscar as best leading man.
Daniel Day-Lewis starring in “My left foot”
- ONCE (John Carney, 2007)
In this renowned music-driven romance movie we find Glen Hansard as a street musician who hopes for his big break. One day he meets a Czech immigrant flower seller (Marketa Irglova). The pair decide to collaborate and their songs highlight their deep connection. The film’s standout is the Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly,” which became an international hit. Once is a simple, profound love story set to beautiful music, proving that love isn’t only about happy endings or passionate affection, but sometimes it’s a way to grow together and help each other to get a little bit closer to becoming the person you’re really meant to be.
- THE COMMITMENTS (Alan Parker, 1991)
This cult talks about a group of young people of the working-class coming together to form a Dublin soul band. Based on the Roddy Doyle novel and directed by Alan Parker, The Commitments is a celebration of music, ambition, and the beauty-and-ruin of the spirit of success. With its contagious soundtrack and memorable performances, this film remains full-fledged a must-watch of Irish cinema in the 1990s.
Musicians and singers of the band in “The commitments”
- THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (Martin McDonagh, 2022)
On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his mate Colm (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. Pádraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm’s resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences.
The Banshees of Inisherin focus attention on the complexity of human relationships by truly immersing the viewer in the story and provoking him deep down with the painful existential question that every human being can share: why do things end?
- THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures
- Top 5 Scenic Irish Film and Tv Locations to Visit
A scene taken from “The Banshees of Inisherin”
- THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (Ken Loach, 2006)
Directed by Ken Loach, The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a touching and powerful historical drama set during the Irish War of Independence and the subsequent Irish Civil War. Cillian Murphy stars as Damien O’Donovan, a young doctor who joins his brother Teddy (Pádraic Delaney) in the fight for Irish independence. The film captures the disquiet and tragedy of this period in Irish history and won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s a must-watch for history enthusiasts and those interested in Ireland’s fight for freedom.
Cillian Murphy playing Damien O’Donovan in “The Wind That Shakes the Barley”
- HUNGER (Steve McQueen, 2008)
This is a powerful drama film about the 1981 Irish hunger strike in Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison. It focuses on the story of Bobby Sands (played by Michael Fassbender), an IRA member who led the strike to protest the British government’s refusal to grant political prisoner status to IRA inmates. Due to its intense depiction of prison conditions, Hunger is a haunting exploration of sacrifice, resistance, and human tolerance. It won widespread critical acclaim for its stark visual style and emotional depth.
- HUNGER Trailer (2008) – The Criterion Collection
- Irish films – what to watch to learn about Ireland’s history
Michael Fassbbender playing Bobby Sands in “Hunger”
- IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (Jim Sheridan, 1993)
For a movie that is so politically charged, the brilliance of Jim Sheridan’s motion picture is that we enter into every event from the perspective of how it affects the relationship between a father and son. This powerful drama is based on the true story of the “Guildford Four”, which are four men wrongfully convicted of an IRA bombing in the UK. The film follows Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he battles to prove his innocence and highlights the deep political and social tensions of the time.
Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite as Gerry and Giuseppe Conlon starring “In the name of the father”
- FLIGHT OF THE DOVES
Flight of the Doves is a lively adaptation of Walter Macken’s novel. In this heartwarming, funny, suspenseful story, two runaway children, Finn and Derval Dove, run away from a cruel British stepfather to their Irish grandmother in Galway. This movie captures the innocence and
resilience of childhood, along with the kindness of strangers they meet along the way.
- Image taken from Beverly cinema’s article of Flight of the doves
- THE QUIET GIRL (in Irish: An Cailín Ciúin) (Colm Bairéad, 2022)
A nine-year-old girl from a dysfunctional family goes to live with distant relatives for the summer. Living with a middle-aged farm couple, she discovers a new way of living. This seemingly “quiet and silent” story tells the depth of human relationships and how you can change another person’s life just through a word or a gesture of love. It also highlights the importance of education nowadays and how many children are still growing up emotionally neglected.
Catherine Clinch in “The quiet girl”
- ADAM & PAUL (Lenny Abrahamson, 2004)
Adam and Paul are two heroin addicts in constant search for their next fix. The film features strong performances from Tom Murphy and Mark O’Halloran, who portray the titular characters with a blend of humor and bleakness. This film, which has now become a cult, is a moving and realistic portrayal of marginalized lives in modern Ireland.
Tom Murphy and Mark O’Halloran in “Adam & Paul”
I hope this movie roundup has been useful for all those who are interested in cinema.
Let me know what you think and if you have other motion pictures to suggest!
