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I started with a list of Irish Movies from the website Irish Central. I've added a few recommendations from my Irish Coworkers and reordered the list. The top spots are now filled with movies that I have seen and liked. I've tried to note when they are not available on iTunes or other streaming services in the US.

 

Waking Ned Devine

This movie is a great take on Irish humor. Definitely worth watching before a visit to Ireland. The scenery is great ... but from the Isle of Man and not Ireland, but everything else appears to be spot-on.

 

My Left Foot 

This is by far the best movie, but gives less insight into Irish culture than Waking Ned Divine. This is a movie about a gentleman named Christy Brown who was born with Cerebral Palsy. During his life he became an accomplished writer and artist using only his left foot, the only appendage on his body that he could control. It won Academy Awards for both Leading Actor and Supporting Actress.

 

The Guard

High on my list because of the insistence from my Irish coworkers. This movie had the all time largest box office receipts in Ireland. It's an action comedy based in Galway and Connemara.

 

The Wind that Shakes the Barley 

This movie had the second largest box office receipts in Ireland. A movie about the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War that followed. At times it can be quite gruesome but gives deep insights into societal fissures that still exist in Irish society today.

 

The Quiet Man 

This movie is not popular in Ireland but appears to be popular with tourists. It only appears to be available in DVD in the US but is available on iTunes in Ireland. The movie is quite entertaining and gives a good feel for the culture of Ireland albeit from an American point of view. The Irish must not disagree too much with the portrayal, as areas that were filmed in the movie are featured with signs, etc. all over Ireland. I'm sure this movie was considered quite risqué in its day. John Wayne was definitely cast as "the hunk" in this movie, contrary to many of his later roles. I found the sexist and non-politically correct aspects of the movie to be very amusing. Well worth the watch before or during a trip to Ireland

 

The Field

This movie was highly recommended throughout the web and by my Irish friends. Richard Harris is the lead actor, but I was disappointed. This is a very dramatic and well done film with lots of scenery but closer to a Greek Tragedy. I don't like Greek Tragedies, so I probably won't watch again, unless we have visitors who insist 😉. The scenes of Ireland are very nice and it does give a good insight into Irish culture.

 

Once

Featuring Glen Hansard, a very popular Irish singer-musician, this movie has won an Academy award for the best original score and a Grammy award. If you like Glen Hansard's music at all, then you will like this movie.

 

The Crying Game

This movie was OK. It did not give much insight into Irish culture and some of the kinky sex scenes might make some viewers a little squeamish. It does have plot twists that are quite surprising.

 

The Commitments

This movie is an adaptation of a Roddy Doyle Novel and is not in the iTunes store. Several of the legendary Irish singers had their start in this movie. I have not seen it but it is one of the top movies to be quoted around the lunch room table at work.

 

The Snapper

Also an adaptation of a Roddy Doyle book. I have seen this movie and it was touching and funny. It tells the story of an unwed mother and her relationship with her family, both tense and touching.

 

Here are some more recent Irish films that I have not seen but look interesting:

 

Hunger

Calvary

Michael Collins

Sing Street

Belfast

An Irish Goodbye (a short film)

The Quiet Girl

The Banshees of Inisherin - A fictional island that was filmed on Inishmore and Achille Island

The Wonder



Some of these may be tough to find on US streaming services. Enjoy the movies

 

See You In the Pub!

Jet Lag Jack