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Top 50 Must-See Irish Films

The last year has been amazing for the Irish film industry, with big hits like Sing Street, A Date For Mad Mary and The Young Offenders receiving high praise.

The latest Irish film to hit the big screen was Jamie Dornan’s The Siege of Jadotville – which is one of the first Netflix films to be released in the cinema before being shown on the movie sharing site.

There are a huge amount of quality films made from Irish production companies and starring Irish actors that have been made over the years – many we’ve forgotten about.

If you’re feeling patriotic and want to watch a real homegrown film, Goss.ie have listed the top 50 Irish films.

1. Brooklyn

Brooklyn tells the story of a young Irish woman’s immigration to Brooklyn where she falls in love with an American boy – but her past catches up to her and forces her to choose either her Irish life or American dreams.

Based off the novel by Colm Toibin, the film was one of the most talked about films of 2015 and received a standing ovation at it’s Sundance Film Festival premiere.

For leading lady Saoirse Ronan, it is one of her most, if not the most, acclaimed roles to date and gained her nominations in various award ceremonies such as the BAFTAs, Oscars, Golden Globe, Screen Actor’s Guild and Critic’s Choice.

Overall, Brooklyn won 30 out of 141 awards including Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs which caused a lot of debate seeing as it had been labelled as an “Irish film.”

2. Frank

A young musician, Jon, has bitten off more than he can chew when he decides to join an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and hidden man in a paper mache mask – Frank.

Michael Fassbender stars as the band’s leader with Domhnall Gleeson as Jon who starts to post videos of the band playing online and gains them a small following.

Maggie Gyllenhaal also stars in the film as she torments Domnhnall’s character to no end.

The film is a rollercoaster story from start to finish and has won nine awards including three IFTA wins and two wins from Best Independent Film Awards.

3. The Secret Of Kells

The Secret Of Kells is one of the most highly reverred features films from Kilkenny based production company Cartoon Saloon.

The powerful voice of Abbot Cellach is voiced by Brendan Gleeson and won Best Animation at the 2010 IFTAs.

The story follows a young boy named Brendan who is training to become a monk in Abbot Cellach’s monastery but it’s set to be attacked by a pack of barbarians.

It’s when he comes across a young girl in the woods that he gets a magical book that will help his monastery overcome the threat – but not without many difficulties along the way.

4. Michael Collins

Michael Collins was one of the men who shaped Ireland to be the nation it is today.

The biopic tells the story of the man who led a guerrilla war against the UK, helped negotiate the creation of the Irish Free State and led the National Army during the Irish Civil War.

Liam Neeson stars at the Irish leader and is one of his most powerful roles to date.

The rich history of our country is shown throughout the film from peaceful negotiations to the emotional speech that would put Barack Obama to shame.

5. The Snapper

Based off of Roddy Doyle’s book of the same name, The Snapper is about a 20-year-old woman called Sharon Curley is becomes pregnant with the baby of a man she hates.

When she refuses to tell her parents the name of the little “snapper’s” father and people find out she’s pregnant, Sharon becomes the talk of the town.

Tina Kellegher stars as the leading lady with Colm Meaney playing her father and Ruth McCabe starring as her mother.

6. My Left Foot

My Left Foot is based off the true story of Christy Brown – a man with cerebral palsy who could only control his left foot.

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as leading man who, using only his left foot, learns how to write and paint

With 11 awards won in total, it has become one of the most critically acclaimed Irish films to date.

7. Once

An incredibly gorgeous musical, Once follows the life of a Dublin busker after he meets a young Czech woman selling flowers in the city.

The two bond over their love for music and the story unravels as they help each other through life in a busy city.

Starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Once won 22 awards out of 29 nominations.

The film was such a huge hit that it’s now been made into a spectacular musical show that was on stage in the Olympia Theatre for eight weeks from July to August 2017.

8. Bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday tells the story of the real events in 1972 “Bloody Sunday” shootings in Derry, Northern Ireland.

A group of protestors marched through the city’s streets led by civil rights activist Ivan Cooper and was fired upon by British troops, killing 13 protesters and wounding 14 more.

James Nesbitt stars as the Ivan and the film’s story was inspired by Don Mullan’s book. Eyewitness Bloody Sunday

Though set in Derry, it was actually filmed in Dublin’s Ballymun.

9. The Commitments

Before Glen Hansard wooed ladies on the streets of Dublin, he strummed his guitar as a member of The Commitments.

The film based off from Roddy Doyle’s novel of the same name is set in the North Dublin where a group of friends come together to form a soul music band.

The Commitments won four BAFTAs nominations including Best Film and Best Direction.

Like Once, it’s also gone on to be a hit musical production and is touring around the UK and Ireland until the end of May 2017.

10. In Bruges

One of the most hilarious black comedies to come out of Ireland, Colin Farrell’s film is one that every Irish person must see – given they’re over the age of 18.

The Dubliner stars as a hitman along with his partner in crime, Brendan Gleeson, who are awaiting orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium.

Colin won Best Performance By An Actor in 2009’s Golden Globes for his role as Ray in the film, which was just one of the film’s 22 wins.

11. The Guard

Brendan Gleeson stars in this Irish buddy cop film with America star Don Cheadle, best known for starring in Marvel’s Iron Man.

An easy-going guard is partnered up with an American FBI agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring that’s ended up in Ireland.

One of the most successful Irish films of all time, Vanity fair described it as “the most thoroughly enjoyable film experience at Sundance, a nice change of pace from the anomie, alienated angst and melancholy of other films.”

12. Adam and Paul

Two Dublin drug addicts, Adam and Paul, are on the hunt around the city for their next high.

The pair wander around Dublin meeting friends and family who try to help them out but also a few characters who aren’t so keen on seeing them walk away on two legs.

Adam and Paul won Best First Feature at the Galway Film Fleadh and the film’s director Lenny Abrahamson wont Best Film Director at the 2004 IFTAs.

13. In America

A family of Irish immigrants head over to America to start a new life in New York City.

The story is told through the eyes of the eldest child Christy as the family grieve the loss of their youngest child – five-year-old Frankie.

The emotional drama takes you through the family’s ups and downs as they struggle and survive in the Big Apple but learn the trust the kindness of strangers.

Critics gave the film hugely positive reviews for the story’s warmth and hopefulness with many calling it a tearjerker.

14. The Wind That Shakes The Barley

Two Cork brothers join the IRA to fight a guerrilla war against British forces in Ireland.

Set during the Irish War Of Independence and the Irish Civil war, the film is draped in Irish history.

Cillian Murphy stars as Damien O’Donovan, a doctor who is set to leave for London but changes his mind when he sees Irish people abused by others.

In 2006, when it was released, The Wind That Shakes The Barley became the most popular Irish film ever released in Ireland and earned €377,000 in it’s opening weekend.

15. Breakfast On Pluto

Based off the novel of the same name by Patrick McCabe, Breakfast on Pluto tells the story of a young transgender woman, Patrick “Kitten” Braden, in the 1970s who struggles with her identidy and leaves her small Irish town for London.

She travels to the capital city to look for her mother but also to leave behind her town who don’t understand her.

A stand-out role from Cillian Murphy who stars as Kitten, he won Best Actor in the 2007 film IFTA’s and snagged a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance By An Actor in 2006.

Love/Hate’s Ruth Negga stars alongside the Cork man as one of Kitten’s close friends Charlie who stays by her side throughout.

16. Veronica Guerin

Veronica Guerin was a Irish crime reporter who was murdered by drug lords and this film is based off of her tragic end.

It was her investigation into the Irish drug circle that led to her death.

In the film, Cate Blanchett plays the strong role of Veronica and the chilling film show what a powerful and intelligent woman she was.

Though the film had an extremely mixed reception, it won Best Irish Film in the 2003 film IFTA’s.

17. Waking Ned Devine

A hilarious comedy from the late 90s, Waking Ned Devine is about an small village who try to claim a man’s lotto jackpot after he passes away.

The village of 52 people do their best to make sure that the National Lotto don’t know that their winner has died as everyone scrambles to get the winnings.

David Kelly stars as one of the greedy villagers Michael O’Sullivan who goes above and beyond to fool an inspector that Ned Devine is alive and well.

18. Angela’s Ashes

Angela’s Ahses tells the story of how a boy’s family travelled from America back to Ireland because of financial difficulties and family problems – including his father’s alcoholism.

Angela’s Ashes is based off of the memoirs of Frank McCourt which focuses primarily on his childhood from New York to Limerick.

Robert Carlyle from Once Upon A Time stars as Frank’s father Malachy and was nominated for Best Actor in the 2000 IFTAs but the film won Best Feature Film at the awards that year.

19. The Butcher Boy

Based off the best-selling novel of the same name, it’s another story created by Patrick McCabe who also wrote Breakfast On Pluto.

The thriller was made into a chilling film set in the 1960s about a young boy called Francie Brady with a wild imagination – a worryingly wild imagination.

After getting a job in the local butcher’s, Francie has violent thoughts that lead to even more violent situations.

Eamon Owens, who stars as Francie, gave such a powerful performance that he was given a special mention at the 1998 Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Actor at the San Diego International Film Festival.

20. Song Of The Sea

Another film from Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon, Song Of The Sea is the most recent feature film from the production company.

A ten-year-old boy named Ben discovers that his mute sister Saoirse is a selkie – a human who is a seal in the water but transform back into a human on land.

Ben blames his sister for their mother’s death but works with her to help free fairies from the Celtic goddess Macha.

At the 2015 IFTAs, the film won Best Film but also won awards at the Melbourne International Film Festival, the Galway Film Fleadh, European Film Awards and the Hamburg Film Festival just to name a few.

21. Disco Pigs

Disco Pigs is an intense drama about life-long friends nicknamed Pig and Runt who become inseparable beyond their teen years.

As they reach adulthood, their friendship begins to crumble as Cillian Murphy’s character Pig falls for Elaine Cassidy’s Runt but she has eyes for another man, Marky.

Runt is then sent off to boarding school leaving Pig lost and aggressive as he deals with losing his best friend and his love.

Adapted from the stage production of the same name, Cillian also starred as Pig in the play and he wrote and played the second song that features in the film’s credits.

22. Calvary

At the start of the film, an unseen parishioner tells Father James that he will kill him because of the crimes of another priest.

Brendan Gleeson stars as Father James, a good natured priest who now must battle the dark forces closing in around him.

Along with the Dubliner, Calvary has a heap of Irish talent including Chris O’Dowd, Aidan Gillan and Dylan Moran.

23. Hunger

Based off the true story of Bobby Sands, Michael Fassbender delivers a strong performance as the IRA fighter.

Among many other imprisoned IRA members, Bobby leads the men as they are on hunger strike and involved in a no-wash protest.

For his role, Michael had to lose over 40 pounds which left him unrecognisable but won seven awards as Bobby including Best Actor Of The Year at the 2009 London Critics Circle Film Awards.

24. The Magdalene Sisters

The Magdalene Sister’s a film set in the 1960s about three sister who are sent to the Magdalene Asylums, also known as the Magdalene Laundries.

The film is based off from the history of the ‘laundries’ where ‘fallen’ women were sent who were seen as sexually promiscuous or worked as prostitutes.

Peter Mullen, the director, said that he made the film because for the real women who lived in these asylums, there was no closure or apology given for their horrific treatment.

25. Ondine

A fisherman discovers a woman in his fishing net whom his precocious daughter believes to be a selkie.

Colin Farrell stars as Syracuse, a recovering alcoholic and father to Annie, and Alicja Bachleda stars as the selkie named Ondine.

The film picked up won four out of eight awards at the 2010 IFTAs and Colin picked up two awards for his performance in Ondine.

26. About Adam

A woman has had a string of men in her life that have barely lasted a month – but that all changes when Adam comes along.

Stuart Townsted stars as the enticing Adam who captures Lucy’s heart as well as her two sisters hearts.

Kate Hudson stars as the romantic Lucy and does her very best at tackling the Irish accent.

27. What Richard Did

An intense drama about a group of friend who come to blows over a girl and things get way out of hand

Transformers star Jack Reynor stars as the film’s lead Richard and Sam Keeley from Anthropoid plays Conor, the teammate with an unfortunate end.

The film was extremely well received on it’s release and took over the 2010 IFTAs winning Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Actor and Best Editing.

28. Anthropoid

Anthropoid is based on the true story about Operation Anthropoid.

Two Czech agents travel to their homeland and enter the city of Prague to track down and assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Solution and the Reich’s third in command after Hitler and Himmler.

Jamie Dornan and Cillian Murphy team up to star as the Czech agents and have admitted the two had quite a strong bromance while working on the film.

Anthropoid is still in cinemas for the next while so be sure to check your local cinema for times.

29. In The Name Of The Father

In The Name Of The Father is a biographical film based around The Troubles in 1970s Ireland.

The film is based off of Gerry Conlon’s telling book Proved Innocent where he details how he ended up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

In The Name Of The Father tells Gerry’s story of being persuaded into confessing to an IRA bombing he did not commit but also causes his father to be imprisoned too.

Award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Gerry Conlon in the 1993 classic.

30. Shadow Dancer

Before her stunning role as the powerful Stella Gibson in The Fall, Gillian Anderson starred in Shadow Dancer.

The film beings in Belfast in the early 1990s where a woman, Colette, is surrounded by her family before the audience are brought back to 1973 when her brother is killed because of The Troubles.

Colette is motivated by this to join the IRA but is caught and given an ultimatum – she either spends 25 years in prison and lose her only son or become an informant for MI5, a security agency for the UK.

Clive Owen stars as the threatening Mac and Andrea Riseborough from Bloodline stars as the brave Colette.

31. A Date For Mad Mary

Seana Kerslake stars as Mary – a woman who’s just got out of prison but needs to find a date for her sister’s wedding.

A Date For Mad Mary was released just this year and is a typical Irish comedy.

You can expect to not only laugh while watching this film but also expect a few little tears to escape.

A Date For Mad Mary is still in cinemas so check out your local cinemas times for when it’s on next.

32. Borstal Boy

Borstal Boy is based off of Brendan Behan’s autobiography of the same name.

In his younger years, Brendan was an IRA volunteer and agrees to head over to Liverpool to fight for his country – but is caught and imprisoned in Borstal, a reformation institution for young offenders.

It’s in this institution that Brendan must come face-to-face with people he has hated all his life and befriend them.

33. About Time

We’ve all wanted to go back in time and catch that love we missed out on – but imagine if you actually could.

About Time is a story exactly about that as a time traveller, Tim, uses his special talent to find himself love.

Domhnall Gleeson stars alongside Rachel Adams in this heartwarming romance film.

The film gained a few mixed reviews, but it was a surprise success in South Korea of all places

34. Intermission

A black comedy set in Dublin, Intermission that tells various stories that all cross-over one another in some way or another.

Colin Farrell stars as Lehiff, a charmer who woo’s his way through life, and Cillian Murphy as John, a man who recently separated from his partner.

Colm Meaney stars as Garda Detective Jerry Lynch, Lehiff’s sworn nemesis who’s determined to wipe Dublin free of who he thinks are hooligans.

35. The Young Offenders

 

Named the biggest Irish box office hit ever, The Young Offenders is a hilarious film about two Cork boys.

Conor is a 15-year-old student living in Cork with his single mother and lives his life with Jock, a 15-year-old who’s hobby is stealing bikes.

Jock hears on the news that €440million worth of cocaine was dumped on the shores of West Cork and convinces Conor to travel with him down to Three Castle Head to get just one bale.

The hilarious film is one of this year’s definite must see films and it’s still in cinemas.

36. Eat The Peach

Two young Irish men are watching an old Elvis Presley movie in which a carnival cyclist performs an act called the Wall Of Death.

Obsessed with the idea, they decide to put together their own Wall Of Death.

The comedy is based on actual events where brothers-in-law Connie Kiernan and Michael Donoghue actually build the daredevil wall in their back garden.

37. A Film With Me In It

A gas black comedy about two men who just happen to be at the same place where multiple people have deathly accidents in just a few short hours.

Dylan Moran and Mark Doherty star as the unfortunate friends who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Amy Huberman and David O’Doherty also star as a few of the tragic victims in this hilariously morbid film.

38. The Van

Another film based on one of Roddy Doyle’s books, The Van tells the story of a Bimbo, played by Donal O’Kelly, who buys a van with his best mate Larry, played by Colm Meaney.

The two guys sell fish and chips from the van as their own business but their friendship comes to blows as the business causes tension.

Brendan O’Carroll from Mrs. Brown’s Boys also stars in the comedy as Weslie, the eccentric friend of the two entrepreneurs.

39. Sing Street

Sing Street is an musical comedy set in 1980s south inner-city Dublin about a boy who meets a girl – but goes to extreme lengths just to impress her.

Conor Lalor is sent to a new school by his father and struggles to make friends but scrambles together the few he has to create a band for a model he becomes infatuated with.

Starring Jack Reynor and Game Of Thrones’ Aidan Gillen, the film is directed by John Carney known for other hit films like Once and Begin Again.

40. Good Vibrations

Set in the 1970s, Good Vibrations tells the story of DJ Terri Hooley – a music-lover, idealist, radical and rebel.

Still living at home with his parents, Terri makes the brave move of opening his own record shop on the most bombed half-mile in Europe to bring the positive vibes of reggae to the Irish.

Starring Liam Cunningham, the drama shows the ups and downs of Terri’s life as he does his best to make ends needs.

41. How About You

A feel good film about a Northern Irish girl who comes home and starts working with her sister in a residential home.

Ellie has some trouble adjusting to her new jobs but befriends Alice, one of the homes residents.

Set around Christmas time, it’s definitely a film to watch during the colder months with a few pals – as long as you don’t mind crying in front of each other.

42. The Stag

The Stag is a hilarious comedy about one of the country’s favourite type of party – the bachelor party.

Just like a bachelorette party, stags can get out of hand pretty fast – and this film shows some of the most bleak but gas happenings before someone gets hitched.

Starring a heap of famous faces like Amy Huberman, Andrew Scott and Brian Gleeson, it is one of the funniest films to watch during a night in with friends.

43. Inside I’m Dancing

Inside I’m Dancing is definitely one of the top Irish feel good films ever made.

Michael Connolly, a young man with cerebral palsy, has his calm world turned upside down when wheelchair bound Rory O’Shea comes into his life.

The pair share the same room in the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled and Rory shares his wild world with Michael – including wooing women using their disability and stating Irish law to get into nightclubs.

X-Men star James McAvoy stars as the irresponsible but fun Rory O’Shea but caused a lot of controversy as a physically abled actor playing a character with a disability.

44. Into The West

From the same writer of My Left Foot, Into The West tells the story of two young traveller boys, Tito and Ossie, trying to find their stolen horse

Their father was nicknamed King Of The Travellers until his wife died giving birth giving birth to Ossie.

Gabriel Byrne stars as the father in this moving drama and David Kelly stars are the two young boys grandfather.

45. Jimmy’s Hall

Set during the Depression, Jimmy’s Hall is a heartwarming story about a man returning home to Ireland after ten years away to bring back fun and laughter to his hometown.

Barry Ward stars as Jimmy, a activist who tries to reopen the dance hall that led to his deportation.

Despite only winning one award out of four nominatons, Jimmy’s Hall was well received by critics.

46. Perrier’s Bounty

Perrier, a gangster, looks to exact his revenge on a trio of fugitives responsible for the accidental death of one of his cronies.

Set in modern day Dubln, Perrier’s Bounty has often been described as a modern day western.

Brendan Gleeson stars are the villianious title character and Cillian Murphy stars as Michael McCrea, the man who owes Perrier money.

47. The Boxer

After spending 14 years in prison, Former Irish pugilist & Provisional IRA member Danny Flynn returns home to Belfast in the

He falls in love with his old flame Maggie and sets up a non-sectarian boxing club for boys in an old gymnasium – but trouble still follows him.

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Danny, a man trying to right his wrongs as he attempts to woo his love.

48. Shrooms

A group of tourist are led by an Irish tour guide to the wild woodlands searching for psilocybin mushrooms.

The group start to hallucinogenic horribly as they are hunted by a serial killer.

Shrooms received negative reviews from critics when it was released in 2007 but is now seen as a cult movie among fans of the budget horror film.

49. Boy Eats Girl

One of Samantha Mumba’s first acting roles, Boy Eats Girl is a hilarious zombie movie and it a totally Irish production.

A teenage boy named Nathan decides to hang himself after the girl of his dreams fails to show for a secret date – but is then brought back to life as a zombie by a voodoo book his mother finds.

In a short space of time, the small Irish town is ramsacked with zombies as Nathan’s infectious disease spreads.

Funny woman Deidre O’Kane stars as Nathan’s mother in this hilariously bad zombie film – a definite must see with Halloween just around the corner.

50. The Siege Of Jadotville

Based off of real events, The Siege Of Jadotville tells to story of an Irish UN Troop in the Congo in Central Africa.

The team of men are lead by Commandant Pat Quinlan, played by Jamie Dornan.

Alongside the Belfast native include Moone Boy’s Ronan Raftery and Sam Keeley who also starred with Jamie in Anthropoid.

The film is out in cinemas now but will be available on Netflix from October 7th.

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