Some people may celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by going to the bar for a few drinks. Others might prepare an Irish dish or play some Irish music. However, after consuming all the hot whiskey and apple cakes, you’ll likely need time to relax. Finding the best Irish movies to watch on St. Patrick’s Day is the ideal approach and the best way to end the day.
Irish cinema predominantly was made for Irish audiences before they went mainstream in the late 2000s. The best Irish films, regardless of genre, are alive with a spirit that reflects the nation’s centuries-long history and the quirks of its people. While there’s no reason to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to watch these timeless pieces, we can’t think of a better excuse to start binge-watching these choices.
Table of Contents
Best Irish Movies To Watch  On St. Patrick’s Day
There are plenty of enjoyable choices, from endearing romantic comedies to enlightening historical documentaries about Ireland. We’ve chosen the best of the best, so you won’t have to go through hundreds of titles.
The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022)
In 2008’s In Bruges, writer-director Martin McDonagh cast Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson as an eccentric team of hitmen forced to hide out in a charming Belgian tourist town. After fourteen years, they find themselves stranded together once more, but this time, it’s a small, isolated island off the coast of Ireland—the only location either of them has ever known.Â
The tragicomedy, set toward the close of the Irish Civil War, centers on Pádraic, a man who finds it difficult to accept that his long-term friendship with Colm, his neighbor, is ending. With such powerful performances and thought-provoking subjects, we can understand why it received nine Oscar nominations. It has the characteristically Irish trait of being bittersweet and bleakly humorous, much like most of McDonagh’s work.
The Irish Pub (2013)
With interviews with pub owners and drinkers, Alex Fegan’s documentary delves into the history of Irish pub culture. Pour a pint of Guinness and enjoy a virtual trip to the Emerald Isle. Every bar has an intriguing backstory, and the friendly patrons will always entice you.
William Butler Yeats’s well-known phrase, “There are no strangers here, only friends that have not yet met,” opens the movie. By the end of the movie, viewers might also find themselves wishing for these amazing pals they haven’t met on the other side of the screen, in addition to a few well-deserved beers.
Brooklyn (2015)
In addition to recreating the titular 1950s borough and all of its melting-pot diversity, including Dodgers-loving Italian boyfriends, this wrenchingly beautiful Irish immigrant drama sees 21-year-old Saoirse Ronan in the kind of role that turns young stars into icons.
The story of Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman from Enniscorthy, County Wexford, who almost unwittingly finds herself “away to America” and the new horizons of the named east coast borough, is told in this Nick Hornby adaptation of Colm TóibÃn’s novel. Brooklyn skillfully conveys the sense of being torn between time, place, and identity by drawing on a plethora of émigré cinematic history.
Once (2007)
Glen Hansard plays the part of a street musician who works as a vacuum repairman in hopes of landing his big break. One day, Marketa Irglova, a Czech immigrant who makes a living by selling flowers, approaches him and tells him she is hoping to become a singer-songwriter. When the two decide to work together, the songs they write tell the tale of their budding romance.
You hardly notice the film’s clever use of character and structure since John Carney’s directing is so understated and charming. It looks nearly like a lost item; it’s lovely and modestly authentic.
Belfast (2021)Â
“Belfast,” narrated from a child’s perspective, is a surprisingly short and straightforward film that accomplishes an amazing feat. It explores the trauma that ethnic and sectarian violence causes to both the targeted group and the “privileged” majority who choose not to participate in it.
Writer-director Kenneth Branagh’s personal narrative tells the tale of a Protestant family forced to flee Northern Ireland by the same Protestant Loyalist troops who were trying to rid certain districts of Catholics during the Troubles. The film features a fantastic cast and a lovely soundtrack and addresses significant subjects like family and tolerance.
Hunger (2008)
British artist and director Steve McQueen’s debut film dramatizes the six grueling weeks toward the end of IRA faster Bobby Sands’s life. Concentrating on the Northern Ireland Republican prisoners’ hunger strikes of 1981. Among the prisoners who initially “took to the blanket” with a “dirty protest” to press their claims to be recognized as political prisoners was Bobby Sands. Subsequently, Sands initiated the group’s first hunger strike, which ultimately resulted in his demise.
The physical dedication of actor Michael Fassbender is remarkable, and this film symbolizes his ascent to greatness.
Sing Street (2016)
Teenagers have always formed bands for the same two reasons: to get laid and/or to flee their hometown. Director John Carney successfully captures both desires in this popular musical set in the 1980s, which centers on a misfit student at a private school forming a band to make his crush appear in a music video.
Even though it has many clichés associated with growing up, the songs convey a universal truth: that, like anywhere else, loving Ireland sometimes means leaving it behind. The energy is strong, and the songs are amazing.
Calvary (2014)
A murder threat is sent to a priest in an Irish community, telling him he has one week to die, find and kill the unknown parishioner. As he attempts to plan his affairs, meets with his fellow town residents, and hears their everyday misdeeds, he comes to the realization that his days are limited. He needs to make peace with himself and his faith as his final day on earth draws closer before being executed.
This humorous and philosophical play explores the limits of our religious commitment and the presence of God. One man fights to maintain faith in an indifferent society when cynicism surrounds him.
Michael Collins (1996)
Michael Collins is the story of an Irish revolutionary, soldier, and politician who served as the commander of the Irish Republican Army and was instrumental in assisting his country in achieving independence from Great Britain. It includes everything from friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and all in between as the Irish fight for independence.
Neeson is excellent in Neil Jordan’s engrossing biopic about the Irish leader, and the movie received nominations for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe.
 Philomena (2013)
The Oscar-nominated drama film, based on true events, follows an Irish woman named Philomena Lee, who was sent to a convent by her father and had to give up her child for adoption. The narrative is told by a London-based journalist who decides to assist Philomena Lee. In this moving drama about young pregnancy and social injustice, Dench and Coogan both give outstanding performances.
Conclusion
Whether you’re in the mood for a historical epic, light, and easy rom-com, or something a bit more unexpected, we have shared the list of the 10 best Irish movies to watch on St. Patrick’s Day. For more updates and movie recommendations, keep following Viebly.
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