6 Irish films to watch this St. Patrick’s Day
<p>Looking for a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day that doesn’t involve drinking green beer and wearing a sequined hat? Why not snuggle into the comfiest couch you own and watch some of these wonderful Irish films?</p>
<p><strong>1. <em>Once</em></strong></p>
<p>This 2007 film is a pure delight to behold. Simultaneously an inspiring musical and tender love story, <em>Once</em> features mesmirising performances from Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard, and unforgettable music. The film won an Academy Award for its signature tune, “Falling Slowly”, and was reimagined as an award-winning Broadway musical in 2012.</p>
<p><strong>2. <em>In the Name of the Father</em></strong></p>
<p>A co-production between Irish, British, and American creative forces, this 1993 courtroom drama is based in the true story of four people falsely convicted of the 1974 Guildford pub bombings. <em>In the Name of the Father</em> is captivating, with standout performances from lead Daniel Day-Lewis, and from Emma Thompson.</p>
<p><strong>3. <em>Sing Street</em></strong></p>
<p>Hailed by some as the best original musical of 2016 (over the beloved <em>La La Land</em>), <em>Sing Street</em> follows the exploits of a boy growing up in 1980s Dublin. As a way to escape his troubled family life, and in an effort to impress the girl he likes, Robert Lawlor starts a band. The rest is pure, musical joy.</p>
<p><strong>4. <em>The Crying Game</em></strong></p>
<p>This thriller explores nationality, sexuality, gender, and race, with the perfect backdrop of the Northern Ireland conflict setting the scene. Considered one of the greatest British films of all time, <em>The Crying Game</em> explores a member of the IRA, who has a brief but impactful encounter with a soldier. To say more risks ruining the film, and that would be a shame.</p>
<p><strong>5. <em>Brooklyn</em></strong></p>
<p>This endearing romance from 2015 solidified Saoirse Ronan as a bona-fide star, reminding the world why she earned her first Oscar nomination at the age of 13 (in Joe Wright’s <em>Atonement</em>). Ronan’s Eilis immigrates to Brooklyn from her small Irish town, hoping to find employment. After arriving in Brooklyn, Eilis finds work, studies bookkeeping, and meets a charming young suitor, but misses her beloved sister. A true love letter to both Ireland and Brooklyn, this film is a delight you shouldn’t pass by.</p>
<p><strong>6. <em>The Secret of Kells</em></strong></p>
<p>If you’re looking for a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your grandchildren, this charming animated film might just be the perfect way to do it. With a cast of characters that includes a brave monk and a fairy, and a captivating setting of a fort-like monastery and a gorgeous forest, <em>The Secret of Kells</em> is sure to join the ranks of your family’s favourite animated classics.</p>
<p>Which of these Irish gems is your favourite?</p>
