The 12 Greatest Movies Set in Ireland That We've Ever Watched

      Here are the twelve finest films set in Ireland that we've ever experienced.

      We know it isn't St. Patrick's Day, but we enjoy these movies set in the Emerald Isle all year round.

      Let’s dive in.

      The Quiet Man (1952)

      Republic Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Among films set in Ireland, The Quiet Man remains the standout, even after all these years. It's arguably the most successful as well. Director John Ford received the Best Director Oscar for this 1952 film, marking his fourth win—a record, as no one living has more than two. The film was also nominated for Best Picture but didn't win.

      In it, John Wayne portrays Sean Thornton, a retired boxer who returns to his birthplace in Ireland after living in America. His American experience helps explain why Wayne sounds like, well, John Wayne. Sean falls for a fiery redhead named Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara), but it’s Victor McLaglen, who plays Mary Kate’s overbearing brother, that received an Oscar nomination.

      The village of Cong, a filming location, still boasts a statue of John Wayne in character.

      The Commitments (1991)

      20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      This film, set among Dublin's working-class community, focuses on a young music enthusiast who gathers locals to form a soul group called The Commitments.

      It's a feel-good, underdog tale, but The Commitments' most significant impact in the U.S. was its music. The soundtrack reached number eight on the Billboard charts and achieved triple platinum status.

      While some may view Irish performers singing the songs of Black artists as cultural appropriation, the film argues that music serves as a unifying force for all underdogs.

      The Secret of Kells (2009)

      Buena Vista International – Credit: C/O

      Animated films can also be set in Ireland! This fantasy film delves into the real Book of Kells, though the storyline is fictional. Fantasy films seldom stick to factual accuracy.

      The Secret of Kells is a period piece set in ninth-century Ireland and incorporates various Viking elements. The animation is rich and distinctive, crucial for crafting a well-received animated fantasy.

      The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars but lost to Up.

      Hunger (2008)

      Pathé Distribution – Credit: C/O

      You might wonder if Hunger, British director Steve McQueen's debut feature set in Northern Ireland, should be classified among the best films set in Ireland since Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

      However, the heart of Hunger lies firmly with Ireland. It tells the true story of Bobby Sands (portrayed by Irish-German actor Michael Fassbender), a member of the Irish Republican Army who led a hunger strike to protest the British government's refusal to acknowledge his fellow IRA inmates as political prisoners.

      The Criterion Collection describes the film as “purely experiential, even abstract, a succession of images filled with both beauty and horror.” It's ultimately a story about not only Ireland but also about everyone held captive worldwide and the ways they assert their humanity.

      McQueen would later win the Best Picture Oscar for Twelve Years a Slave.

      Barry Lyndon (1975)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      When a director achieves iconic status, their lesser-known films often become viewed as underappreciated classics. Stanley Kubrick is no exception. When cinephiles have discussed all there is to say about The Shining or Full Metal Jacket, they may turn their attention to his other works.

      Today, both Eyes Wide Shut and Barry Lyndon receive endless praise from film enthusiasts. The latter was released when Kubrick’s potential seemed boundless.

      Ryan O'Neal stars as the titular Irish rogue, and even back then, Barry Lyndon was viewed as exceptionally well-crafted. It won Oscars for its score, art direction, costume design, and cinematography.

      The film is not fast-paced but rather sneaks up on you with a darkly sardonic message about class. Its dry humor and melancholy are characteristic of the finest Irish storytelling tradition.

      My Left Foot (1989)

      Palace Pictures – Credit: C/O

      The now-retired Daniel Day-Lewis received six Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and won three times. His first win was for My Left Foot, a biopic about Christy Brown, a real Irish artist with cerebral palsy who created art using his foot.

      The performance is intensely demanding, yet Day-Lewis shines. Knowing his dedication to his craft, one can only imagine his work on set. Additionally, we shouldn't overlook the rest of the cast, as Brenda Fricker also won Best Supporting Actress for her role.

      Jim Sheridan, the film’s Irish director, has made many other excellent films, including In the Name of the Father and In America.

      Once (2007)

      Buena Vista International – Credit: C/O

      Glen Hansard was part of the ensemble in The Commitments.