Front Row Dress Circle

Well, St Patrick’s day is rolling along so let’s keep the blarney and craic going as well. What are your top fave Irish films? here’s a list of my ten favourite Irish movies ( not in any particular order though ) and maybe a wee bit of trivia thrown in as well…

* Micheal Collins with dreamy Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn and Alan Rickman. The true story of Micheal Collins and his rise to national hero from his beginnings as a guerilla against the British. Set against the back drop of the 1916 Easter Rising.

* Waking Ned Devine may have been set on the rugged coastline of Ireland but in fact it was shot on the nearby Isle of Man. A delightful, fun and charming film with some old favourite faces including David Kelly and the late great Ian Bannen. He died tragically a year after making the film in a car accident at Loch Ness, Scotland.

* My Left Foot gave Daniel Day Lewis the role of disabled Irish artist/poet/author Christy Brown for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor. Details the early life and rise to prominence of Christy from his humble and poverty stricken but close family background. His relationship with his mother and siblings will warm your heart, as will his earthy courting of Mary. Also stars the magnificent late actor Ray McAnnally. Christy Brown died in 1981 at the age of 49 after choking on a sandwich. He was one of thirteen surviving children out of twenty-two born to his parents.

* In The Name of the Father is another film starring Day Lewis. Set during the time of the IRA spate of London bombings.

* The Committments is possibly the greatest movie ever made about a band. Real gritty stuff, this is real Dublin.

* The Quiet Man is a classic with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara set in the wild beauty of Connemara. This film was Waynes personal project.

* The Field is about one man’s obsession with a plot of land that has been tended by his family for generations. Starring Richard Harris and John Hurt it’s a film that you can watch time and again. The scene in the Priest’s house will stay in your mind forever.

* The Secret of Roan Inish is magical, purely magical. One for all the family, just two words…see it.

* Angela’s Ashes is gritty Roman Catholic Ireland at it’s best. The story of Frank McCourt from his roots in Limerick. Can be depressing at times though but a must-see never the less.

* The Crying Game of course. I cannot categorise this film, I don’t think anyone can really. Just see it. Oh, and if you haven’t seen it yet then I won’t spoil it by revealing the ending. Now, this has to be one of the worst kept secret endings ever so the key is not to tell anyone you are going to watch it and do not give in to temptation and Google it…see for yourself.

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