Explore a selection of powerful Irish films that illuminate the nation's history, from the fight for independence to the devastating impact of the Troubles.
If you dozed off during history class, you might not recall Ireland's vast and often tragic story. She has endured immense suffering and hardship at the hands of the British government and the Catholic Church over the years.
If you skimmed over topics like the Magdalene laundries, the Troubles, or the Anglo-Irish treaty in school, or have simply forgotten them, these powerful performances offer a compelling and accurate depiction of the fight for Irish independence and another reason to be proud of your Irish heritage. The Wind That Shakes the Barley, released in 2006 and starring Cillian Murphy, tells the story of the Irish War of Independence through the lives of two brothers, Damien and Teddy O'Donovan. The film begins with them as members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a deep divide emerges between the brothers, with fatal consequences. This powerful portrayal captures how the Irish Civil War tragically turned many Irish people against their own.Say Nothing, a limited series, loosely draws inspiration from the Belfast Project interviews with Dolours Price, a prominent member of the IRA. Set during the Troubles in Belfast in the 1970s-90s, the show focuses on 'the disappeared,' particularly Jean McConville, a widowed mother of ten who was abducted from her home. Throughout the series, we witness the Price sisters' upbringing, their involvement in the IRA, the London bombings, and the stories of other IRA members. This gripping show powerfully depicts the devastating impact of the Troubles in Ireland, specifically Belfast, and the sacrifices and mistakes made during that turbulent time. The Magdalene Sisters follows a group of women unjustly held in a Magdalene laundry. They hatch an escape plan, but one of the nuns overseeing them thwarts their efforts. This film exposes the horrific circumstances thousands of women and children endured at the hands of the Catholic Church in Ireland and the profound influence the Church wielded over Irish society in the 20th century.Similar to The Magdalene Sisters, Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy and released in 2024, tells the story of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five daughters. Set in 1985, in a small Irish town, Bill confronts his beliefs about the Catholic Church and its treatment of women within the Magdalene Laundries, as well as his own childhood experiences with these institutions. Witnessing firsthand the horrors unfolding within these institutions while raising five young daughters who could potentially become victims of this abuse weighs heavily on him.Released in 2008 and starring Michael Fassbender, Hunger tells the true story of Bobby Sands, an Irish Republican in Northern Ireland who embarked on a hunger strike to compel the British Government to abolish the Special Category Status law. Bobby encourages his fellow inmates to join the hunger strike at various stages to maximize publicity. Set in Maze Prison in 1981, the film exposes the brutality of the British Government and soldiers against Irish people and the physical and psychological damage inflicted by The Troubles on the people of Ireland.Michael Collins, released in 1996 and starring Liam Neeson, loosely follows the life of Michael Collins, an Irish revolutionary who led the fight for Irish independence against the British army. The film portrays Collins' role in shaping the Irish Free State in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. This film stands as a testament to Collins and those who stood beside him in the battle for Irish freedom.Bloody Sunday, released in 2002 and starring James Nesbitt, is based on the tragic events that unfolded on January 30th, 1972, in Derry. Led by Ivan Cooper, an Irish civil rights activist, a protest march was organized against the law on preventative detention. The peaceful demonstration took a horrifying turn when British soldiers opened fire on unarmed protesters, resulting in a massacre.
Irish Cinema Irish History The Troubles Magdalene Laundries Irish Independence Michael Collins Bloody Sunday
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