Craic Pack: Celebrating Ireland’s Contribution to the Film Industry

The Emerald Isle has long been producing some of the best actors and filmmakers the film industry has ever seen. However, in recent years, Ireland’s role in the cultural zeitgeist has only gotten bigger, better and more unapologetically unique. From heart-throbs to history makers, Irish film stars continue to dominate the industry to this day. So, when better to celebrate this cultural phenomenon than the month of March, or (more importantly) the month of St Patrick’s Day!

Irish cinema has never been afraid to be just that: Irish. Telling stories that relate and represent the Irish people has always been one of the country’s greatest skills. Most recently, Claire Keegan’s bestselling novel Small Things Like These was adapted for the big screen, starring Cillian Murphy. The film centres on the infamous Magdalene Laundries, where women deemed ‘morally deviant’ by society were forced to live and perform unpaid labour. By adapting Keegan’s novel into a film, more people have been able to access these women’s stories, revealing a dark part of Ireland’s past, but giving people the ability to understand and learn from it.

The trio bring the Irish language’s recent resurgence to the mainstream

Not only have Irish filmmakers been able to represent the lives of the Irish people, but, in one of their more recent greatest triumphs, have also been able to represent the Irish language. Despite being snubbed by this year’s Oscar nominations, Kneecap has had a profound impact, not just with Irish speakers, but across the world. In a Trainspotting-esque adventure of drugs, rap and the Irish language, the film follows the fictionalised journey to fame of a real-life rap trio with the same name. The trio bring the Irish language’s recent resurgence to the mainstream, and their influence has prompted even more young people to take up learning their native language. Another Irish language film (the recommendation comes courtesy of my father), whose influence also cannot be understated, is 2022’s The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin). The film is the first Irish-language film to ever be nominated for an Oscar, and it did so in a year when the Oscars saw a ‘great green wave’ of nominations.

Irish films have always been a part of the mainstream film industry, sweeping awards shows and winning over critics alike. Most notably, was 2022’s The Banshees of Inisherin, which overtook both Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast and 1993’s In the Name of the Father to become the most Oscar-nominated Irish film in history. The film follows two best friends on a small island, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and after one of the pair abruptly ends their friendship, they face the consequences of a shocking ultimatum. Despite these nine nominations, the film ended up with no wins at the Oscars but went on to win four BAFTAs.

Mescal has continued the legacy of countless Irish legends of the screen

The Irish aren’t just loved by Hollywood for their skills behind the camera, it’s their role in front of it that has won over the hearts of Tinseltown. An article about the current success of Irish filmmakers wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the It Boy of the moment – Paul Mescal. From blockbusters like Gladiator II to heart wrenching indies like Aftersun, Mescal has continued the legacy of countless Irish legends of the screen who came before him. There are countless other young actors who have been dominating the industry alongside Mescal, such as Saoirse Ronan, and older legends such as Liam Neeson and Colin Farrell.

It’s not a hard task to write about Ireland’s successes in the film industry, with the country producing some of the most beloved actors and films from the last fifty years. The beauty of the new age of Irish filmmakers comes from their ability to tell their own stories, on their own terms. So, as the film industry continues to develop and the Irish continue to dominate, we can only wait in excitement to see what the country brings us all next!