Five period drama films set in Ireland

There are many wonderful period dramas based in the green island of Ireland. While this is only a small selection of what has been produced over the years, here we have chosen five of our favourites for you to sample this St Patrick’s Day.

Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends is based on the 1990 novel by celebrated Irish author Maeve Binchy. Set partly in Dublin and a fictitious town in rural Co Wicklow in the 1950s, the story is a tale of friendship between a group of university students, Bennie, Nan, and Eve. Old-fashioned and nostalgic, the film features memorable central performances from Minnie Driver and Chris O’Donnell, as well as a strong supporting cast, including Saffron Burrowes, Alan Cumming, Geraldine O’Rawe, Aiden Gillen, and Colin Firth.

Pat O’Connor directed the film, with the screenplay written by Andrew Davies. It was released in 1995 and received largely positive reviews.

Watch the trailer here:

Circle of Friends is available to purchase on Amazon. 

Michael Collins

Directed by Neil Jordan (Interview with a Vampire) and starring Hollywood greats, Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List), Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman), Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall), and Alan Rickman (the Harry Potter films), Michael Collins tells the story of one of the most important and controversial figures in Ireland’s struggle for independence from Britain. He led the Irish delegation to negotiate the treaty with Britain that created the Irish Free State. In the fallout from that agreement, he then led the National Army during the Irish Civil War before his death in an ambush in August, 1922. The film was released in 1996 to critical acclaim.

Watch the trailer here:

Michael Collins is available to watch or rent on Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.

The Playboys

Released in 1992, The Playboys, is a charming romantic comedy-drama set in 1957 in the hills of County Cavan. The story centres around a strong-willed local woman, Tara Maguire who scandalises her local community by having a baby out of wedlock and refusing to reveal who the father of her baby is. The arrival of a travelling theatre troupe, The Playboys, turns Tara’s world upside down, especially when she falls for one of their actors. 

Starring Robin Wright (The Princess Bride), Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich, Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall), and Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty), the film was directed by Gillies McKinnon (Whiskey Galore) and written by Shane Connaughton (My Left Foot) and Kerry Crabbe.

Watch the trailer here:

Although it is hard to find on streaming services, you can buy pre-owned copies of the DVD of The Playboys on ebay.com. 

Brooklyn

Released 2015, Brooklyn is based on the best-selling novel by Irish author Colm Toibin. Saoirse Ronan shines as a young Irish woman who emigrates to New York in the 1950s, where she settles and meets and marries a young Italian American man. However, a family tragedy pulls her back to her hometown in County Wexford, and she is forced to choose between her new life in Brooklyn and the country of her birth. 

Brooklyn was directed by John Crowley (The Goldfinch) and starred Saoirse Ronan (Little Women), Domhnall Gleeson (About Time), Emory Cohen, and Jim Broadbent (Bridget Jones’ Diary).

Watch the trailer here:

Brooklyn is available to stream on Netfix and Amazon Prime.

Belfast

Set in 1969 during a very turbulent period in Belfast’s history, the film tells the story of a young boy, Buddy, and his life in a working-class neighbourhood that was once peaceful, but is slowly crumbling under the force of sectarian violence. Buddy struggles to understand and come to terms with what he sees around him, while his parents are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to leave everybody close to them behind, and start a new life in England.

The film is based on writer and director Kenneth Branagh’s own childhood experiences in the city. It boasts an impressive cast and a stellar debut from young Jude Hill as Buddy. Jamie Dornan (50 Shades of Grey) and Catriona Balfe (Outlander) play Buddy’s parents, and Judi Dench (Philomena) and Ciaran Hinds (Persuasion 1995) take the roles of Buddy’s grandparents. 

Belfast is available to watch on Netfix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.