Seven fantastic Irish films to watch this Christmas season - Kilkenny Live

The world has been living (and re-living) a Groundhog Day type situation for the past two years, with Covid-19 stubbornly sticking around like a bad smell. 

If you haven't seen the film, a self-centered weatherman called Phil visits a Pennsylvanian town famous for its Groundhog Day celebration, where citizens rely on a rodent to predict the weather for the coming year. Phil then relives the same day over and over again despite his best efforts to make it stop. 

It's fair to say we can all relate to Phil! 

But unlike Phil, we can take a break from the endless loop of pandemic monotony and properly recharge now that Christmas has come. 

A laugh and a cry will do us all the world of good, and what better way to get both than by watching the Irish on- screen?

Waking Ned
An underappreciated gem, this film tells the tale of two elderly best friends, Michael and Jackie, and the inhabitants of their tiny village as they fool a Lottery inspector into giving a disguised Michael the winnings of their deceased neighbour. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, you can't help but root for these quirky chancers. 

The Guard
One of Brendan Gleeson's finest comedic performances, The Guard follows a stiff-collared FBI agent (Don Cheadle) who has to deal with a confrontational Irish sergeant (Gleeson) when he visits a small Irish town to investigate drug-trafficking. If you're looking for the Irish version of Rush Hour, this is as close as it gets! 

War of the Buttons
War of the Buttons is a childhood classic about Irish kids forming rival gangs and cutting off the buttons of their captured enemies. It was quite the revelation for those of us whose mothers kept jars of buttons in the cupboard. Although many probably think of the movie as a wholly Irish creation, it was actually adapted in the mid-1990s from a novel by French writer, Louis Pergaud. 

Wolfwalkers
The most recent masterpiece from animation studio Cartoon Saloon, Wolfwalkers is a fantasy adventure about a young apprentice hunter called Robyn who comes to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last pack of wolves. However, when she saves a wild native girl she's introduced to the world of the Wolfwalkers, changing her forever. Beautifully animated and rich in mythology, it's an easy favourite. 

Circle of Friends
Based on the famous Maeve Binchy novel of the same name, the film follows three young women as they grow up together and navigate the challenges of adulthood and obligation in 1950s Ireland. An instant classic, it features the talents of Minnie Driver as the awkward and loveable Benny as she struggles with self-esteem, desire and family duty. 

Sing Street
This aptly named film is about a young boy dealing with poverty who starts a band in the hopes of catching the eye of a beautiful girl he can't get out of his head. If you don't watch it for the 80s nostalgia, watch it for the fantastic performances and catchy tunes. 

The Commitments
A precursor to Sing Street, The Commitments is a cult movie classic about an unemployed Dublin boy who decides to form a soul band made up of working class people. Based on the novel by Roddy Doyle, it's an all-island favourite full of colourful characters and even more colourful language. 

What's your favourite Irish film to watch during the festive period? Let us know on social media!