Ireland in Pop Culture

If you can’t make it to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, immerse yourself in all things pop culture from the Emerald Isle.

Books

Read some works of Irish novelists and playwrights to learn more about the country and honor its heritage. Novels by Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot), James Joyce (Ulysses), Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes), Oscar Wilde (The Picture of Dorian Gray) and Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels) are a good place to start.

Film

There are plenty of popular movies either set or filmed in Ireland. Leap Year, Brooklyn, Circle of Friends, The Quiet Man and Once all have Ireland as a backdrop. Watch these movies and be transported to another time and place.

Music

There are many famous musicians who hail from Ireland. Listen to music from U2, Van Morrison, The Cranberries, Sinéad O’Connor, Enya and The Irish Rovers to get in the Irish spirit.

Television

Ireland has increasingly become a popular filming destination. While not set in the Emerald Isle, the wildly popular Games of Thrones films throughout the country. Penny Dreadful is another example of a show filmed entirely in Ireland, though set in London. Father Ted, The Fall, Moone Boy and Catastrophe are either set in Ireland or feature Irish characters.