St. Patrick’s Day is here, so it’s time to get your green on. Every year on March 17, people around the world celebrate the patron saint of Ireland as a way to recognize Irish culture and history. Many cities across the globe hold extravagant St. Patrick’s Day parades featuring traditional Irish music and Celtic dancing — and sometimes a green river. Then, they might take the festivities home for a plate of corned beef and cabbage, and a pint of Guinness (for those who partake).
If you’re looking for a cozy way to enjoy the holiday, well, you’re about to be luckier than a four-leaf clover. Celebrate Irish culture and heritage by taking a trip around the island from the comfort of your own home with these movies and shows set on the Emerald Isle. Read on for your full itinerary.
Bodkin
Set in the fictional titular small town in West Cork, Bodkin follows a crew of podcasters investigating several mysterious disappearances that occurred 25 years earlier, during the town’s Samhain harvest celebration. When podcaster Gilbert (Will Forte) and his research assistant Emmy (Robyn Cara) first arrive in Bodkin, they are enthralled by the seemingly idyllic small town. But their partner, investigative journalist Dove (Siobhán Cullen), who is originally from Dublin, sees the darkness beneath the surface. This seven-episode dark comedy explores the reality of making a true-crime podcast, with a touch of Irish humor. “Things that are sad are often funny, and vice versa,” series creator Jez Scharf told Tudum. “I think, having spent a lot of time in Ireland, there’s a certain acceptance of that kind of tone [there].”
Irish Wish
In Irish Wish, Maddie Kelly (Lindsay Lohan) takes a trip to the Emerald Isle to celebrate her best friend Emma’s (Elizabeth Tan) wedding. There’s just one problem: Maddie is secretly and hopelessly in love with Emma’s fiancé. So she does what anyone would do in such a conundrum — she makes a wish. When Maddie wakes up the next morning, everything has changed. She’s now the bride of Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos) and has to decide if this is actually the life she wants, or if there might be a path that suits her better. Irish Wish was filmed on location on the other side of the island in the eastern town of Wicklow — known for its mountain views, rolling hills, and beautiful forests. So you’ll probably fall in love with the scenery while Maddie discovers her love of Guinness.
Younger
Speaking of weddings. … Whether you’re a new or returning fan of this beloved comedy-drama, fast-forward to the Season 4 finale, “Irish Goodbye,” as the crew heads to Tinahely, Ireland — also in County Wicklow — for a wedding. Be warned, there are spoilers ahead! In the episode, Liza (Sutton Foster) and Maggie (Debi Mazar) leave Brooklyn to meet Liza’s ex, Josh (Nico Tortorella), in Ireland, where he plans to marry his girlfriend Clare (Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor). This trip to Ireland features small-town charm, a few pints at O’Connor’s bar, plenty of sheep, and, of course, a whole lotta drama.
Rebellion
Your St. Patrick’s Day viewing wouldn’t be complete without a historical tour of Dublin. The first stop on the tour takes you back to the 1916 Easter Rising, as an armed revolt breaks out in Dublin against the British occupation of Ireland. Rebellion follows a fictional group of friends from Dublin, Belfast, and London as they each navigate the struggle for Irish independence. The drama was filmed at several historically significant locations in Dublin, including the Kilmainham Gaol, where political prisoners were held at the time, O’Connell Street, and the Dublin General Post Office. Rebellion’s ensemble cast includes Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Ruth Bradley (Slow Horses), Brian Gleeson (Peaky Blinders), Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones), Lydia McGuinness (Sing Street), and Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones).
The Miracle Club
Jump ahead to 1967 Dublin, where three generations of close friends, Lily (Maggie Smith), Eileen (Kathy Bates), and Dolly (Agnes O’Casey), dream of winning a Catholic pilgrimage to the holy town of Lourdes, France, where millions of people travel each year to experience a healing miracle. When the opportunity finally presents itself, each woman embarks on the journey seeking a personal miracle, and realizes that some wounds can only be healed through friendship. Based on the screenplay Pushers Needed by Jimmy Smallhorne, The Miracle Club will take you on a journey through Dublin and Wicklow.
Sing Street
Set during the recession in 1980s Dublin, this acclaimed coming-of-age dramedy follows 15-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) as he navigates a dysfunctional family situation and struggling to adjust to a new school. When a beautiful girl named Raphina (Lucy Boynton) catches his eye, Conor enlists his friends to form a band to impress her. A semi-autobiographical musical with a killer soundtrack, John Carney’s Sing Street is about the joys and pains of growing up, from complex family dynamics, to first loves and childhood friendships.
Derry Girls
Take a trip up the island to Derry, Northern Ireland, where the titular Derry girls are just trying to get through Catholic school under the watchful eye of headmistress Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney). This delightful sitcom follows the mischievous antics of Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), and their friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), and James (Dylan Llewellyn) as they navigate growing up near the end of the Troubles in the mid-’90s. The gang navigates typical teenage shenanigans, first crushes, and some hilarious family dynamics, making Derry Girls “craic” for anyone. (That’s Irish slang for fun.)
Kneecap
While you’re in the North, head over to Belfast, where the real-life Irish hip-hop group Kneecap makes music about partying and growing up in post-Troubles Belfast. This musical dramedy is the fictionalized origin story of the group’s members — Liam Óg Hannaidh (rapper Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (rapper Móglaí Bap), and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvai) — who make music primarily in Irish, and become the unexpected faces of a movement to save their native language. The film was co-written by Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and director Rich Peppiatt, and with a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, Kneecap is a fun and raucous ride from start to finish, thanks to its lovable leads and a dose of Irish humor.