Photo courtesy of Hulu.

Looking for some solid television to pair with your Guinness this St. Patrick’s Day? Because I'm obsessed with everything Irish, for this week’s History of Television column, I’m doing it a little differently and rounding up some of the best shows to come from the Emerald Isle. Keeping in mind that “best” is relative to the eye of the beholder, in this case I’m bringing a mix-bag of television from the most interesting way to structure a show to exploring societal constructs to depicting an era.

“The so-called Irish temperament is a mixture of flaming ego, hot temper, stubbornness, great personal charm and warmth—and a wit that shines through adversity. An irrepressible buoyancy, a vivacious spirit, a kindliness and tolerance for the common frailties of man, and a feeling that ‘it is time enough to bid the devil good morning when you meet him’ are character traits which North Americans have associated with their Irish neighbors for more than a century,” stated the historian Carl Wittke.

This summation of Irish characteristics translates directly into the characters and type of shows made in Ireland.

As does the country’s torrid history of internal conflict rooted in religious strife, perhaps it is this that shines through most for me in Ireland’s most well-known shows — or maybe just to me because it’s similar to the genres I’m drawn to. In which case, Ireland offers up many good ones that are worth the watch.

1. The Fall

You know Gillian Anderson from X-Files and Sex Education, and Jamie Dornan from Once Upon a Time and Fifty Shades of Grey. In 2013’s The Fall, she’s the cop and he’s the killer in this binge-worthy, dark look at a serial killer terrorizing Belfast, Northern Ireland. Anderson plays Detective Stella Gibson, hunting serial killer-slash-family man Paul Spector (Dornan); not exactly a fresh conceit, but a thrilling peek into what drives people’s obsessions on both sides of the law. Creator Allan Cubitt specifically structured the show in such a way that we know who the killer is from the outset so that the story becomes more about the psychology behind them than a mystery. Catch all three “series” on Amazon Prime.

2. Normal People

This romantic drama swept across the pond to be a Primetime Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee. Lead Paul Mescal won a BAFTA for his turn as Connell, while Daisy Edgar-Jones (Fresh) shone as Marianne—two people from very different backgrounds in the same small Irish town who weave in and out of each other’s romantic lives. The show was buzzy when it premiered in April 2020, particularly for the way it portrayed sex and consent and was underscored by the fact that it was produced out of a country that is still slowly emerging from its oppressive religious roots. This aesthetically beautiful and emotionally raw look into relationships of, well, normal people is based on the book of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney. You can binge all twelve episodes of Normal People on Amazon Prime.

3. Mrs. Brown’s Boys

Hailed as one of the funniest shows on Irish television is the Irish-British comedy Mrs. Brown’s Boys. You might’ve already caught clips of this bawdy sitcom on YouTube and be familiar with its leading man Brendan O’Carroll in his drag “mammy” persona, Agnes Brown. And if not, go do a quick search. I’ll wait. Although O’Carroll’s family makes up the majority of the show’s cast, it is probably best viewed without the rest of the family.. The lead also pens the script alongside with Paul Mayhew-Archer. The premise: An overbearing matriarch meddles in the lives of her six children. Simple, relatable, super funny. It also won a BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy. Originating in 2011, Mrs. Brown and her boys will be back filming a full “series” this spring for the first time in nine years.

4. Love/Hate

You’ll have to get Love/Hate as a download, but the Irish crime drama about Dublin’s underworld and psychological examination about inner-gang politics is worth it if you’re into crime dramas! Starring some familiar faces such as Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire) Robert Sheehan (Umbrella Academy), and Ruth Negga (Loving), the Dublin-shot series ran for five “series” from 2010 to 2014.

5. Ballykissangel

The quintessential Irish drama is about a young British priest who moves to a rural Irish community where life revolves around the church and the local pub. It’s the small town everyone knows with the busybodies everyone’s dealt with, but from the very specific POV of a certain era and culture. Ballykissangel — based on Ballykissane where Kieran Prendiville, the show’s creator, vacationed as a child —ran for six “series” from 1996 to 2001 and still lives on, on Amazon Prime.

The Best of the Rest

Other Irish productions of note:

The Medical Drama: The Clinic (2003 - 2009)
The Cop Drama: Red Rock (2015 - present)
The Mystery Drama: The Dublin Murders (2019)

In Retrospect

And just because I have so much fun with this kind of thing, Jack Taylor was a one-season Irish mystery drama about a PI-type played by Iain Glen who just happens to play Bruce Wayne in DC’s Titans—also featuring Alan Ritchson who now plays PI Jack Reacher. So many Jacks in the TV box.

So pick your fav tonight, and Sláinte!