Since that iconic moment, Irish cinema has continued to surprise us with historical epics like Michael Collins, Nora, and The Wind that Shakes the Barley, hard-hitting drama like Kisses and Garage, and bittersweet comedies from The Van to PS I Love You - many of them based on stories by Irish authors.
A generation of Irish talent has found fame on the silver screen, while directors both international and home-grown have been drawn to spectacular locations. From Clogher Strand on the Dingle Peninsula (where Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise cavorted in Far and Away), to Connemara (where Richard Harris fought over The Field), our Atlantic Film Trail will guide you along this stunning coastline to where great films were made.
If you want to get ahead of the game, there are dozens of festivals great and small across the country. From north – the Guth Gafa documentary festival in Donegal – to south – the Dingle Film Festival – and the cities in between: the Galway Film Fleadh the Corona Cork Film Festival, and the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, there’s a festival near you.
To get even closer to the (director yelling) ‘action’, there are filmmaking classes around the country, while Filmbase in Dublin’s Temple Bar is a useful resource to learn about the Irish film industry. You can even register as an extra! Contact the Irish Film Board for ideas.