The Irish, some of Europe's biggest cinema-goers, are also world-renowned for their musical talent.
Massive fans of movies and Irish music, we know that often a film's soundtrack stays with you long after you've left the theater.
We trawled through our favorite movies and chose our favorite Irish music from the movies.
"Once" (2007) - "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
This Oscar-winner song has become truly iconic along with the beautiful feel-good movie. This John Carney-directed indie movie, starring Hansard and Irglová, is a modern Irish classic.
"Killing Bono" (2011) - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2
"Killing Bono" is a comedy movie, based on the memoir of Neil McCormick, and it will have you on the ground laughing. As the title suggests, U2 features heavily. The movie stars Ben Barnes and Irish star Robert Sheehan alongside Pete Postlethwaite, who sadly died three months before its release.
"The Departed" (2006) - "Shipping Up To Boston" by The Dropkick Murphys
The Dropkick Murphys are an American Irish Celtic Punk band, and their song “Shipping Up to Boston” featured heavily in "The Departed." You can't deny that his song will get your blood pumping and is still used often in soundtracks and at Fighting Irish events.
"Brooklyn" (2015) - "Casadh an tSúgáin" ("Twisting the Rope"), a traditional song performed by Iarla Ó Lionáird
Starring Saoirse Ronan, this romantic historical drama, based on the novel by Colm Tóibín, was a massive international success. One scene and song stand out for us, and that's the performance of Iarla Ó Lionáird, who plays Frankie Doran, a poor workingman who sings the traditional song "Casadh an tSúgáin" (Twisting the Rope) during Christmas dinner at a soup kitchen. We think you'll agree it is stunning.
"Wind that Shakes the Barley" (2006) - "Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile" ("Welcome Home"), performed by The Dubliners
"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" is a 2006 war drama film directed by Ken Loach, set during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922–1923). This beloved and harrowing move features the traditional Irish song that came to be known as a rebel song.
"Michael Collins" (1996) - "Macushla" performed by Frank Patterson and Johnny McCormack
"Michael Collins" is a 1996 biographical period drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, the Irish patriot and revolutionary who died in the Irish Civil War.
The name of this particularly moving song is a transliteration of the Irish "mo chuisle", meaning "my pulse" as used in the phrase a chuisle mo chroí, which means "pulse of my heart."
"Live By The Night" (2017) - "Arsonist’s Lullaby" by Hozier
While the Ben Affleck movie wasn't among the critics' favorites, this song, Arsonist's Lullaby, by Wicklow man Hozier, was a great choice. The moving track even provided a dramatic backdrop to the movie's trailer.
Check out our Spotify playlist of the best Irish music from the movies:
* Originally published in 2020, updated in Aug 2026.
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