Welcome to irishfilmtv.com (IFTV), a digital celebration of Irish on-screen culture and the perfect resource for lovers of Irish film and television!

Fully bilingual, IFTV showcases the very latest news and updates on Ireland’s most beloved actors, including interviews, reviews, production updates, release information and streaming links.

Spearheading the initiative is Michael Barry. Michael’s strategic leadership has shaped content acquisition and programming strategies across Canada’s telecommunications giants and theatrical distribution landscape. His distinguished career includes Rogers, Bell, TELUS and Cineplex Entertainment, where he has driven innovation in content licensing and programming initiatives.

A respected curator in the international film festival circuit, Michael has served on programming teams for several prestigious institutions. He has contributed his expertise to Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival, North America’s largest documentary festival; the Gimli International Film Festival, Manitoba’s premier film event; and co-founded the Toronto Irish Film Festival in 2010, establishing a vital cultural bridge between Canadian and Irish cinema.

Michael’s creative accomplishments extend to filmmaking, where his directorial debut documentary THE WEXFORD garnered critical acclaim, securing the Audience Choice Award at the Scarborough Worldwide Film Festival. The film’s cultural significance has been recognized through its permanent inclusion in the City of Toronto Digital Archives, preserving an important piece of Toronto’s community history.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to international cultural exchange, Michael was awarded the City of Belfast Global Ambassador distinction in 2019. This prestigious award acknowledges his decade-plus leadership of the Toronto Irish Film Festival and its instrumental role in creating platforms for emerging Irish filmmakers to reach global audiences, while strengthening the cultural ties between Ireland and North America.

Michael currently serves as Outreach Manager for the Toronto Film School, Canada’s #1 film school, supporting the creative aspirations of emerging Canadian actors, screenwriters, graphic designers and video game developers.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Northern Irish shows “Best of 2024”

BLUE LIGHTS tops "Best of 2024" list

Two groundbreaking television series set in Northern Ireland have captured critical acclaim, making the New York Times Best TV Shows of 2024 list and offering powerful narratives that explore the region’s complex historical and contemporary landscape.

Disney’s SAY NOTHING, adapted from Patrick Radden Keefe’s bestselling book, delivers a gripping narrative deeply rooted in the historical context of the Troubles. The show provides an unflinching look at a dark period of Northern Irish history, examining the human cost of prolonged conflict.

TV Critic James Poniewozik praised the series as a “tough but enthralling work that traces old scars, revives bitter memories and measures a generational account of multiplying injustice.” The show stands out for its nuanced approach to storytelling, bringing the intricate layers of Northern Ireland’s painful past into sharp focus.

Equally compelling is BLUE LIGHTS, a Belfast-based drama that offers a modern perspective on the ongoing reverberations of the Troubles. Created by Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn, the series follows PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) officers navigating the complex social and political landscape of contemporary Belfast.

New York Times TV Critic Mike Hale highlighted the show’s profound exploration of historical trauma, noting that “The Troubles are alive in this Northern Irish crime drama, a legacy of damage, suspicion and hatred that threatens cops every time they step out of their cars.”

The series distinguishes itself through its authentic portrayal of police work, blending familiar procedural elements with deep emotional nuance. Sian Brooke’s performance as a middle-aged rookie officer with social worker instincts has been particularly praised, bringing depth and humanity to the ensemble cast.

Both SAY NOTHING and BLUE LIGHTS demonstrate the continued artistic vitality of Northern Irish storytelling, offering viewers sophisticated, layered narratives that go beyond simplistic representations of conflict and instead explore the human experiences that persist in its wake.

MOBLAND sets streaming record

irishfilmtv

April 4, 2025

Pierce Brosnan has traded his suave spy persona for something far grittier in Paramount+’s record-breaking crime drama MOBLAND. The series, which debuted on March 30, 2025, garnered an impressive 2.2 million global viewers on its premiere day, making it the streaming service’s most successful original series launch ever. At the center of this gritty narrative…

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A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY update

irishfilmtv

April 3, 2025

Colin Farrell’s remarkable career evolution continues as he partners with Margot Robbie in the eagerly awaited fantasy romance A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, which recently showcased its first trailer at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The Irish actor, who has been enjoying critical acclaim for his transformative performance in THE PENGUIN, is poised to charm audiences…

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THE BRIDE revealed at Comicon

irishfilmtv

April 2, 2025

Jessie Buckley has electrified the film world once again as she stepped into the role of the titular character in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sophomore directorial feature, THE BRIDE. During Warner Bros.’ presentation at the Colosseum inside Caesars Palace, Buckley joined Gyllenhaal on stage to unveil the first look at this groundbreaking reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic…

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The Beatles biopic cast revealed

irishfilmtv

April 1, 2025

In a bold cinematic venture unlike any other, Sam Mendes has assembled an all-star cast of today’s most captivating young actors to bring the legendary story of THE BEATLES to life. This unprecedented project, officially titled THE BEATLES – A FOUR-FILM CINEMATIC EVENT, will feature Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon,…

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FOUR MOTHERS in theatres Apr 4

irishfilmtv

March 31, 2025

Darren Thornton, a filmmaker from Drogheda, is returning to the big screen this April with FOUR MOTHERS, a new Irish comedy opening in cinemas on April 4. Co-written with his brother Colin, the film has already garnered awards at major international film festivals and will screen locally at Omniplex Drogheda and other cinemas nationwide.The film…

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RIVALS renewed for 2nd Season

irishfilmtv

March 29, 2025

Disney+’s sultry period drama RIVALS has captivated audiences with its delicious blend of 1980s nostalgia and steamy storytelling, with confirmation of a second season sending fans into a frenzy. The adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved 1988 novel has proven to be the “bonkbuster” of the year, aching with old-fashioned small screen sex appeal that…

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More Irish TV Shows

Saoirse-Monica Jackson in THE DECAMERON

Eve Hewson in THE PERFECT COUPLE

Nicola Coughlan in BRIDGERTON Season 3

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland

December 2, 2024

Irish Television

Irish Television, Irish Television News

SAY NOTHING on Hulu Nov 14

SAY NOTHING on Hulu

FX’s limited series SAY NOTHING is a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. The 9-episode series is based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe.

Spanning four decades, the series opens with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again.

Telling the story of various Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, SAY NOTHING explores the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, the long shadow of radical violence for all affected, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence.

The series stars rising Irish actress Lola Pettigrew as Dolours Price. Pettigrew has garnered attention for her powerful performances in films like DATING AMBER (2020), where she played the lead role of Amber, and HERE ARE THE YOUNG MEN (2020). She earned critical acclaim for her role in the BBC drama THREE FAMILIES (2021) and has demonstrated her range in theatrical productions across Ireland and the UK. Her casting as Dolours Price follows her notable turn in ROGUE AGENT (2022) alongside James Norton and Gemma Arterton.

Alongside Pettigrew, Hazel Doupe stars as Marian Price, Anthony Boyle as Brendan Hughes, a charismatic but conflicted military strategist, and Josh Finan as Gerry Adams, a leading political operator who would go on to negotiate peace and has always denied having any involvement with the IRA. Maxine Peake stars as Older Dolours Price.

SAY NOTHING is executive produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force, creator Joshua Zetumer, Patrick Radden Keefe, Edward McDonnell, Monica Levinson and Northern Ireland native Michael Lennox. The series is produced by FX Productions.