Best Irish music movies

A boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the mysterious girl he likes.

A vacuum repairman moonlights as a street musician and hopes for his big break. One day a Czech immigrant, who earns a living selling flowers, approaches him with the news that she is also an aspiring singer-songwriter. The pair decide to collaborate, and the songs that they compose reflect the story of their blossoming love.

When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed "low life scum" Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

Single mom Flora is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max. Her efforts to keep him out of trouble lead to a beat-up acoustic guitar, a washed-up LA musician, and harmony for this frayed Dublin family.

The story of music legend Terri Hooley, a key figure in Belfast's punk rock scene. Hooley founded the Good Vibrations store from which a record label sprung, representing bands such as The Undertones, Rudi and The Outcasts.

Since the beginning of her career, Sinéad O’Connor has used her powerful voice to challenge the narratives she was surrounded by while growing up in predominantly Roman Catholic Ireland. Despite her agency, depth and perspective, O’Connor’s unflinching refusal to conform means that she has often been patronized and unfairly dismissed as an attention-seeking pop star.

As the front man of the Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before. In "The Future Is Unwritten", from British film director Julien Temple, Joe Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and the close personal friendship which developed over the last years of Joe's life, Julien Temple's film is a celebration of Joe Strummer - before, during and after the Clash.

The life of the magnetic Jamaican musician, actress, model and party queen Grace Jones featuring concert performances and intimate, personal footage.

Filmed at the Point Theatre in Dublin 'Lord of the Dance' takes Irish dancing to spectacular new heights. Orchestrated and conducted by Anne Dudley, inspiring original music by Ronan Hardiman and exhilarating dance starring the sensational Michael Flatley with supporting characters Bernadette Flynn, Daire Nolan, Gillian Norris, Helen Egan and Anne Buckley - Lord of the Dance is a rare and magical experience. Michael Flatley takes to the stage in a stunning Celtic dance spectacular which re-tells Irish folk legend in a dazzling and updated style. Join us when time stood still and Erin was goddess of all... The stories had all been written and everyone knew their parts. But the ancient clans, sitting in their stone circles, heard mumblings and the spirits dream was troubled. A new dark power had emerged to challenge the Lord of the Dance.

Riverdance--The Show is a cultural phenomenon that defies criticism for the enthusiastic and leaves everyone else scratching their heads. The wonderfully talented cast, headed by the Riverdance Irish Dance Company, bewitchingly spins (and stomps) its Celtic folk choreography featuring numerous breathless solos by Michael Flatley (since departed) and Jean Butler. The mellifluous Riverdance Orchestra boasts Davy Spillane, who coaxes plaintive lamentations out of a peculiar instrument that resembles a bagpipe in a metal leg brace. For Enya fans, there is the sound-alike choral group Anuna, who casts a similarly New Age-style vocal spell. Also thrown into the mix are such disparate folk traditions as American gospel and Spanish flamenco. Though it's only 70 minutes long, Riverdance is repetitive by half. But judging from the ecstatic audience ovations and the continued foot-stomping during and after the curtain calls, too much is still not enough. --Richard Natale

A powerful and stirring reinvention of the show, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning music and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance.

Back in 2006 on a stormy December night, Amy Winehouse flew to the remote, south western corner of Ireland to perform for Other Voices, an acclaimed Irish TV music series filmed in Dingle every winter. Amy took to the stage of Saint James's church, capacity 85, and wowed the small, packed crowd with a searing, acoustic set of songs from Back to Black. After leaving the stage, a relaxed and happy Amy spoke about her music and influences - Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles and the Shangri-Las to name a few. Arena joined forces with Other Voices and went to Dingle to catch up with some of the people that Amy met on that day, including taxi driver Paddy Kennedy, her bass player Dale Davis and Rev Mairt Hanley of the Other Voices church. This film showcases not only Amy herself, but the musical geniuses that inspired her to forge her own jazz pop style.

The original buxom quartet of female singers, Lisa, Maev, Orla, and Chloe, have duly been joined by Hayley and are, as usual, backed by a full symphony orchestra and choir, plus enough traditional instruments (the house fiddler, Mairead, is a powerhouse) to keep things legit. The material ranges from folkloric, to a standard from another Celtic nation, to classical lite, to movie hits, to homegrown New Age.

Niall Horan left his hometown of Mullingar at 16 to join one of the biggest boybands of all time. Now, 12 years later, Niall is coming home - and he's bringing his best friend Lewis Capaldi along for the ride. In this exclusive film, the two global superstars embark on an epic Irish road trip before they wrap up their travels with a once in a lifetime gig in Mullingar. Expect standout performances, laugh out loud moments and a whole lot of Irish charm. It's time to see two of the biggest singer songwriters on the planet like you've never seen them before.

Performers in Believe are three vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe, and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt All songs on this album are re-releases from their previous albums. Their only new song, entitled 'Princess Toyotomi', is featured in the film of the same name. This is the first album where nine members (both current and previous) appear together. Another album of the same title was released on January 24, 2012 Both this album and DVD (live performance from the Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia) feature new music from Agnew, Kelly, Lambe and Nesbitt. The performance was broadcast on PBS stations in December 2011 Some of the songs performed but not available on the CD are A Tribute To Broadway, sung by Agnew, Lambe and Kelly, and Mná na hÉireann, played by Nesbitt. European and North American dates for the 2012 Believe tour have already been set, but Lisa Kelly will not join this tour due to her pregnancy, and will be replaced by Susan McFadden.

A story about obsession and yearning for the infinite.

Leonard Cohen: -Live in Dublin is an extraordinary full-length concert recording and film. Lensed and recorded at Dublin's O2 Arena on September 12, 2013, Leonard Cohen - Live in Dublin documents a peak performance from the musician's monumental sold out 2012-2013 world tour, introducing Cohen's then-latest release (2012's Old Ideas) within a major canonical on-stage retrospective.

Filmed over 10 years and covering a lifetime, Breaking Out is the story of singer and musician Fergus O’Farrell, an artist whose unique talent inspired a generation of songwriters and touched thousands of lives, even as his own was slipping away.

Irish-Celtic-pop siblings, The Corrs, perform songs from their first two albums for 43,000 fans at Lansdowne Road, Dublin's old rugby fields.

A festive, musical enchantment featuring vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt. The concert features timeless holiday favorites ( Silent Night , I ll Be Home for Christmas , It Came Upon a Midnight Clear , Joy To The World ) with the group's signature Celtic Woman flair under the distinct musical direction of Emmy-nominated Music Director, David Downes. This large-scale one-hour production is complimented by Ireland's finest musicians comprised of a 36 piece orchestra and 40-member Philharmonic Choir.

Recorded live at the London Astoria 2 on 14 January 1994. For some unknown reason, the performance of "Sunday" was edited out of this video (and all the other "Live" videos). Also, on the opening screen in the video, there is a mistake: The date is listed as 14 February 1994 (it is actually 14 January)

The heart of Ireland beats strongly throughout The Destiny Tour, which features an entirely new production with many songs from Destiny. As the country commemorates the events of 100 years ago that led to the nation's independence, Celtic Woman offers a rousing version of "Óró sé do bheatha 'bhaile," an anthem closely connected with the 1916 uprising. The all female ensemble also delivers other timeless traditional Irish songs such as "Bean Pháidín" and "Siúil A Run" highlighting the beauty of Ireland's heritage and its Gaelic language. Alongside newer songs such as "Walk Beside Me" and "The Whole Of The Moon," the show also features reimagined renditions of audience favorites "Amazing Grace" and "You Raise Me Up."

U2 bring their stadium-filling rock to Abbey Road Studios to perform exclusive versions of classics like With or Without You, Beautiful Day and One, alongside new music from their latest album Songs of Experience, accompanied by a live orchestra and choir.

Development and destruction seem to go hand in hand when it comes to human progress on earth. There is a celebration of the human ability to create sophisticated environments in which we inhabit, but also a concern at the price that we are paying for this.

El Gusto is the story of an orchestra of Jewish and Muslim musicians torn apart by war 50 years ago, and recently reunited for an exceptional concert. These musicians share a passion they never lost: the soul of Algiers, Chaabi music.

A man wakes up in a hospital bed and has his head bandages unwrapped to find he is not alone in the room as it seems there is now no noise unless it is provided by a pair of Foley artists and a small musical troupe providing a score.

When Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott died on 4 January 1986, he was 36 years old. His early death from a drug-related illness placed him in the same rock 'n' roll league as his idols Elvis and Jimi Hendrix. This documentary looks behind the image to reveal the strains of life in the fast lane. It also focuses on Lynott as family man, writer, and black Irishman with a Brazilian father. Includes contributions from Bono, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Scott Gorham, and Lynott's wife Caroline Crowther, who speaks publicly for the first time. (Radio Times)

Saxophonist Danny witnesses the murder of his band manager and a deaf-mute girl after a gig. Questioned by the police, he remembers only the orthopedic shoes of the killers’ leader. So begins his quest to avenge her.

Atmospherically shot in black and white North Circular Road travels the length of the eponymous road exploring the history, music and streetscapes of this legendary artery that links some of Dublin's most beloved and infamous places. From the Phoenix Park to Dublin Port, this documentary evokes many narratives from the history of the nation to the urgent issues of today including the battle to save the legendary Cobblestone Pub.

The popular all female singing group brings its unique Celtic sound to a live concert at Powerscourt in Ireland.

'Repetition' is an attempt to convey the importance of our endless endeavours toward human development and growth amidst a chaotic and disorienting landscape.

A lonely priest's housekeeper discovers a young Irish girl of exceptional promise.

Molly is a ten-year-old girl who believes that if she learns to play the fiddle like her dad and wins the All-Ireland Music championship, her father will wake from his coma. Still in a coma, her dad is moved to a rehab centre, where Molly befriends Malachy, a grumpy old man who plays the fiddle beautifully and is told he has magic in his hands. They connect as she coaxes him to teach her to play and together they go in search of the magic that only music can bring.

The fragility of Earth's future, the uncertainty of life are among the core concepts director Páraic McGloughlin explores in this video for Kompakt duo Weval.

Riverdance Show is a cultural phenomenon that defies criticism for the enthusiastic and leaves everyone else scratching their heads. The wonderfully talented cast, headed by the Riverdance Irish Dance Company, bewitchingly spins (and stomps) its Celtic folk choreography featuring numerous breathless solos by Michael Flatley (since departed) and Jean Butler. The mellifluous Riverdance Orchestra boasts Davy Spillane, who coaxes plaintive lamentations out of a peculiar instrument that resembles a bagpipe in a metal leg brace. For Enya fans, there is the sound-alike choral group Anuna, who casts a similarly New Age-style vocal spell. Also thrown into the mix are such disparate folk traditions as American gospel and Spanish flamenco. Though it's only 70 minutes long, Riverdance is repetitive by half. But judging from the ecstatic audience ovations and the continued foot-stomping during and after the curtain calls, too much is still not enough.

Irish Tour '74 is a film which captures the artist, his music, the period and the place with perfection. Filmed in January 1974 at Belfast Ulster Hall, Dublin Carlton Cinema and Cork City Hall.

This music special is dedicated to dispelling the prejudices associated with the HIV infection and raising money for AIDS research and relief. Some of today's most celebrated recording artists performing their interpretations of the classic songs of Cole Porter.

The Irish dance phenomenon makes its way to Beijing, China with a one-of-a-kind performance tailored for the Chinese audience with an artistic flow.

A decade after punk band Crust split, the band members lives have fallen apart. Drummer Bonehead has just been released from prison and sets about reforming the band for one last show.

Celtic Woman’s ‘The Greatest Journey Essential Collection.’ DVD was released in 2008 and features all the tracks most associated with Celtic Woman. This is a definitive collection of the best of Celtic Woman up to the time of release and includes ‘Harry’s Game’, ‘Danny Boy’ and many other favourites.

The Corrs live in Geneva as part of their 2004 Borrowed Heaven tour. Set-list: 01. Introduction 02. Humdrum 03. Only When I Sleep 04. Dreams (Fleetwood Mac cover) 05. What Can I Do 06. Forgiven, Not Forgotten 07. Angel 08. Runaway 09. Return From Fingal/Trout In a Bath 10. Borrowed Heaven 11. No Frontiers 12. Queen Of Hollywood 13. Long Night 14. Old Town (Phil Lynott cover). 15. Radio. 16. Summer Sunshine. 17. So Young. 18. I Never Loved You Anyway. 19. Goodbye. Encore 20. Breathless. 21. Toss The Feathers 22. Credits Recorded 26 November 2004 at the SEG Geneva Arena in Geneva.

This is the long awaited 'Thunder And Lightning Tour'; the tour that was to prove Phil Lynott's and Thin Lizzy's last. The year is 1983, the venue Dublin and the stage is rockin'! To add to the already charged atmosphere of a concert in waiting, we have fast-forwarded in time to include nostalgic comment from Phil's band mates Brian Robertson and Eric Bell recalling their eventful times together, plus the indestructible footballing legend George Best and musician Brush Shiel, recalling their many memories of the rocker and friend. But all this is merely a prelude to what is a pulverising gig containing all conquering favourites such as 'Whiskey In The Jar' and 'Dancing In The Moonlight' and many more. The 'Thunder And Lightning Tour' is quite simply the greatest performance from a group who were at their electrifying best.

Live recording of Sinéad O'Connor's concert at the Dominion Theatre in London, on June 3, 1988, in support of her debut album "The Lion and the Cobra" (performed in its entirety except for two songs).

These funky foxes from Dublin sing in their own video to educate us about what life is really like for the creatures living among us in our cities.

The Let's Get to It Tour was the third tour by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. The tour was a continuation of the previous Rhythm of Love Tour which had already visited Australia and Asia. Together with five dancers, Minogue staged the tour in support of the album Let's Get to It. The show comprised an all-new wardrobe created exclusively by John Galliano and several new additions to the set list, many of which were written by Minogue herself.

Perry Como's last great concert special, filmed in Ireland and screened in 1994. Como appears before an audience of 4,500 in Ireland's celebrated Point Theater, with Irish President Mary Robinson and actress Maureen O'Hara in attendance.

Two years after the death of his beloved wife, Pat O'Brien summons his children back to their homestead in the west of Ireland. Fionn travels from New York, Gareth from London, and daughter Una returns from Dublin, fearing the worst. Pat is not the only family member bearing the burden of a secret. The O’Briens is a modern comedy about a dysfunctional Irish family and the town they grew up in.

Follow the tuneful Irish lads as they go about preparing for their tour, making promo videos and recording new singles.

Irish Comedy Starring Jon Kenny & Pat Shortt

Recorded at Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare, Ireland.

Ardal O'Hanlon looks at what started the showband era in Ireland, the people involved, and how it came to an end in the 1980s.

Story of Irish popular music from 1950 to the present day told by the artists, songwriters, producers and executives who made it all happen. It tells of the dramatic evolution from a grey, conservative culture to a vibrant, colourful music scene which has an enormous popularity and influence completely out of proportion to the size of the country.

The controversial and moving tale of a struggling young Cork musician. We are introduced to the world of Cork hip-hop, its bitter rivalries, and the people behind the profanity.

Director Bill Keating built a programme around following Rory through a day of his short 1972 Irish tour. At the center of the programme is a recording of the concert Rory played in the Savoy Cinema in Limerick on May 11th 1972.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1988 was the 33rd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Dublin, Ireland. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), the contest was held at the RDS Simmonscourt on Saturday 30 April 1988 and was hosted by Irish broadcaster Pat Kenny and former model Michelle Rocca, marking the first time since the 1979 contest that two presenters hosted the contest.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1981 was the 26th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Dublin, Ireland, following Johnny Logan's win at the 1980 contest in The Hague, Netherlands with the song "What's Another Year". This was the second time the contest had taken place in Ireland, after 1971. The contest was held at the RDS Simmonscourt on Saturday 4 April 1981, and was hosted by Irish television journalist Doireann Ní Bhriain.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1995 was the 40th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Dublin, Ireland, following the country's victory at the 1994 contest with the song "Rock 'n' Roll Kids" by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan. It was the sixth time that Ireland had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1971, 1981, 1988, 1993 and 1994. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), the contest was held at the Point Theatre, with the final on 13 May 1995. The live show was presented by Mary Kennedy.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Dublin, Ireland. It was the fifth time that Ireland had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1971, 1981, 1988 and 1993. It was the first time that the same country had hosted the contest two years in a row. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), the contest was held at the Point Theatre, with the final on 30 April 1994. The live show was presented by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1993 was the 38th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 15 May 1993 at Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. The presenter was Fionnuala Sweeney.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1971 was the 16th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Dublin, Ireland. The contest was held at the Gaiety Theatre on Saturday 3 April 1971, and was hosted by Irish television presenter Bernadette Ní Ghallchóir.

A look at David's mental landscape as things become overwhelming