10 Famous Irish TV Shows: From Derry Girls to Love/Hate.

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Updated On: November 10, 2023 by   Ciaran ConnollyCiaran Connolly

For a long time now, the Emerald Isle has been creating incredible Irish TV shows that have taken the world by storm. Some have become instant classics, a staple part of our evenings, and act as comfort shows that we rewatch clips of when we feel homesick. Others have launched our favourite actors into stardom.

The Irish have a unique sense of humour and view of the world. We showcase this through our television shows. We are not afraid to laugh at ourselves, and parodies are never seen as anything more than a bit of fun. Ireland is home to many brilliant writers and actors who can elevate emotional scenes into memorable moments.

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Many Irish TV shows have found international success.

Many famous Irish TV shows have not only captured the love and attention of those living in Ireland but also people all around the world; top-quality shows are being created, inspired by and filmed in Ireland. For such a small country, we are blessed to have so many hit films, actors, directors, and TV shows come from our part of the world.

From laugh-out-loud comedies to enthralling dramas and thrillers, Irish TV shows have got it all covered. Keep reading to find out the best Irish TV Shows that have made a lasting impression on pop culture at home and around the world. So, what Famous Irish TV Shows have made the list?

Scroll down to check them out, or jump ahead by clicking on one of the highlighted sections below!

The official trailer for Derry Girls Series 1

Famous Irish TV Shows #1: Derry Girls

Derry Girls is a hit Irish sitcom created by Derry local Lisa McGee. The show follows the life of a group of teenagers and their families in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the early 90s. Derry Girls premiered in January 2018 and was the most-watched TV show ever in Northern Ireland after the release of its first season.

Set in the political unrest and cultural divide of the time, the show centres around a wholesome, innocent group of teenagers facing problems with school, love, and friendship. As the teens try to combat their issues, they often create ridiculous and hilarious situations.

Produced by Channel 4, Derry Girls is the company’s most successful comedy since Father Ted. Its honest and light-hearted portrayal of the life of teenagers in Derry in the 90s is appreciated by fans worldwide. It is a genuine portrayal, especially since McGee drew from her own first-hand experiences growing up there.

Along with its critical acclaim, Derry Girls is a massive success with fans both in Ireland and internationally, thanks to its release on Netflix. Derry Girls even got referenced in an episode of The Simpsons, forever cementing its place in pop culture! 

The Derry Girls mural is a popular tourist attraction in Derry, Northern Ireland, for locals and tourists visiting the area. The mural is located at 18 Orchard Street in Derry on the side of Badger’s Bar.

Famous Irish TV Shows #2: Love/Hate

Another famous Irish TV show is the gritty crime drama Love/Hate, filmed in and around Dublin. The show first aired in October 2010 and ran until November 2014. The series followed fictional characters of Dublin’s criminal underworld played by talented Irish actors.

The official trailer for Love/Hate series 1

The show’s main stars include Tom Vaughan Lawlor, Robert Sheehan, Ruth Negga, Aiden Gillen and Barry Keoghan. It is easy to say that some of our favourite Irish actors have had a stint on the show!

Since Love/Hate first aired, the Irish TV show has had monumental success and millions of views over its five seasons. The series has won an impeccable 19 IFTA Film & Drama Awards and has been nominated for many more.

Love/Hate has been considered one of the greatest Irish TV shows of all time. Its second season was the most-viewed TV show in Ireland in 2011. Its critical and commercial acclaim highlights the talented Irish actors, writers and producers who helped to create such a gripping series.

A captivating Irish TV show that focuses on the grim reality of the crime underworld, Love/Hate has often been praised for depicting the realities of Ireland that contrast against the traditional, nostalgic depiction we are so familiar with seeing in the media.

Famous Irish TV Shows #3: Father Ted

Up next on our list, we have one of the most iconic and memorable Irish TV shows to grace our screens: Father Ted. Father Ted is an original Irish sitcom written by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews and produced by Hat Trick Production for Channel 4.

A Clip From Father Ted, one of the most popular Irish TV shows

The series follows the unique lives and hilarious misadventures of three Irish priests: Father Ted, Father Jack and Father Dougal. The three men live on the fictional Craggy Island, off the coast of Ireland, where they often get into misadventures and tricky situations.

Father Ted only had three seasons with 25 episodes altogether. The show was initially released in the 90s to critical acclaim. Audiences across the country fell in love with the quirky characters and storylines. Since its initial release in 1995, Father Ted has rarely left our screens with regular reruns on both RTÉ and Channel 4.

The series has won many awards, such as a BAFTA TV Award, and has become a firm favourite with many Irish people. Father Ted was also voted by Channel 4 as number 1 on the list of their 30 Greatest Comedy Shows. It was the channel’s biggest comedy show before being overthrown by another Irish TV show, Derry Girls.

The Father Ted Christmas Special is an RTÉ favourite, airing every Christmas Eve across Ireland. It has earned its status as a festive tradition in its own right. With its fair share of cameos, Father Ted has featured appearances from some of Ireland’s favourite comedians, including Tommy Tiernan, Pat Shortt and Graham Norton.

Famous Irish TV Shows #4: Normal People

Normal People, a miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, is a coming-of-age story based on the complex relationship between characters Marianne and Connell. The series was an instant success for Hulu and the BBC upon its release during the pandemic of 2020. Scenes for this Irish TV show were filmed all around Co. Sligo and Trinity College Dublin.

The Official Trailer for the miniseries Normal People on Hulu

Starring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones as the leading duo with a complicated romance, Normal People is a psychological romance story that audiences couldn’t get enough of. The show centres around the way stars’ lives weave in and out of each other after leaving secondary school and during their college years.

The binge-worthy Irish TV show was hugely successful. In the first month after the miniseries was released on streaming services, Normal People received 16.2 million programme requests on the BBC iPlayer. The show received 4 Emmy nominations, including a nomination for Paul Mescal as Best Actor.

Famous Irish TV Shows #5: The Fall

The Fall is a thrilling drama series that was filmed at locations around Northern Ireland, particularly in Belfast. The Irish TV show stars Irish actor Jamie Dornan, who plays serial killer Paul Spector. Alongside him, Gillian Anderson, who also has Irish roots, plays the detective following his every step in hopes of capturing him before he moves on to his next victim. 

The show, which aired from May 2013 until October 2016, took the world by storm with its compelling visuals and fantastic writing. The suspenseful and thrilling game of cat and mouse unfolding on the screen kept the Irish TV show going for three great seasons.

The Fall is one of the most gripping Irish TV shows, and you’ll quickly be hooked after the first episode. With its dark yet believable characters and intriguing plot lines, it is sure to pique your interest!  Another great thing about The Fall is that it shows off the best of Belfast City. Many iconic attractions are featured in the show, such as The Merchant Hotel and Cave Hill.

The official promotional video for The Fall

Famous Irish TV Shows #6: Moone Boy

Moone Boy is an Irish sitcom created and written by and starring Chris O’Dowd. The series tells the semi-autobiographical story of O’Dowd’s life in a lighthearted and wacky way. Produced for Sky One, Chris plays the imaginary friend of one Martin Moone as he grows up in the countryside of Boyle, Co. Roscommon, in the late 80s.

A surreal yet heartfelt comedy, Moone Boy is a nice change of pace from the grizzly crime shows and overwhelming dramas we have become accustomed to on the television screen. Internationally, Moone Boy won an Emmy for Best Comedy and an IFTA Award for Best Entertainment Programme.

Moone Boy, a whimsical and relatable Irish TV Show, is a great programme to binge-watch!

Famous Irish TV Shows #7: Kilinaskully

Filmed in Co. Tipperary, Kilinaskully is set in the fictional small rural town of the same name and focuses on the peculiar individuals who live there. Created by Pat Shortt in 2004, the show ran for 5 seasons until 2008. To this day, RTÉ commonly plays reruns of this beloved Irish TV show.

Pat Shortt iconically plays 5 characters on the show, including Dan “The Man” Clancy, the main character and a regular at the local pub. Shortt also plays Goretti, the resident power-walker and all-around modern woman, Councillor Willie Power, Pa Connors, and Louis Cantwell.

Kilinaskully plays on stereotypes of Irish people in the rural countryside. The quirks and habits of the characters are played to perfection, creating obvious caricatures of outdated village stereotypes.

The Trailer for the Irish TV show Kilinaskully

Famous Irish TV Shows #8: The Hardy Bucks

The Hardy Bucks initially began as a YouTube web series before it was picked up by RTÉ, where it ran for 4 seasons from 2010-2018. The mockumentary-style Irish TV show was so successful that in 2013, The Hardy Bucks Movie was released. It became the most successful Irish movie of 2013.

Set in Swinford Co. Mayo, the story follows the adventures of a group of young men in small-town Ireland. The men, known for slacking off and only living for the craic, often get into hilarious situations and a bit of trouble.

Famous Irish TV Shows #9: The Late Late Toy Show

For many Irish people, The Late Late Toy Show was something they waited for all year long as a child. The Late Late Toy Show is the annual Christmas Special edition of the well-known Irish chat show The Late Late Show. There were many years when The Late Late Toy Show received more views than any other programme.

Many generations of Irish families grew up sitting around the living room watching The Late Late Toy Show together at the end of November or the start of December. Watching the show together would become a favourite tradition of many households to mark the unofficial start of the Christmas Countdown.

The show features the latest Christmas toys and trends being reviewed by children. The children would also perform different talents on the show, including dancing and singing. Many special guests appeared on The Late Late Toy Show over the years, allowing the children to meet some of their celebrity heroes.

The Late Late Toy Show is an annual Christmas special.

This family-fun Irish TV show is a much-loved programme that holds a special place in the hearts of people not just in Ireland but all around the world. The old TV trope ‘never work with children or animals’ is turned on its head as some of the funniest and most talented personalities of the year are found in the little toy reviewers and performers!

Since the show first premiered in 1975, gathering and watching this Irish TV show with friends and family each year is as traditional as Midnight Mass or the many Christmas markets sprawled around Ireland!

Famous Irish TV Shows #10: Mrs. Brown’s Boys

The final famous Irish TV show on our list is Mrs. Brown’s Boys. This Irish-British sitcom stars one of the most famous Irish people in the world, Brendan O’Carroll. Although it was filmed in a BBC studio in Scotland, the show is very much an Irish production in every aspect. From the writing to the set, humour and characters, the series embodies Irish culture.

The show follows the life of the loud-mouthed and opinionated Irish mother, Agnes Brown, played by O’Carroll. Agnes’ favourite thing to do is meddle in the lives of her six children, much to their dismay. The series became an instant hit for the BBC, as audiences just couldn’t get enough of foul-mouthed Agnes Brown, her family drama, and the distinct Irish culture.

Although Mrs Brown’s Boys was often disliked and attacked by critics, this Irish TV show has become a massive hit in Ireland and the UK. Recently, it has also been growing in popularity in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The show is so well-loved that it has even been adapted into a stage show that is performed around Ireland and the UK. It also debuted in 2014 as a feature film called Mrs Brown’s Boys D’movie. Despite the low ratings from critics, audiences love Mrs Brown’s Boys. The Irish TV show offers a parody of the traditional Irish matriarch, providing a lighthearted storyline to relate to and laugh with.

The trailer for Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie, based on the hit Irish TV show

Bonus TV Show #11: Game of Thrones

Although it is not an Irish TV show, Game of Thrones has had a significant impact on Ireland and Irish culture. The world-famous fantasy show was filmed around Ireland and, in particular, Northern Ireland. HBO‘s Game of Thrones, based on the novels by George R.R Martin, is set in the fictional worlds of Westeros and Essos, where the characters battle to take control of the kingdom.

Game of Thrones took the entire world by storm, achieving success unlike any show or film before or after. Although the show’s ending disappointed many fans in 2019, it was still the most-watched TV show across streaming services in 2020.

Many tourists from countries around the world visit Northern Ireland to take guided tours of the filming locations, visit the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge, and explore the fantastical world of their favourite characters.

The series was shot in many different locations across the Emerald Isle, including:

In addition to the many filming locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland, Belfast has also implemented its own Game of Thrones attraction in the city: Glass of Thrones. This unique installation consists of six stunning stained glass windows, each representing a pivotal moment or iconic house sigil from the show.

These beautiful artworks are strategically placed throughout the city, encouraging visitors to go on an engaging walking tour and explore Belfast’s historic streets while reliving critical scenes from the beloved series. It’s a must-visit attraction for Game of Thrones fans.

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The Dark Hedges is a popular filming location used for Game of Thrones.

There are Tons of Entertaining Irish TV Shows to Watch!

Ireland isn’t short on impressive TV shows that are gripping, funny, dramatic and everything in between. Instead, Ireland has contributed significantly to the world of television with a diverse range of outstanding shows that have garnered international acclaim.

From thrilling dramas like The Fall to lighthearted sitcoms like Father Ted, Irish TV shows have showcased its versatility and talent. These shows, among many others, have not only entertained audiences worldwide but have also provided a platform for Irish culture, history, and storytelling to shine on the global stage.

Let us know if we missed out on your favourite Irish TV Show or if you love one of the shows mentioned in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, check out more of our blogs:

Derry Girls: The Hit Northern Ireland TV Show | Game of Thrones: The Real History Behind the Hit TV Series | Movies Filmed in Ireland | Famous Irish Authors Who Helped Promote Irish Tourism

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