Irish movies(films) suitable for children as well?

Question

anyone could recommend movies (preferring Irish fairy-tales) which would be suitable for children to watch as well? like "the Secret of Roan Inish" and likewise?

Answer 1

I would actually recommend Darby O'Gill, for the simple reason that it is, in fact, considered adorable by every one of my Irish classmates and friends.  I was introduced to it by an Irish-born family.  And while my Monaghan-native boyfriend was certain none of the actors in it were actually Irish, it turns out that almost all of them were.  Plus, the book on which it was based was written by the daughter of Longford-born parents.The only thing not Irish about it is that it was made by Walt Disney.  

Into the West would be most similar to Secret of Roan Inish, due to the whole animal-familiar, West Coast legend connection (it primarily deals with a white horse), so I would go for that one.  

If you're in the US, there's an HBO Family "Animated Tales of the World" episode called "Fionn," and the animation isn't overly cutesy -- I thought it was pretty good for kids.  It doesn't seem to be scheduled in the next week or so, but if you have HBO, you can periodically check http://www.hbofamily.com/apps/schedule/S... to see if it's coming up.  It's also available on DVD, but it's like $20, which is too much for a half-hour show.

You can also check out the tv show "Jakers!  The Adventures of Piggly Winks" on PBS in the US or on RTE in Ireland (part of the Den).  It's very cute, and while not focused on legends per se, there quite a few eps that deal with things such as the Salmon of Knowledge, Cu Chulainn, banshees, shamrocks, and dragons, as Piggly and his friends interpret the legends.  It's not the most dignified portrayal of Irish legends I've ever seen, but people need to remember that these movies and tv shows were made for KIDS.  That's why adults (Irish or not) find them overy precious.

The only danger is letting your kids reach 8th grade being uncertain about whether or not leprechauns are fake.  Don't laugh.  I have a classroom of students every year who, when they find out I lived in Ireland, ask me earnestly if they are real, and if so, did I see one.  Ugh.  But while kids are small, and they believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny, it's not a big deal!

Answer 2

I'm Irish.  OK?  I recommend "Darby O'Gill and the Little People",  we all need a bit of fantasy in our lives, and "Into the West".

Answer 3

I agree. Into the West is great for kids and has Irish actors as well. Also War of the buttons.  The other two mentioned are not at all Irish.  If you want the kids to watch fairy tales, we have a lot of mythology here and the fairy tales are the leprechauns but most Irish people are sick of them!  If you are not Irish and want to watch leprechaun films please explain to your children that fairy tales are exactly what they are.  You would be surprised at how many people come here looking for leprechauns!

Anyway these two are good and suitable for kids of any age.  Enjoy.

Answer 4

"Into the West" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104522/ and "War of the Buttons" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111666/ are two children's films set in Ireland.  They're not fairy tales, but Into the West has a kind of mysterious horse in it.  They're both good.  I wouldn't class The Secret Garden and The Chronicles of Narnia as Irish films, since they're not set in, or about, Ireland in any way.

And don't even touch films like Darby O'Gill and the Little People!

Answer 5

haha, several of my friends are irish and from what I hear they have a tendency to speak "freely" lol. (but hey gotta love em')

hmm.....

-the secret garden is a english/irish movie

- the chronicals of narnia "the lion the witch and the wardrobe" was written by C.S. Lewis a famous irish writer. Disney adapted it into a movie and it's pretty awesome.

hope I was of service.

Answer 6

darby o gill & the little people or into the west

Answer 7

u could try Mickey Bo and Me, The Mighty Celt, Flight of the doves, War of the buttons, Into the West.

War of the butttons is a great movie, kids and adults alike, iv seen and enjoyed it many times, so id recommend u this one as best to try