Something for the Weekend. Our Favorite Irish Actors

Hi everyone. I hope I find you all well this weekend. During these recent times with more time at home we’ve all been spending a lot more time in front of the TV (well I have!). It was a great opportunity to catch up on all those highly recommended box sets that I never get around to. I also re watched some favorite Irish movies and was reminded how many wonderful actors have come out of one tiny country! So as a tribute to our wealth of acting talent, here’s our top 5 Irish actors as voted for by The Irish Store Family.

Our Top 5 Irish Actors

5. Cillian Murphy

At number 5 it’s Corkonian, Cillian Murphy. I was lucky enough to catch his stunning professional theater debut in Dublin in the 1990s in Enda Walsh’s Disco Pigs. The play went on to tour internationally and Cillian’s star continued to rise. He went on star in 28 Days Later and one of my favorites, The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Here he is in the hugely popular Peaky Blinders which I finally managed to catch up on recently!

4. Brenda Fricker

At number 4 it’s the inimitable Brenda Fricker. Her illustrious career spans six decades in theater, film and television. She was the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award as the mother of Christy Brown in My Left Foot. Here she is receiving her well deserved Oscar.

3. Brendan Glesson

Next up on our list of favorite actors is the one and only Brendan Gleeson. Like Murphy and Fricker, he was a much respected theater actor before he began his much lauded film career. He has given memorable performances in many high profile movies including The General, Gangs of New York and Michael Collins. Here he is as Alastar Moody in the Harry Potter films.

2. Saoirse Ronan

Our penultimate pick is the hugely talented and watchable Saoirse Ronan. She burst onto the international movie scene in 2007 in Atonement aged only 13. Her mesmerizing performance earned her the first of 4 Oscar nominations. Here she is starring as Eilis in the highly acclaimed Brooklyn, based on the novel of the same name by Colm Tobin.

1. Colm Meaney

And the winner is……..Colm Meaney! One of Ireland’s favorite actors takes our number one spot with flying colors! His numerous film and television appearances include Miles O Brien in Star Trek:The Next Generation and all three movie adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy. Here is in the second of that trilogy, The Snapper, in his much loved and often quoted performance as Dessie Curley.

So there you have our top Irish actors and some great Irish movie suggestions for the weekend. Have a good one!

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Slán go fóill!

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