Very few nations of similar population size to Ireland can lay claim to having had the cultural influence it has in its history. Great authors, playwrights, thinkers, and musicians have hailed from this great island and produced enduring cultural masterpieces.
James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde; that is just a handful of the names that have greatly influenced storytelling, theater, and film throughout the years. They’re giants of culture and have left an indelible mark on the world through their art.
However, in the 21st Century, it’s safe to say that we’re experiencing something of a resurgence of Irish culture in a modern sense. The average member of Gen Z may not be able to name Joyce or his seminal works, such as A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses, but they now have their own cultural touchstones to connect them to Ireland.
Modern Gaming Media Loves to Use Ireland as a Backdrop
The island has long been seen as a wistful setting for stories due to the nature of the Irish diaspora, their continuation of the folklore that grew here, and our long history of conquest. Tales of fae, banshees, and – of course – the leprechaun have been popular parts of storytelling. In addition to those elements, the rolling hills and aggressive coastlines have been invaded by the Norse and British in dramatic fashion.
In recent years, we’ve seen this evidenced in a number of video games and online games that have used Ireland as their setting. For example, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one of developer Ubisoft’s flagship titles. Interestingly, it dedicates a section to Bárid mac Ímar, one of the kings of Dublin, and uses the ancient city as a stage for the action.
And it’s not just console gaming, either. In fact, on sites like Karamba casino in Ireland, you can find slot games that use themes from Irish folklore. For example, there’s Banshee’s Call that takes the terrifying image of the bean sí stalking the Irish countryside and uses it as a basis for its modern game. It’s a novel idea to use what has long been a terrifying folk tale as the core of a slot game.
Irish Language Filmmaking No Longer Relegated to the Arthouse
It’s not news that the Irish language is experiencing something of a revival. Ever since it fell out of everyday usage for the majority, there have been numerous efforts to bring it back to the masses. Now, modern Irish is no longer a relic of the Gaeltachts, with younger generations choosing to dedicate time to keeping their mother tongue alive.
Nowhere is that clearer than in the arts. Yes, there’s a controversial rap trio Kneecap and their near-the-knuckle music, which was later used to tell their story in the eponymously-titled smash-hit indie movie, but there’s also been much more lavish storytelling in the Irish language. Cinema is certainly doing its part here.
In 2022, An Cailín Ciúin was ranked second in The Guardian’s UK best films of the year. A stunningly muted but beautiful story, told in the island’s language, it showed that Irish has a place on the world stage. In 2025, we have the upcoming Great Famine-set horror An Taibhse to further cement the language in the cultural storytelling zeitgeist.
Irish Actors, Directors, and Screenwriters Dominating Awards Seasons
Possibly the most noticeable evidence of Ireland’s effect on media and culture in recent years has been its stars of stage and screen, both up front and behind the curtain or camera. Cillian Murphy is now one of the most revered actors in the world. His Oscar-winning turn as J. Robert Oppenheimer has ensured he is a darling of mainstream audiences, critics, and arthouse fans alike.
Then, there’s up-and-comer Paul Mescal. After starring in the adaptation of the Irish novel Normal People, he has been propelled to stardom. After appearing in Gladiator II, he has staked his claim to becoming a Hollywood leading man, while showing his dramatic chops in indie films like Aftersun.
Throw the likes of Colin Farrell, Brian McDonagh, and Domhnall Gleeson into the mix and it’s clear that Ireland is set to dominate the big screen for some time. Ultimately, though, this is just a continuation of a cultural takeover from this talented island.
