The most romantic Irish movies ever made

Irish actors have been part of many romantic Hollywood movies throughout the years. Daniel Day-Lewis's turn in 'The Age of Innocence' (pictured) is the personification of ardent love and longing.

And with beautiful Irish actors like Colin Farrell and Sarah Bolger - not to mention stunning Irish scenery - it is little wonder that Ireland has produced some heartrendingly gorgeous romantic movies.

Let's see the best examples.

In more ways than one, Neil Jordan's 'Michael Collins' (1996) is a romantic movie. Yes, there is a tortured love triangle, but there is also a sweeping view of Irish history and the passions that shaped the destiny of a nation.

Starring Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts, the most romantic scene in the movie takes place in a hotel room. Neeson, playing the titular Collins, presses a rose against Roberts's face, and everything is lit with a stunning blue light as night turns to morning.

This story about coming of age, young love, and '80s music grabbed everyone's attention, and rightly so. If that wasn't enough, the movie touches on bleak schools, brotherly ties and family breakdown.

Without spoiling the end, the movie reaches a denouement that is partly idealised, but it is so romantic and hopeful, it would warm the cockles of anyone's heart.

Two down-on-their-luck musicians meet on the streets of Dublin. One is a busker and hoover repairman, and the other sells flowers. Their obvious love for one another is tempered by existing obligations. Their glances and knowing silences are almost Shakespearean in this painfully beautiful movie.

This modern-day musical won Best Original Song at the 2007 Academy Awards, and Steven Spielberg effusively praised this ''little movie'' in an interview for giving him the motivation to finish the year.

Set between Ireland and the United States, the plot is defined by its central love triangle, with Saoirse Ronan's character having to choose between settling in Ireland with an Irish suitor or emigrating forever and spending her days with an Italian emigre.

The movie is given its power by the director (and the original novel) setting the first stirrings of love against a backdrop of finding oneself and navigating the immigrant experience.

The oldest and perhaps most iconic movie on this list, 'The Quiet Man' (1952) sees John Wayne, playing an Irish boxer, return to the homeland in order to buy a farm. Inevitably, he falls in love with the eye-catching Maureen O'Hara.

This movie was a risk for director John Ford and star John Wayne, as neither were known for making whimsical romantic movies. Nevertheless, the movie would earn a Best Picture nomination for its studio, which was most known for pumping out B-movies

Widely and deservedly panned in 2020 for its raft of dodgy accents, this mess of a movie - with a plot that stretches credibility - still qualifies as a romantic flick. So, if you want something so-bad-it's-good, with a dash of love, then it is a good option.

Why is it so high up the list, then? Well, as the Irish say, it's an ill wind that doesn't blow good for someone, and this big-budget release should keep Mayo, where it was filmed, rich with tourists for years to come.

'Ondine' (2009) takes the top spot here. Directed by the legendary Neil Jordan, the film features Colin Farrell's fisherman catch Alicja Bachleda in his net. In the movie, her name is Ondine, and she is a magical, selkie-like creature.

Ireland is famous for its mythology, but this movie tackles the subject in an epic and refreshing way, with a surprising mix of social realism. The ending is one that befits a fairy tale.

There are other movies set in Ireland, meaning they are American-produced but with one foot on Irish soil. 'Leap Year' and 'P.S. I Love You' show a more cliched view of Ireland, but they are both romantic and enjoyable nonetheless.

So, in the midst of green fields and emerald isles, find the time to watch these genuine Irish films that will make you fall in love with love.