October has Halloween movies, December has Christmas movies, March has ... well, in our household anyway, it has Irish movies. In truth, Irish movies, which is to say any film set in Ireland, starring Irish actors, directed by an Irishman or relating in any conceivable way to Ireland or the Irish/Irish-American experience, are always popular with us. In March, however, we make an extra effort to find such material. St. Patrick's Day is, after all, celebrated in March, and we are of Irish Catholic descent and feel both Saint and Nation deserve at least a month of recognition.

Fortunately, Ireland has a rich tradition of storytelling, music and poetry from which moviemakers can draw. While there are numerous films my husband and I enjoy that are not children friendly (including My Left Foot, The Crying Game, Hear My Song and In the Name of the Father), Irish history, imagination and folklore provide a wealth of material fit for the whole family.

John Wayne is not an actor one might immediately associate with Ireland, but in 1952 he appeared, alongside Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald and Victor McGlaglen, in John Ford's film The Quiet Man. Shot gorgeously on location in Ireland, it includes thatched roofs, Catholics and Protestants, horseracing, fistfights, strong wills and names like Mary Kate Danaher, Michaleen Oge and Father Lonergan. Our entire family enjoys this movie, without qualification.

Leprechauns, on the other hand, are creatures associated almost exclusively with Ireland, and are the "little people" referred to in Walt Disney's 1959 picture Darby O'Gill and the Little People. Darby O'Gill is thoroughly enjoyable, and not just because it features a young Sean Connery (singing, no less!). However, I am glad I watched it with the kids (as opposed to allowing them to watch it while I made dinner), because it does include a few scary moments. Leprechauns are not the only characters from Irish folklore that appear in this film. A banshee (a female fairy who appears as a spirit to foretell death) appears, as does the Coach de Bower (a death coach) and a pooka (a shape shifter that is among the most feared of Irish fairies), all of which frightened two of our three children. This was a film my kids wanted to watch again as soon as it ended, but only if I stayed close by.

The tagline for 1992's Into the West reads, "Accused of a crime they didn't commit, two city kids and a magical horse are about to become the coolest outlaws ever to ride Into The West." Now I ask you, can you beat that? Outlaw kids on a magical horse, escaping to the mythic freedom of The West! The West of Ireland is at least as captivating, beautiful, desolate and full of possibility as the American West, which these two Irish hombres know about from American movies. And like the stories of the American West with which they are familiar, Tito and Ossie Reilly's journey to the West of Ireland is a redemptive one, both for them and, more importantly, for their father, "Papa." John "Papa" Reilly (Gabriel Byrne) has forsaken the ways of his people, the Travelers, and disappeared inside of his own grief over the loss of his beloved wife. The search for his boys leads him back to "all of the old places" and reminds him of who he is and what he has lost. If this last makes it sound too heavy for kids, it's not. I would like to thank Jeanne, our local video store savant who describes this as one of her three favorite movies and who recommended this film to us. Into the West is a great story, a beautiful film, and excellent fare for the whole family.

Finally, my family would never forgive me (and I would never forgive myself) if I didn't include John Sayle's 1994 picture, the beautiful, haunting, excellent The Secret of Roan Inish. This is a film our girls request at least a couple of times a year. Set in County Donegal, young Fiona learns family history, mystery and discovers herself as well. It is a rich, lovely film that is never sentimental or sappy. It leaves not just my kids but me wanting to watch it again as soon as it is over. It has also forever changed the way I look at seals. Watch it, and you'll see what I mean.

I confess I would return to Ireland in a heartbeat. I have had the great fortune of visiting twice, once as a young girl with my mother and once as a newlywed with my husband. I thrill at the prospect of returning with my husband and our children. In the meantime, one daughter Irish step dances and is learning to play Irish fiddle, and we read the stories and poetry, listen to the music and get an occasional eyeful (especially in March) through the magic of film.

___________________
Sue Harvey

Sue "Mom on Film" Harvey is a mother of three who shares her passion for film with bi-weekly, family-friendly movie recommendations.

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