The movies are rich with Irish characters. However, the image of the Irishman is an odd mix of magic, drunkenness, poverty, and ‘boys will be boys’. It’s no wonder that St. Patrick’s Day is such a party without a point. Most revelers have no idea who St. Patrick was, with a few appreciating that he somehow is credited with running all the snakes out of a country that never had any. In honor of all those characters with ‘a little Irish in them’, here are the top 12 movie quotes about the Irish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
“It's St. Patty's Day, everyone's Irish tonight. Why don't you just pull up a stool and have a drink with us?”
The Boondog Saints (1999) – Murphy (Norman Reedus)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“God invented liquor so the Irish wouldn't rule the world.”
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) – John Patterson (Val Kilmer)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“Seems there are Irish people everywhere, or people who want to be.”
Million Dollar Baby (2004) – Eddie Dupris (Morgan Freeman)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“You know, in Ireland a man with a horse, a cart, and a book he knows how to read is the catch of the county.”
Restoration (1995) – Katherine (Meg Ryan)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“What Freud said about the Irish is, we're the only people who are impervious to psychoanalysis.”
The Departed (2006) – Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God.”
Braveheart (1995) – Stephen (David O’Hara)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“It will come to you, this love of the land. There's no getting away from it if you're Irish."
Gone With the Wind (1939) – Gerald O'Hara (Thomas Mitchell)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“There's only one thing worse than being Irish and that's not being Irish."
The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) – Mrs. Dorsey (Sara Allgood)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“Call me Irish, but I don't believe in cooler heads prevailing."
Thirteen Days (2000) – Kenny O'Donnell (Kevin Costner)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“The problem with the Irish is that they'll sing at the drop of a hat, but ask them to talk and they won't.”
Michael Collins (1996) – Soames (Charles Dance)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“Don't be sure. Irish paths are whimsical - like the Irish character.”
The Luck of the Irish (1948) – Bill Clark (James Todd)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“Learn nothing from that Irishman, Harford, except how not to behave.”
Zulu Dawn (1979) – Lord Chelmsford (Peter O’Toole)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Interested in more movie quote lists?
Interested in a movie quote book?