Irish humour is in a league of its own. This is why, over the years, there have been some incredible Irish TV series that have taken the world by storm.
Irish TV shows are like no other. The Irish sense of humour is totally unique, which is why people tend to love the Irish so much!
We are able to share our humour and culture with the rest of the world through the art of television. As such, there have been some much-beloved series across the years that have captured the hearts of viewers all over the world, shining a light on a small country with a lot of history and heart.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top ten Irish TV series that have taken the world by storm across the years.
10. Father Ted
It comes as no surprise to anyone whatsoever that Father Ted is the first Irish TV show we mention on our list.
We wouldn’t question it if you think Father Ted is the best Irish TV show of all time because a lot of people would be in agreement with you.
While it only ran for three short series, the show captured the hearts of viewers around the world with its hilarious characters, impeccable one-liners, and some of the funniest Father Ted episodes that people still love to watch today.
9. Derry Girls
Also running for three series, Derry Girls was a more recent programme that took the world by storm. From the hilarity of Sister Michael to the outrageousness of Michelle, Derry Girls will go down in history as one of the best Irish TV shows of all time.
Derry Girls took a really grave and serious subject, the Troubles that ravaged Northern Ireland for decades, and made it interesting, understandable, and relatable for people all over the world – all while making us laugh our heads off.
8. Love/Hate
Starring Robert Sheehan, Charlie Murphy, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, and Cillian Scott, Love/Hate aired between 2010 and 2014 and followed the lives of Dubliners caught up in the world of gang crime and violence.
7. The Fall
The Fall was a fantastic police drama filmed and set in Northern Ireland starring Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson.
This role is often said to be what landed Dornan in his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades film trilogy series.
The show ran between 2013 and 2016, and the strange but intriguing relationship between killer and cop is what kept people all over the world wanting more.
6. The Young Offenders
The Young Offenders is a hilarious Irish sitcom that follows the lives of best friends Conor and Jock, two loveable Cork teen rogues who cause mayhem wherever their adventures take them.
The series came after the success of the movie of the same name that follows the same characters and the same story.
5. Hardy Bucks
Starting off as a YouTube show before becoming a real TV series, Hardy Bucks quickly became a firm favourite with native Irish and people all over the world thanks to its hilarious mockumentary-style storytelling.
4. Mrs Browns Boys
Brendan O’Carroll’s Mrs Browns Boys is one of Ireland’s most ridiculous but hilarious sitcoms that people from all over the world have grown to love.
The show follows Agnes Brown and her mad family. Agnes loves to interfere in the personal lives of her friends and loved ones, often leading to drama and mayhem.
3. Normal People
Normal People might have you having flashbacks of COVID-19 as this incredible series adaptation of the book of the same name ran over lockdowns.
Following the lives of Connell and Marianne, two people living in a small town but from very different backgrounds, as they navigate the complications of life and relationships from adolescence to adulthood, Normal People had people from all over the world crying out for more when it ended.
2. Give My Head Peace
Poking fun at politics and paramilitaries, Give My Head Peace is one of the most recognisable TV shows out of Northern Ireland.
It was a satirical sitcom centred around the political divides in Northern Ireland that ran for five much-loved series.
1. Blue Lights
Blue Lights is a very recent addition to the Irish television scene. It’s a police drama set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and airing of the first series recently ended.
While it’s the new kid on the block, it received worldwide critical acclaim, with viewers expressing a keen interest in a second series very quickly after the show ended.
