There is an Irish documentary on Netflix right now that will suit any mood or situation.
From true crime documentaries to light-hearted tales of Irish musicians and so much more, the real stories of Irish people in these documentaries are fascinating, moving, and incredibly intriguing.
Whether you’re in the mood to delve further into on of Ireland’s most notorious murder cases or want to learn more about one of Ireland’s biggest sporting heroes, there is something on this list of Irish documentaries on Netflix to suit every mood.
10. Sophie: A Murder in West Cork (2021) – a riveting true crime documentary
There have been several documentaries that tell the story of the 1996 murder of French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier, and this one is available to stream in Ireland and the UK right now.
A murder case that cuts across national borders, this shocking crime shook the nation and beyond when Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered in her holiday home in West Cork in 1996.
The documentary unravels more intricate details of the case, including the man who was never tried in Ireland for the crime but was later sentenced in absentia by French courts.
9. The Funeral Director (2019) – unexpected enlightenment
You’ll find unexpected enlightenment in this lovely documentary that follows the life and work of David McGowan, a prominent undertaker based in Easkey, County Sligo.
McGowan shares the science and procedures of the job in this short, 52-minute documentary, as well as the ritualistic nature of funerals in Ireland, and his own profound perspective on death.
8. The Nobody Zone: Interview With an Irish Serial Killer (2020) – a haunting tale
This chilling documentary series follows the shocking crimes of Irish serial killer Kieran Kelly, who was said to have killed up to 30 people in London, crimes which went undetected for years.
Arrested for stealing a gold ring, police were shocked to discover a confession of 30 years of killing up to several people by pushing them onto train tracks or strangling them.
The number of his victims is heavily disputed, but this documentary takes an in-depth look into his life, crimes, and life in prison.
7. Waking the Titanic (2015) – the untold story of the Titanic victims
The story of the Titanic has been told in many ways over the last century and then some since its doomed maiden voyage, but when you think of the number of passengers on board, it’s impossible to hear the tales of everyone who died or survived on the journey.
Waking the Titanic tells the story of the “Adergoole 14”, 14 young steerage passengers, ranging from 17 to 32 years old, from a small, impoverished parish in County Mayo, who sought to immigrate to America.
11 of the 14 people from this remote Irish village died, one of the highest mortality rates from a single community on the Titanic.
6. An Irish Story: This is my home (2020) – a lighthearted Irish documentary on Netflix
This lighthearted documentary movie follows the story of The Black Donnelly’s, two Irish immigrant musicians in America on a journey to break the World Record by performing in all 50 U.S states in just 40 days.
5. Katie (2018) – an intimate story of Katie Taylor
Streaming now on Netflix Ireland, Katie tells an intimate story of Katie Taylor – one of Ireland’s most legendary athletes.
The documentary details her own personal turmoil and conflicts that led to her leaving the Rio Olympics early. We then see her determination to rebuild her career by turning pro.
4. Swindlers (2026) – Ireland’s biggest con artists
Swindlers is a new Netflix documentary series that details the crimes of some of Ireland’s biggest crooks and scammers, including Julia Holmes and Tomas Byrne.
Through interviews with victims, journalists, and investigators, the series is split into three episodes outlining the outrageous crimes of these Irish con artists.
3. Nancy Corrigan (2015) – one of the most incredible Irish women of all time
A name that everyone should know, Nancy Corrigan was a trailblazing female aviator who moved from poverty in Achill Island in 1929 to the United States to become one of the first female commercial pilots in the States.
This inspiring, short documentary film follows her journey and celebrates her successes as a pioneer in women’s aviation.
2. ReMastered: The Miami Showband Massacre (2019) – a massacre that shocked the nation in 1975
Known as the Irish Beatles, the Miami Showband were one of Ireland’s most popular cabaret bands in the 1970s.
This documentary outlines the shocking murder of three of its six members when their minibus was stopped at a fake military checkpoint on their way home to Dublin after a gig in Banbridge.
Men dressed in British Army uniforms, later confirmed as members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), planted a bomb in the minibus, which exploded prematurely. The men then opened fire on the band, leading to the massacre of three of its members.
1. How to Tell a Secret (2022) – extremely moving
This powerful and emotive documentary film follows the lives of people living with HIV in modern Ireland and explores the act of disclosure of being HIV positive.
The stories told outline the stigma that drives people to withhold their status in contemporary Ireland. Some people featured in this moving documentary reveal their HIV positive status for the very first time on camera.
