These 10 Irish crime shows will make a great St. Patrick's Day watch

Here are 10 Irish crime dramas that are a must for St. Paddy's Day

It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so some TV viewers might be in the mood to enjoy an Irish-set TV show. Most will go for comedies or some dramas, but there’s a much wider range of Irish crime shows than one might expect. Given Ireland’s often bloody history, it’s no shock there’s plenty of crime to inspire, and numerous TV shows use it well. 

A few stand out from the pack thanks to the compelling characters, the fantastic actors and amazing storytelling. They use the Irish setting nicely, showing that while there’s beautiful charm in the country, there’s also some darker parts to it. These are ten Irish crime TV shows that would be a fun binge for St. Patrick’s Day and show the Emerald Isle has a few shadows in it. 

The Fall

Emmy Award winner Gillian Anderson is the focus of this dark and moody thriller. She plays an inspector drafted from the London Metropolitan Police to Belfast who concludes several unsolved murders are the work of a serial killer. She targets Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), a seemingly nice guy who’s really a twisted predator.

The cat-and-mouse game between them is fantastic to watch, with Anderson perfectly fitting into the Northern Irish setting. Backed by a first-rate cast (including Archie Panjabi as Anderson’s friend), the show’s three-season run is stellar to watch, with some fantastic turns leading to a stunning conclusion. It’s a great binge for a darker Irish drama than usual.

The Fall is streaming on Tubi and Acorn TV.

Hope Street

A current hit in Ireland and now making its way to the U.S., this police procedural uses its Donaghadee setting well, alongside a completely Northern Irish cast. There is an overreaching mystery arc for each season, yet the show excels better at the personal lives of the cops and how they handle the simple crimes in their fictional coastal town.

A fun touch is that each season has a different main cop joining the force, giving a new spark to the show as they handle the townspeople and let the viewers see the changes. The current third season is the longest, with 15 episodes to show how much it expands the drama. That keeps the show feeling fresh amid the fun cases and the hope it can continue for quite a while.

Hope Street is currently streaming on BritBox.