50 free Irish Movie trivia questions with answers — entertainment quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
From John Ford's The Quiet Man to Martin McDonagh's Banshees of Inisherin, Irish cinema has produced Oscar winners, cult soul bands, animated folklore and a Cannes Palme d'Or. These Irish movie trivia questions cover the films made in and about Ireland, the directors Sheridan, Jordan, Carney and the McDonaghs, Cartoon Saloon's animations, and stars from Daniel Day-Lewis to Saoirse Ronan and Cillian Murphy. Every answer is sourced, with a short explanation so you learn something even when you miss.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Who directed The Quiet Man, winning a record fourth Best Director Oscar?
John Ford
Winton Hoch's colour photography of Mayo and Galway also won an Oscar.
Q 02Who stars opposite John Wayne in The Quiet Man?
Maureen O'Hara
All the exteriors were shot on location in Counties Mayo and Galway.
Q 03In My Left Foot, what condition does Christy Brown have?
Cerebral palsy
Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker both won Oscars for the 1989 film.
Q 04My Left Foot was the directorial debut of which Irish filmmaker?
Jim Sheridan
He followed it with The Field and In the Name of the Father, earning six Oscar nominations in all.
Q 05Which Dublin writer's novel was The Commitments adapted from?
Roddy Doyle
Alan Parker directed; the film won four BAFTAs including Best Film.
Q 06What kind of music does Jimmy Rabbitte's band play in The Commitments?
Soul
Jimmy assembles working-class Northsiders to bring soul to Dublin.
Q 07Which future Oscar winner played guitarist Outspan Foster in The Commitments?
Glen Hansard
The Frames frontman went on to win Best Original Song for Once.
Q 08Which soul legend does the band keep waiting for in The Commitments?
Wilson Pickett
Joey "The Lips" promises his friend Pickett will sing with them.
Q 09Which song from Once won the Oscar for Best Original Song?
Falling Slowly
Marketa Irglova became the youngest winner of a non-acting Oscar.
Q 10Where does the Guy busk at the start of Once?
Grafton Street
John Carney made the film for about 112,000 euros.
Q 11What household appliance does the Girl ask the Guy to fix in Once?
A vacuum cleaner
He repairs hoovers in his father's shop.
Q 12Roughly how much did Once cost to make?
112,000 euros
It spent years in development with the Irish Film Board and later became a Tony-winning stage musical.
Q 13In In Bruges, who does rookie hitman Ray accidentally kill on his first job?
A child
He shoots a priest during confession and a stray bullet kills a boy, which drives the whole plot.
In what year is The Banshees of Inisherin set?
Q 21Who plays the captured British soldier Jody in The Crying Game?
Forest Whitaker
Stephen Rea's IRA man Fergus befriends him and promises to find his girlfriend Dil.
Q 22Who plays the title role in Neil Jordan's Michael Collins?
Liam Neeson
The film won the Golden Lion at Venice and Neeson the Volpi Cup.
Q 23Which Hollywood star plays Kitty Kiernan in Michael Collins?
Julia Roberts
Alan Rickman plays Eamon de Valera.
Q 24Which Ken Loach film about two Cork brothers won the Palme d'Or in 2006?
1923
The Irish Civil War is heard ending on the mainland while Colm and Padraic feud.
Q 15What does Colm threaten to do each time Padraic speaks to him in Banshees?
Cut off one of his own fingers
He follows through, starting with his left index finger thrown at Padraic's door.
Q 16What is the name of Padraic's beloved miniature donkey in Banshees?
Jenny
She chokes to death on one of Colm's severed fingers.
Q 17On which real islands was The Banshees of Inisherin filmed?
Inishmore and Achill
Colm's house is at Keem Bay on Achill; JJ Devine's pub was built at Cloughmore.
Q 18Which prize did Colin Farrell win at Venice for Banshees?
The Volpi Cup
McDonagh took Best Screenplay at the same festival.
Q 19Which Wexford town does Eilis leave behind in Brooklyn?
Enniscorthy
Nick Hornby adapted Colm Toibin's novel; the film won the BAFTA for Best British Film.
Q 20Who wrote the screenplay for Brooklyn?
Nick Hornby
John Crowley directed; Ronan was Oscar-nominated for Best Actress.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Cillian Murphy plays Damien O'Donovan in the War of Independence drama.
Q 25In Sing Street, why does Conor form a band?
To impress a girl
John Carney set the story at his own old school, Synge Street CBS, in 1980s Dublin.
Q 26Which Maroon 5 singer co-wrote and sang "Go Now" for Sing Street?
Adam Levine
He wrote it with Carney and Glen Hansard; the film was Golden Globe-nominated.
Q 27Which American actor partners Brendan Gleeson's Garda sergeant in The Guard?
Don Cheadle
It became the most successful independent Irish film ever at the Irish box office.
Q 28In Calvary, what does the unseen confessor give Father James a week to do?
Put his affairs in order before dying
John Michael McDonagh shot the film around Easkey in County Sligo.
Q 29Which Kilkenny studio made The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers?
Cartoon Saloon
Founded in 1999, it earned Oscar nominations for its first four features.
Q 30Tomm Moore's 2009 debut feature tells the story of which object's creation?
The Book of Kells
It lost the Animated Feature Oscar to Pixar's Up.