So you've been to the parade, you've had a few too many last night and now all you want to do is curl up on the sofa for the day and relax.

Well, here are eight of the best Irish-themed movies and television shows to watch during your big duvet day!

1. The Departed

Martin Scorsese's 2006 crime thriller won four Academy Awards and is one of my favourite films.

Loosely based on real-life mobster Whitey Bulger, it stars Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Leonardo Di Caprio, amongst other star names.

2. Gangs of New York

Another Scorsese flick, Gangs of New York is set in the mid-1800s in the Five Points district of Lower Manhattan.It stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo Di Caprio as rival gang leaders during the US Civil War. 

Day-Lewis plays the part of Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting, a real life Protestant gang leader who warred with Irish immigrants in New York. They war with the Di Caprio lead Irish gang, after his father – played by Liam Neeson and loosely based on real Irish gangster Smokey Joe Morrissey – is killed by Cutting.

The movie includes real life events such as the draft riots of 1863.

3. Michael Collins

Now for a bit of Irish history, Neil Jordan's Michael Collins is an historical biopic of the Irish revolutionary leader of the same name.

The film gives an insight into the Irish War of Independence and the IRA tactics masterminded by the Corkman. It follows the Irish story from Easter 1916 right through to the Civil War, and although it sways between real life events and fictional, it is still well worth a watch.

4. The van

The film adoption of Roddy Doyle's novel, The Van is the third instalment of the Barrytown Trilogy. 

It stars Colm Meaney and Donal O'Kelly who start selling fish and chips from a van all around Dublin. A funny and thoughtful film, it will have even more resonance is you've seen the other films in the trilogy, The Commitments and The Snapper.

5. In the Name of the Father

In the Name of the Father is another biographical film, and is based on the Guilford Four. The true life story follows the tribulations of four people wrongfully convicted of the IRA Guilford pub bombings.

It is adopted from one of those convicted, Gerry Conlon's autobiography and stars Daniel Day-Lewis in yet another Academy Award nomination performance.

6. My Left Foot

Another true story of an amazing Irishman, and another great performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.

My Left Foot tells the story of Christy Brown. A Dubliner who was born with cerebral palsy, and is completely paralysed bar having power in his left leg and foot. 

He becomes a painter and writer but the movie, based on Brown's own autobiography, gives us an insight not just into his family but also to life in Dublin in the mid-1900s.

7. The Boondock Saints

From the sublime to the slightly ridiculous, The Boondock Saints is one for you to leave all critical judgement at the door. 

Set in Boston, it features two Irish brothers who become vigilantes of sorts, when they decide to kill of all the mob members in the city. It's every bit as crazy as it sounds.

8. Boardwalk Empire

And if you really want to spend ALL day watching something than look no further than HBO's Boardwalk Empire.

One of the best shows on television at the minute, it is set in Atlantic City during prohibition in the US in the 1920s. It is based around the political machine of Nucky Thompson, a politician and gangster who will do anything to keep the flow of liquor in Atlantic City.

With three seasons broadcast so far, there's plenty for you to sink your teeth into!

Categories: St Patrick's Day, television, Irish films