a great month for the irish!

Let down by his emotionally distant father (Brendan Gleeson), 15-year-old Cole McKay (Michael Angarano) turns to the rest of his family -- including his sister Kathleen (Emily VanCamp), his brother Jack (Tom Guiry) and his strict Irish mother (Melissa Leo) -- for support. But one by one, they all seem to fail him as they struggle with their own crises. Francis Capra (the great-grandson of legendary director Frank Capra) co-stars.

A survey of celebrated penmen proves that the Emerald Isle boasts an embarrassment of literary riches, having spawned the likes of James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. This fascinating documentary examines their legacies and gives viewers an unprecedented look at the awe-inspiring regions in Ireland where these writers hailed from or to which they escaped in search of inspiration.

Philomene Long plays the vampire Manananaan in indie maven Pegarty Long's film about a bloodthirsty Irish creature of the night who heads to a city known to house its own strange beasts: Hollywood. But Manananaan is right in his element and quickly regains his footing as he acclimates to the metropolis' strange ways. In no time, he chooses his victim -- the sister of a mercurial artist -- and is determined to keep her hostage.

Take a guided tour and witness the grand history of the Emerald Isle as you explore some of its most renowned sites and legends. From the rugged coast to the bald hillocks and peat-covered bogs, viewers can revel in Ireland's lush scenery as they embark on a visual excursion to these impressive locales. Stops include Blarney Castle (where you'll learn the legend of the Blarney Stone), Tara and Ballintubber Abbey.

From the mass exodus of the Irish from their homeland over the centuries to the dreams of a mythical home nurtured by Irish emigrants the world over today, Irish Empire provides a unique historical perspective on modern Irish culture. Episode 1 looks at the Irish migrations; Episode 2 examines the ways the Irish have shaped the lands they've settled; and Episode 3 presents the untold story of Ireland's female emigrants.

Follow the nation's first immigrant group on their epic adventure to find the American Dream. From war hero Andrew Jackson to boxer John L. Sullivan and union organizer Mother Jones, meet Irish-Americans who fought their way past oppression and into history. Stirring readings, songs and interviews with leading historians offer insight into the remarkable events that made the Irish an integral part of American life. Aidan Quinn narrates.

Performing in the Windy City's Rosemont Theatre and accompanied by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, the Irish Tenors -- Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright -- bring the sound of the Emerald Isle stateside in the concert captured here. Providing equal parts tenderness and power, the lads tackle such well-loved Irish classics as "Danny Boy," "Red Is the Rose," "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen" and more.

Peter Bowles stars as Major Sinclair Yates in this series about an ex-army officer who settles down with the woman he loves in a small Irish town. Although he may have expected to lead a much quieter life away from battlefields, he discovers that daily life in this village is just as hectic … and a bit strange. Catch the entire first season, including the episodes "Great Uncle McCarthy," "The Boat's Share" and "Sommerville and Ross."

In this charming contemporary musical helmed by John Carney, a street musician (Glen Hansard) in Dublin, Ireland, strikes up a friendship with a migrant street hawker (Markéta Irglová), and the duo ends up composing and recording a series of songs over the course of a week. The tunes mirror their burgeoning romance and help the young busker release his musical passions. The actors wrote the tunes they perform, winning an Oscar for their efforts.

Nominated for no fewer than seven Oscars in 1993, this biopic features the dramatic prowess of Daniel Day-Lewis as the Irishman Gerry Conlon, who was wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for an IRA terrorist attack that killed four people. As if a forced confession weren't enough injustice, the police work to implicate Conlon's father in the same crime. Emma Thompson plays the lawyer who worked for years to uncover the truth.

Steven Spielberg executive produced this TNT miniseries about American Westward expansion during the 19th century. Told from both the perspective of the white Wheeler family and the Native American Lakota tribe, the 12-hour epic follows the clans as they struggle to find their place in a country confounded by turmoil and change. Historical figures and fictional characters interact in the gold fields, over railroad tracks and in battle.

As political tensions brew in early 1920s Ireland, brothers Damien and Teddy (Cillian Murphy and Padraic Delaney) abandon their civilian lives and take up arms to liberate their country from the oppressive "Black and Tan" squads of Britain. Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, Ken Loach's provocative drama, co-starring Liam Cunningham, examines a microcosm of civil war in Cork, Ireland.

Fiddle, harp, guitar and voice combine to revive the mystical melodies of Ireland's past, when Benedictine friars collected and wrote down prayers rooted in ancient Gaelic tradition. Songs include "Antiphon to Mary: O Frondens Virga," "Sunday Morning: Invocation of the Light," "Prayer of Cemetery: Joyful Resurrection," "Guardian Angel Prayer: Angel of God" and "Sunday Evening: Evening Praise for the Light."

A Massachusetts senator sends an overworked aide (Janeane Garofalo) to small-town Ireland on a mission to dig up relatives for his reelection campaign. When she arrives in the fictional Ballinagra, the fiercely single Marci finds herself in the center of the town's annual matchmaking festival. She fends off potential suitors, but sparks fly with a reclusive writer (David O'Hara) who's making a living at the local pub.

Though the folklore of Egypt, Greece and ancient Rome often overshadows the legends of Ireland, the tiny island nation has a bold tradition of storytelling and mythology in its own right. This installment of the Celtic Legends series examines the most intriguing Irish lore, including stories about the Celtic gods of Britain and various military heroes such as Finn MacCummaill, the fair-haired warrior of the Fianna.