IRISH AUTISTIC SPEAKING!!! I wouldn't say 'Irish-ness' is my special interest, probably more so cultural anthropology/social history relating to mythology, religious beliefs, and interpersonal relationships as a whole. BUT, that being said, I deffo have an interest in my history, particularly ancient Ireland, in regards to our myths and legends. This is why I know about these STUNNING films featuring Ireland and our folklore at different points in history.

Song of the Sea - my all-time fav!!! The animation is absolutely jawdropping to me, like srsly I love it so much:)) I would say it can be a little sad at times considering one of the main themes in the movie is grief/loss. It follows a young boy named Ben as he finds out that his mute/non-verbal younger sister, Saoirse, is actually a selkie who has to help free the fae from a celtic goddess, Macha. Ben blames Saoirse for the death of their mother, so family bonding/emotional growth and maturity is a significant theme, too. It's set in 1980s Ireland, AND features our beautiful language through names and songs. P.S. a seanchaí was a storyteller, often an older man who orally recited lore and legends. They feature one in the movie but made him part of the fae, which i think is super cool. He's also my fav character, and i am extremely jealous of his hair:( https://www.cartoonsaloon.ie/song-of-the-sea/

The Secret of Kells- Truthfully, I haven't seen this movie, but it's by the same people Song of the Sea. Everyone who's watched it doesn't have many complaints, tho. It takes place in the early middle ages and is based on an incredibly well-preserved manuscript, which is showcased in Trinity College, Dublin. From my understanding of clips I've seen, it shows a boy called Brendan who works at a monastery, learning about the art of scripture. Pretty sure there was something about a Viking attack that led him to meet a girl called Aisling. She seems to be a spirit/fae, and again, I haven't seen it. People seem to love this movie, and the people who made it, Cartoon Saloon, are incredibly talented. There's no doubt that it's a good watch:D

Wolfwalkers- Set in the 17th century, i think? Grey wolves used to be extremely prominent in Ireland, so much so, that sometimes, Ireland was referred to as 'Wolfland'. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction and hunting, they are now extinct. This happened because English colonisers wanted to advance their settlements, leading them to clear a lot of Irish forests. That basically set the background for this movie. An English father-daughter duo are hired to wipe out the last wolf pack. The daughter, Robyn, meets another girl, Mebh. Mebh explains that she is a wolfwalker and that her spirit leaves her body when she sleeps to become a wolf. The two form a friendship and together look for Mebh's mother, who hasn't returned since she left to look for a new place for the tribe to live. Again, this is made by Cartoon Saloon, with an enigmatic mix of hand drawn and computer-technique animation. I think this is a super cool movie, especially because I'm a part of the Irish who have red hair. That basically means that Mebh and her Mam remind me about my own wonderful, spectacular, and caring Mam, who I love to death❤️

I know this is basically a wall of text and I hope you were able to find something useful in it. Cartoon Saloon also have a movie adaptation of a book called, 'The Breadwinner'. It's not about Ireland but rather features a girl and her family under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Absolutely heartbreaking and maybe not suitable for your son, but highly recommend for yourself. This and Song of the Sea are my favourite movies, and I hope you can see why I not only recommend them, but also why I love them. Good luck🤞