What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Gathering
Anne Enright · Book · 2007
If you loved The Gathering, start with House of Guinness (Steven Knight, 2025) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Gathering across media.
If The Gathering captivated you, it is because you are drawn to stories where fractured families unearth long-buried, haunting secrets.
Films on the same thread
Manchester by the Sea
Kenneth Lonergan · Film · 2016
Explores: Grief, Loss, Trauma.
Much like the protagonist in The Gathering, Lee Chandler must return to his roots to confront a past tragedy that continues to dictate his present life and grief.
Atonement
Joe Wright · Film · 2007
Explores: Guilt and Redemption, Consequences of Lies, Social Class Divide.
The Gathering shares this focus on how a single, irrevocable moment of childhood trauma can ripple through decades, irrevocably altering the destinies of everyone within a family circle.
The Celebration
Thomas Vinterberg · Film · 1998
Shares a thread with The Gathering: Psychological Drama.
This film mirrors the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere of The Gathering, where a formal family reunion becomes the stage for exposing the devastating, hidden truths that have long festered.
The Quiet Girl
Colm Bairéad · Film · 2022
Explores: neglect, found family, rural life.
Like The Gathering, this story explores the quiet, painful complexities of Irish family life and the discovery of hidden secrets that reside behind the doors of a foster home.
Series on the same thread
The Haunting of Hill House
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Family Secrets, Mental Illness.
The Gathering excels at examining the ghosts of the past, a theme perfectly reflected here as a fractured family confronts the haunting memories that define their shared history.
House of Guinness
Steven Knight · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Gathering: Family Saga.
This saga captures the same spirit of Irish legacy found in The Gathering, focusing on how the weight of ancestry and dark secrets impacts the lives of siblings.
Patrick Melrose
David Nicholls · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Upper-class dysfunction.
You will recognize the unflinching examination of intergenerational trauma and deep-seated dysfunction present in The Gathering as this narrative traces a harrowing odyssey through a damaged family history.
Brothers and Sisters
Jon Robin Baitz · Series · 2006
Shares a thread with The Gathering: Intergenerational Trauma.
Just as the Hegarty clan struggles with their collective history in The Gathering, this show explores the intricate web of sibling bonds, grief, and long-held family secrets.
Podcasts on the same thread
Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland
Podcast
Explores: grief, loss, mourning.
If The Gathering moved you with its honest portrayal of mourning, this podcast provides a necessary, community-focused exploration of the grief that remains a taboo subject for many.
Slaggy Book Club
Podcast
Explores: Contemporary Literature, Book Recommendations, Literary Analysis.
For readers who appreciated the lyrical, complex literary style of The Gathering, this podcast offers deeper critical analysis and discussions of similar contemporary fiction that explores the human condition.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Gathering a story about an Irish family?
Yes, The Gathering focuses on the Hegarty clan, a large Irish family. The narrative follows the nine surviving children as they congregate in Dublin, providing an evocative portrait of their shared history and the complex dynamics within their family structure.
What is the tone of The Gathering by Anne Enright?
The Gathering combines the lyricism of traditional Irish literature with a modern, shocking perspective. Anne Enright uses this approach to create a moving and evocative portrait of the Hegarty family, marking her as one of the most singular voices in contemporary Irish writing.
Who wrote The Gathering?
The Gathering was written by Anne Enright, a writer of international stature. Published in 2007, the book is recognized for bringing a fresh perspective to the Irish literary tradition through its portrayal of the nine surviving children of the Hegarty family gathering in Dublin.
What brings the family together in The Gathering?
In The Gathering, the nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan are brought together in Dublin. The narrative explores this significant family event, serving as a moving and evocative portrait of the siblings as they reunite within the context of their family history.