How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
Three friends investigate a mysterious death in County Donegal.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is an Irish comedy thriller series for Netflix created by Lisa McGee and produced by Hat Trick Productions. The series premiered on 12 February 2026.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Dark comedy; Crime thriller
- Creator
- Lisa McGee
- Starring
- Roisin Gallagher
- Sinéad Keenan
- Caoilfhionn Dunne
- Music
- Sion Trefor
- Country
- United Kingdom; Ireland
- Language
- English; Irish
- Series
- 1
- Episodes
- 8
Facts from the source article.
Production
The eight-episode series was written by Lisa McGee, who also created Derry Girls. Production company Hat Trick Productions, alongside Channel 4, announced in August 2023 that Caroline Leddy, Liz Lewin, and Jimmy Mulville would serve as executive producers. By March 2024, the show had shifted to Netflix for distribution, with Michael Lennox directing. Principal casting for the lead roles was announced on 1 July 2024, featuring Roisin Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne. Younger portrayals of these characters were filled by Emma Canning, Emily Flain, Chara Aitken, and Maria Laird. Additional cast members include Jeanne Ní Áinle, Emmett J. Scanlan, Tom Basden, Ardal O'Hanlon, Michelle Fairley, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, and Josh Finan. Filming started in Belfast in July 2024, with locations also including the Harbourview Hotel (formerly the Londonderry Arms) in Carnlough, County Antrim, County Louth, Saint John's Point in County Down, Mamore Gap and Inishowen in County Donegal, Dublin, and Malta. Hat Trick Productions previously produced McGee's Derry Girls, and several actors from that series appear here, including Sinéad Keenan, Emmett J. Scanlan, Maria Laird, Peter Campion, Ardal O'Hanlon, Bronagh Gallagher, and Saoirse-Monica Jackson, along with other crew members. The Derry Girls mural in Derry is featured in the eighth episode.
Reception
Critics were largely impressed with How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. On Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 39 reviews were positive, with the site’s consensus calling it a “triumphantly funny and proudly Irish series” that stretches its tone without breaking. Metacritic gave it a weighted score of 79 out of 100 from 13 critics, which falls under “generally favorable.” The show earned praise from reviewers overall.
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