Glenroe

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Glenroe was an Irish television drama series broadcast between 1983 and 2001 on RTÉ One. The programme was a spin-off from Bracken, a short-lived RTÉ drama itself spun off from The Riordans. It was regularly screened on Sunday nights at 8:30pm. The show was created, and written for much its run, by Wesley Burrowes.

The programme centred on the lives of the people of the fictional rural village of Glenroe (actually Kilcoole), in County Wicklow. The main protagonists were the Byrne and McDermott/Moran families, related by the marriage of Miley Byrne to Biddy McDermott. Other characters included the Roman Catholic and Protestant priests of the village (Tim Deveraux and George Black respectively), Teasy McDaid, the proprietor of the local pub, Biddy's cousin Fidelma Kelly, and others. One notable character was Blackie Connors, who was one of the first Irish traveller characters on television.

The programme was noted for its original title sequence, which featured the words "Gleann Rua" morph into "Glenroe" over a series of rural images. Its distinctive theme tune is still recognised. A later title sequence featured a more modern arrangement. A song from the series, The By-Road to Glenroe, was released as a single in Ireland, featuring the theme tune as its B-side.

The programme ended in 2001, after two major actors, Joe Lynch and Mary McEvoy, left the show. However, many critics argue that weak storylines and poor scriptwriting was partly responsible for the shows cancellation [citation needed]. Also the fact that the show only aired once a week for 30 minutes was a drawback. At the height of its success Glenroe regularly attracted viewing figures of 1.5 million in the late 80s. It was replaced by On Home Ground, which ran for two seasons. Currently, RTÉ have no major rural drama series, with Fair City now being their only regular soap opera.

Glenroe was the first show to be subtitled by RTÉ, with a broadcast in 1991 starting the stations subtitling policy. [1]

[edit] Principal cast

  • Joe Lynch - Dinny Byrne
  • Mick Lally - Miley Byrne
  • Mary McEvoy - Biddy Byrne
  • Emmet Bergin - Dick Moran
  • Geraldine Plunkett - Mary McDermott-Moran
  • Maureen Toal - Teasy McDaid
  • Isobel Mahon - Michelle Haughey


Radio Telefís Éireann original programmes corporate logo
Comedy & Drama shows: The Blizzard of Odd | Bull Island | Hall's Pictorial Weekly | The Irish R.M. | The Panel | The Podge and Rodge Show | A Scare at Bedtime | Strumpet City
News & Current Affairs: Discovery | Nine O'Clock News | One O'Clock News | Prime Time | Questions and Answers | Reeling In The Years | 7 Days | Six One News
Chat shows: Kenny Live | The Late Late Show | The Live Mike | Tubridy Tonight
Soap operas: Bracken | Fair City | Glenroe | The Riordans | Tolka Row
Talent Contests: Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels | Charity You're A Star | You're A Star
Irish language: Buntús Cainte | Trom agus Éadrom
Children's: Bosco | The Den | Wanderly Wagon

See also: List of programmes broadcast by RTÉ


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