The long running TG4 soap opera Ros na Rún, filmed in Galway, crossed a milestone on Thursday evening with the broadcast of its 2,000th episode.
Ireland’s only rural based TV drama series, Ros na Rún has long established itself as the world’s only Irish Language drama series.
Filmed in a purpose-built fictional village in An Spidéal, the show is always delivering a high propensity of drama centred on the social issues affecting rural Ireland.
Ros na Rún was first broadcast on the 3rd of November 1996 and has never shied away from topical and controversial issues, such as bringing Irish TV audiences the first gay kiss in 1997.
While its creative script writers bring the challenges of rural and Gaeltacht life to the fore in their presentation of life, humour and comedy always filter through.
“We’re beyond thrilled to have reached such an historic milestone of 2,000 episodes”, says Siobhán Ní Ghadhra Executive Series Producer.
“We’re hugely grateful to our inspiring cast, talented script writers and committed crew, who take such pride in the production and delivery of each episode of Ros na Rún”.
Five of Ros na Rún’s original cast members continue to be at the heart of the popular TG4 drama series, including the village rogue and bully, Tadhg Ó Direáin, played by Abbey Theatre Actor, Macdara Ó Fatharta, Máire played by renowned Connemara Actress and Sean Nós Singer, Máire Pheter.
Also at the core is feisty Caitriona Ní Lóideáin played by An Spidéal native Máire Éilis Ní Fhlatharta who’s currently embroiled in a homelessness story line with Micheál played by Connemara native Josie Ó Chualáin.
This season has also seen Ros na Rún lead character Bernie face another series of highly challenging storylines.
Played by Fionnuala Ní Fhlatharta viewers are this week keen to see if the highly volatile Bernie will have any contact with Vera following her hidden camera incident.
Vera has broken all privacy guidelines out of concern for Berni as she plays the role of the local Miss Marple with her favoured iPad.
Ros na Rún has also welcomed high profile personalities include Stephen Fry, Nathan Carter, Francis Brennan, Alan Hughes and the Hot House Flowers star Fiachna O Braonáin has featured in storylines.
Most recently Páraic Breathnach has joined the cast as the controversial developer Sonny Dirrane.
A co-production between Connemara’s Danú Media and Dublin’s Tyrone Production, the show now employs 160 people during its filming season from August to February annually when 82 episodes of the thrilling drama series are created.
