The Continuing Story of Irish Television Drama: Tracking the Tiger

Dr Helena Sheehan's original study, Irish television dram a, appeared in 1987. It traced 25 years (1962-87) of Irish society in a process of social transformation and the role of television drama in a struggle to define the nature of that process. This book is a sequel, advancing the story another 15 years (1987-2002). From Fair City to Family to Father Ted, it examines television drama in the time of the Celtic tiger, striving to come to terms with the flux of Irish life in an increasingly globalized world, in a time of significant changes in the climate of broadcasting. The Continuing Story of Irish Television Drama: 1 Helena Sheehan 1 historical drama 2 Introduction 6 The Times: from 1987 to 2002 6 RTE from 1987 to 2002 9 RTE drama 11 The Truth About Claire 13 RTE and comedy 14 Molloy 14 Extra Extra Read All About It 15 Upwardly Mobile 15 Fair City has felt the pressure of all ideological currents in Irish society to an extent not always obvious in the text itself. A Nighthawks sketch in 1991 showed a top RTE executive being asked by a journalist: 37 “Do you think that Fair City is marxist enough ?” 37 to which he answered that they had better work on that. Those in the know knew that it was a reference (and a funny one) to alleged Workers Party influence in RTE (which has been much exaggerated). What has prevailed in Fair City has been a liberal social democratic point of view, no longer under strong pressure from the old right or new left and confused by the nature of the challenge from the new right. Not that those involved in its production would customarily speak or even think about the production in such explicit ideological terms. It has given expression, implicitly or explicitly to neo-liberal attitudes, in some characters and situations, but it has not constructed a neo-liberal consensus of classless individuals. 38 TnaG/TG4 Drama 44 Ros na Run 44 RTE, independent production and co-production 47 Co-production and historical drama 51 Drama of famine and emigration 51 Black Day at Black Rock 57 On Home Ground 59 The Cassidys 60 Bachelor’s Walk 60 Any Time Now 61 Fergus’s Wedding 62 "Ok, but doggy style if you don't mind, because me hip is giving me ferocious gyp" 62 No Tears 62 7 Helena Sheehan......Page 1 historical drama......Page 2 The Times: from 1987 to 2002......Page 6 RTE from 1987 to 2002......Page 9 RTE drama......Page 11 The Truth About Claire......Page 13 Molloy......Page 14 Upwardly Mobile......Page 15 “Do you think that Fair City is marxist enough ?”......Page 37 to which he answered that they had better work on that. Those in the know knew that it was a reference (and a funny one) to alleged Workers Party influence in RTE (which has been much exaggerated). What has prevailed in Fair City has been a liberal social democratic point of view, no longer under strong pressure from the old right or new left and confused by the nature of the challenge from the new right. Not that those involved in its production would customarily speak or even think about the production in such explicit ideological terms. It has given expression, implicitly or explicitly to neo-liberal attitudes, in some characters and situations, but it has not constructed a neo-liberal consensus of classless individuals.......Page 38 Ros na Run......Page 44 RTE, independent production and co-production......Page 47 Drama of famine and emigration......Page 51 Black Day at Black Rock......Page 57 On Home Ground......Page 59 Bachelor’s Walk......Page 60 Any Time Now......Page 61 No Tears......Page 62 From Fair City To Family And Father Ted, This Text Examines Television Drama In The Time Of The Celtic Tiger, Striving To Come To Terms With The Flux Of Irish Life In An Increasingly Globalized World, In A Time Of Significant Changes In The Climate Of Broadcasting. 1. Introduction -- 2. RtÉ Drama -- 3. Tnag/tg4 Drama -- 4. RtÉ, Independent Productions And Co-productions -- 5. British Production Of Irish Television Drama. Helena Sheehan. Accompanying Cd-rom Has Title: Irish Television Drama: A Society And Its Stories (published By Radio Telefís Éireann, 1987, 1st Ed.; Re-published In A Revised Edtion On Cd-rom, 2004). Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Document On Cd-rom In Ms-word Format.