RTÉ One
Members of the Fair City cast gather on set to celebrate 25 years of the popular Irish soap
RTÉ One’s Fair City will celebrate its 25th anniversary this Thursday, 18th September, 2014. Members of the Fair City cast including: Tom Jordan (Charlie), Tony Tormey (Paul), Clelia Murphy (Niamh), Seamus Power (Dermot), Martina Stanley (Dolores), Victor Burke (Wayne), Rachel Pilkington (Jane), Niamh Quirke (Rachel), Jenny Dixon (Kerri-Ann), George McMahon (Mondo), Mick Nolan (Ray), Rachel Sarah Murphy (Jo), Bryan Murray (Bob,) Ryan Andrews (Sean), David O’Sullivan (Decco), Aoibheann McCaul (Caoimhe), Amelia Clarke Stuart (Katy) and Richard McWilliams (Michael) joined together today on the set of Fair City to raise a glass and pay tribute to Ireland’s most popular and longest running soap.
Fair City aired its first ever episode in September 1989 with one episode a week for a limited run. By 1999, the soap was entertaining viewers three times weekly. Now, the award winning drama is watched by an average of nearly half a million viewers four times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8pm on RTÉ One. The drama continues to draw in new younger viewers attracting a 24% share of 15-34s, up 8% year when compared to same period in 2013.
Fair City first graced our television screens as a pilot based around four households: The O’Hanlons, The Kellys, The Clarkes, and The Corcorans. Family and community have always been at the heart of Fair City with storylines reflecting the values and mores of community life across Ireland, making it hugely popular with Irish viewers. In 1989 all exterior shots were recorded in the Barron Place area of Drumcondra in Dublin with many locals taking on the role of extras. In 1991, Carrigstown made the move south-side to RTÉ where it continues to produce four episodes weekly.
Over the past 25 years, Fair City has tackled many topical and sometimes controversial topics previously unseen on Irish television. It brought Irish viewers many televised firsts including; Ireland’s first on-screen gay kiss between Eoghan and Liam, Malachy’s decision to leave the priesthood for the love of a woman, Kay’s abortion, Tracey’s prostitution to feed her drug habit, the death of Dolores’ baby Jessica from an accidental Ecstasy overdose, Damien’s suffering from domestic abuse by Suzanne, the arrival of Esther’s son who suffered from Thalidomide. In addition to these storylines, Carrigstown has seen its fair share of births, deaths, marriages, affairs and everything in between over its 3,600 episodes.
This week to mark the 25th anniversary, viewers can look forward to even more high drama and excitement from Fair City. Stories include the devastating break-up of one of Carrigstown’s long-standing and favourite families, a race against the clock to destroy drugs planted in Dan’s car to the sound of Garda sirens, the anniversary of the factory fire, the reunion of Katy and Eoghan as he begins to come to terms with her sexuality, the untimely departure of one of Carrigstown’s much loved regulars and the return of some much loved and familiar faces.
Speaking about the 25th anniversary, Brigie deCourcy, Executive Producer of Fair City said, “Fair City is 25 years young! We’re already busy plotting and planning for the next 25. If you thought the past 25 years were special then just wait for what’s to come. The cast and crew have worked extremely hard to create some spectacular storylines for this milestone anniversary and I think audiences will be on the edge of their seats when the storylines hit screens this week…”
Also commenting on the landmark birthday, Jane Gogan, Head of Drama in RTÉ Television commented; “Reaching 25 years is an incredible achievement and the popularity of the show is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the wonderful cast, writers and crew.”
In addition to the explosive episodes planned on RTÉ One, fans of the show can look forward to some very special online extras and exclusive content on RTÉ Player.
Fans looking for a dose of nostalgia can enjoy the very first episode of Fair City on Tuesday, 16th September on RTÉ Player.
With some juicy cliff-hanger episodes due to air next Tuesday and Wednesday, fans can get a sneak peek of the opening of the follow up episodes exclusively on RTÉ Player.
And finally, RTÉ Player will be giving fans access all areas with a special online ‘Behind the Scenes’ show on Thursday (18th September) showing fans the making of the 25th Anniversary episodes featuring interviews with cast and crew including Clelia Murphy and Tony Tormey better known as one of Carrigstown’s favourite couples, Niamh and Paul.
ENDS
For information contact:
Melanie O’Connor
RTÉ Television Press Office
T: 01 208 2787 / M: 086 401 6053
On average *474K individuals watch Fair City on RTÉ One
*Consolidated figures include all viewing that took place within 7 days of the original broadcast
Source: TAM Ireland Ltd/ Nielsen TAM, Live plus VOSDAL data, National Individuals
Notes to Editor:
The storylines that got the nation talking
1996 – Eoghan and Liam have the first gay kiss on Irish television.
1998 – Lorraine Molloy is raped by Dr Jack Shanahan, who later dies by suicide.
1998 – Kay McCoy begins a relationship with Catholic priest Malachy Costello, who leaves the priesthood to marry Kay.
1998 – Helen Doyle dies in a car accident.
2001 – Kay McCoy decides to abort her pregnancy despite Malachy’s wishes, for fear the child would be born severely disabled.
2001 – Drug addiction, prostitution and murder feature heavily in the storyline involcing Billy Meehan, his wife Carol Meehan and his mistress Tracey. Billy is then murdered by Carols son Lorcan.
2002 – Yvonne develops schizophrenia which leds to her taking a drug overdose and a failed suicide attempt.
2003 – Teenage pregnancy – Kira Cassidy and Mondo have a baby girl Juliet.
2004 – Sorcha Furlong has an illicit affair with Ross O’Rourke
2005 – Baby Jessica Molloy takes a fatal over dose of ecstasy and in a fit of rage and grief Harry Molloy kills Ross O’Rourke.
2007- Leo Dowlings wife, Lana, goes missing
2008 – Heather Lyons has an incestuous relationship with her half brother, Floyd.
2008 – Tess Halpin is viciously murdered by her husband Marty after years of domestic abuse.
2008 – Brendan (Heather’s husband) helps Floyd die after he’s diagnosed with cancer.
2010 – Yvonne Doyle has an affair with her best friend, Connie Boylan, gets pregnant by Paul Brennan and gives birth during a commitment ceremony to Connie.
2010 – Damien Halpin suffers from domestic abuse by his wife, Suzanne Halpin.
2011- Esther Roche reveals that she had a son who suffers from Thalidomide – David – who arrives in Carrigstown and has an affair and a baby with Suzanne.
2013 – Rita Doyle dies.
2013 – Domestic violence storyline with Vivienne Bishop, and the murder of Paddy Bishop
2013 – Yvonne Doyle is raped by Martin Baxter, a man she meets on the internet.
2014 – Mentally ill Tommy Dillon starts a campaign of terror towards his ex-wife, Judith. He ends up shooting Bob and is sent to an institution.
Celebrity appearances
2013: Colm Hayes
2011: Maeve Binchy and Gordon Snell
2011: Joe Duffy
2008: Larry Gogan
2008: Shane McGowan
2002: Marty Whelan
1990: Gay Byrne
Archive images available here – http://presspack.rte.ie/2014/09/15/fair-city-celebrates-25th-anniversary-images/