Series 1, Episode 1
Series Overview
Acclaimed six-part drama set in a midlands town, starring Charlene McKenna and Garrett Lombard
Episode 1: Shamie
Shamie is a shy and sensitive 25-year-old who shares a room with his brother Scobie.
Overview:
‘The whole world is in a small town when you look closely.’ Charlie McCarthy – Director
‘Pure Mule’ is a 6 x 1 hour drama series written by Offaly native and playwright Eugene O’Brien (Eden, Savoy) and produced by David Collins and Ed Guiney of Accomplice Television (Bachelors Walk). It originally aired on RTÉ in 2005. The first three episodes were directed by Offaly man Declan Recks (The Clinic) with Charlie McCarthy (Home for Christmas) directing episodes four to six.
‘Pure Mule’ is set in contemporary, rural Ireland in the same terrain as award-winning playwright, Eugene O’Brien’s play ‘Eden’. It’s a midlands market town, unnamed, but utterly familiar. Each of the six episodes is a self-contained story focusing on the weekend of one particular character from a Friday until a Monday morning. Although the focus moves from one character to another with each episode, they all weave in and out of each other’s stories as the series evolves.
In each story, disillusion and fear hover behind cocky bravado as the characters desperately signal for attention. By times sexy, violent, comical and elegiac, the series expresses the frailty and longing that is at the heart of each booze-fuelled weekend. The drama is rich in language, loss and the edgy exchanges that can turn a night out into one of magic or misery.
‘Pure Mule’ stars Garett Lombard (Love is the Drug), Tom Murphy (Adam and Paul), Eileen Walsh (The Magdalene Sisters), Gary Lydon (The Clinic) and Charlene McKenna (Raw).
The series was shot over 12 weeks in Banagher, Birr and surrounding areas of Co. Offaly.
Episode One- Shamie Tom Murphy (Adam and Paul)
Episode Two- Kevin Luke Griffin (Dog Show)
Episode Three-Scobie Garrett Lombard (Love Is The Drug)
Episode Four-Therese Eileen Walsh (The Magdalene Sisters)
Episode Five-Deirdre Dawn Bradfield (Silent Grace)
Episode Six-Jennifer Charlene McKenna (Breakfast On Pluto)
Directors: Declan Recks (episodes 1,2,3) and Charlie McCarthy (episodes 4,5,6)
Producers: David Collins and Ed Guiney (Accomplice Television)