Callan Kicks the Years is a six-part series unlike any comedy ever made in Ireland, romping through the 100 years since the 1921 Treaty using sketches and satirical documentary.
Starring Oliver Callan, it’s a fast-paced history with the gas characters of today – from Leo, Micheál, Mary Lou and Michael D, to Francis Brennan, Dermot Bannon, Johnny Logan, Bob Geldof, Hozier and Claire Byrne.
Amid a range of nearly 50 major characters are by-gone figures as you’ve never seen them before – Charlie Haughey, Peig Sayers, Phil Lynott, Countess Markiewicz, Ian Paisley, Mary Harney and both a young and old Bono.
Callan Kicks the Years retells the cultural, political, entertainment and sports revolutions of the last century, with a huge supporting cast led by Dermot Whelan (Hozier, Dermot Bannon, Eamon Ryan and Diarmuid Gavin) plus Mary McEvoy as Peig, along with the young stars of Irish comedy including Michael Fry, Emma Doran, Darren Conway, Justine Stafford and Bernard Casey.
The series will kick Dev’s grim legacy, the 60s showbands versus feminism era, the twin 80s crazes of Haughey and moving statues, Jackie’s Army, the Bertie Boom through to the Hangover of recession, in a way only comedy can.
The most controversial periods of Irish history stripped down for a kicking? There may be calls to Liveline. Talk to Joe.
Callan Kicks the Years begins Wednesday October 20th on RTÉ One television and the RTÉ Player.
Callan Kicks The Years is a Wonky Chair Media production. Executive Producer and Series Director James Cotter.
Episode 1 – The Dev Years.
Dev diddles the Treaty, Kerry sneakily dominates GAA, dark times for women plus Fine Gael’s totes awks origins. With Leo, Micheál, Mary Lou, Francis Brennan, Hozier, Peig Sayers, Countess Markievicz and more.