1

RED ROCK

PRESS PACK

40 x 45 minute episodes

Coming to BBC Daytime Red Rock is an award-winning Irish drama series from All3Media

International, produced by Element Pictures and Company Pictures.

Created by Executive Producer Peter McKenna, whose drama writing credits include

Casualty, EastEnders, The Musketeers (all BBC) and Fair City (RTE).

The Series Producers are Hugh Farley, Gareth Philips and Paula Heffernan, with Lauren

Mackenzie and Trevor Colgan as Story Producers.

2

CONTENTS

SERIES INFORMATION - page 3

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS AND PHOTOS

The Gardaí - page 4

The Hennessys – page 8

The Kielys – page 10

The Reids – page 12

The Tyrells – page 14

CAST INTERVIEWS

The Gardaí - page 15

The Hennessys – page 18

The Kielys – page 21

The Reids – page 23

The Tyrells – page 25

3

SERIES INFORMATION

Dawn. A harbour town. The lights of Dublin in the distance.

A grey fish factory. Seafront apartments. The main street peppered with To Let signs.

The Ridge council estate, once a beacon of hope, now battling age and neglect - and losing.

Only a mile away, large detached houses. Sea views and four-wheel drives.

Trawlers, swaying in oil-stained water. And on the pier, an untidy pile of nets and brightly

coloured buoys.

Tangled up in the nets, face down, a young man. Eye swollen over. Face bruised and

bloodied. Lip split open. Impossible to tell if he is breathing.

And so begins Red Rock...

... A continuing drama based around a busy Garda station, just removed from the big city.

Starting on the day a long dormant feud between two local families is brutally reignited.

On one side, the Hennessys. A local dynasty, whose name is above half the businesses in

town. On the other the Kielys, former trawler-men, who have turned petty crime into a

cottage industry.

Red Rock charts the life and dramas of a community, through the eyes of those who police it.

4

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES

THE GARDAÍ

JAMES MCKAY played by RICHARD FLOOD

Job: Garda Superintendent. Married to: Claire Hennessy. Children: None.

A natural leader, with grace under fire, McKay hails from a long line of Gardaí. His career to date has been an effortless rise through the ranks, but he’s about to be severely tested as his integrity is questioned and his station is suffering the effects of budget and staff cuts.

ANGELA TYRELL played by ANDREA IRVINE

Job: Garda Sergeant. Married to: Tommy Tyrell. Children: Conor & Stephen.

Angela has been policing Red Rock for 23 years. She makes it her business to know the kith and kin of almost everybody who passes through its doors. Tough and pragmatic, Angela has heard all the lies, excuses and scams but she still believes nobody is beyond help. She’s tough as nails when she needs to be but soft as snow when it’s safe to let her guard down.

5

SHARON CLEERE played by JANE MCGRATH

Job: Garda Officer.

Family: Parents & three brothers. Grew up on the family farm.

Sharon has spent the last five years unable to progress. Now a recruitment freeze has been lifted, she’s finally been granted a transfer to a bigger, more urban station. Sharon is smart, resourceful and most of all ambitious, but a bit idealistic and naïve.

She has emotional scars from an awkward, tomboy youth and various romantic rejections carefully buried beneath her confident guard façade.

BRIAN MCGONIGLE Played by SEAN MAHON

Job: Garda Sergeant.

Married to: Jules. Children: Mel, Lucy

Self-sufficient, and a little bit narcissistic McGonigle is an old school policeman who believes in banging heads together and not ratting on your colleagues. Popular alpha male, well-respected and liked in the station – the big brother, but with a moral compass that is easily moved.

6

PAUDGE BRENNAN played by PATRICK RYAN

Job: Garda Officer.

Paudge is a man who has lost his way. When he joined the Gardaí, he had great intentions -. Now he fancies himself as a property magnate and has now got to a point where he sees policing as a part time endeavour. A bit of a slob, a bit apathetic, Paudge seeks simple pleasures and is a state-of-the-nation philosopher.

ADRIJAN KOSOS played by BOYKO KRASTANOV

Job: Garda Officer.

Croatian by birth, Adrijan is energetic, enthusiastic, and optimistic – if he has a fault, it’s that he sees the best in everyone. He avoids confrontation whenever possible – not out of fear or weakness but out of pragmatism. Adrijan is an all-round good guy and a good Garda. He’s got steel and strength that he rarely shows.

7

SEAN HOLDEN played by DAVID CROWLEY

Job: Garda Officer.

Family: Parents and married older brother living in another part of Dublin.

Sean is handsome, witty and cynical. Full of hair product and macho self-regard he loves

working out. (Wrongly) assuming he’s a natural-born crime-fighter, Sean loves catching

criminals. While he can be vain, boastful, impatient and arrogant. Sean is also loyal, brave

and fair. He loves the ladies and has a string of broken hearts behind him.

NIKKI GROGAN played by VALERIE O’CONNOR

Position: Detective Sergeant Status: Single

Nikki’s serious demeanour can make her appear cold, useful when confronting and

questioning criminals. But she can relax a little to be ‘one of the boys’ when joking with

colleagues. Straight-talking and ambitious there is little room for love in her life, though she

enjoys short dalliances – unfortunate if the man concerned does not realise how lightly she

views the matter.

8

THE HENNESSYS

PATRICIA HENNESSY played by CATHY BELTON

Job: Owns Harbour Haulage, Pier Pub and Property portfolio.

Married to: Jack Hennessy (deceased). Children: Claire, Simon, Michael & David.

Patricia is the matriarch of the Hennessys and the brains behind the family business. She is ruthless and unforgiving but would fight to the death for her children. Patricia’s naked hostility for The Kielys is never far from the surface – especially when Bridget Kiely is about. They have unfinished business that goes back a quarter of a century.

CLAIRE HENNESSY played by PANDORA MCCORMICK

Job: Solicitor.

Married to: James McKay. Children: None.

Daughter of Patricia and sister of Michael, David & Simon.

Smart, kind, strategic, reasonable, and loyal, Claire Hennessy built her legal practice on property conveyancing, but since the crash moved into criminal law – which occasionally places her and McKay on opposite ends of the courtroom. Despite growing up in her mother’s shadow, she has emerged with her family’s virtuous traits and shed their flaws. But things are about to get even more difficult as she is torn between what she knows is right and what the family wants…

9

MICHAEL HENNESSY played by JACK NOLAN

Job: Manager of Harbour Haulage.

Family: Son of Patricia and brother of Claire & Simon, twin brother to David.

Michael is loyal, steady, hard-working, capable and protective of his twin brother David. He manages family the haulage company and will eventually take over from Patricia. Or that was the plan… Then Michael is accused of a serious crime and eventually the search for the truth has tragic implications for all members of the Hennessy family.

DAVID HENNESSY played by ADAM WEAFER

Job: Bar Manager, at his mother’s pub.

Family: Son of Patricia and brother of Claire & Simon, twin brother to Michael.

Handsome, spoiled and extremely clever, David is focused on David – what he wants and needs – more than anything else. David has a secret he’s keeping from his entire family but when the feud with the Kielys is brutally reignited, his plans start to unravel and he begins to show more of his true self.

10

THE KIELYS

VINCENT KIELY played by PAUL ROE

Job: On the dole.

Ex-Wife: Bridget. Children: Keith, Katie & Darren.

Vincent Kiely and Jack Hennessy were close friends once. They had planned to buy a trawler together, but at Patricia’s urging Jack made the purchase alone driving a wedge between the former friends. Then as Jack got richer and more successful, Vincent’s trajectory was all downwards. He married Bridget who gave him children, and a reason to drink every night. Harangued and humiliated, Bridget leaving was the worst and best thing that ever happened to Vincent…

BRIDGET KIELY Played by DENISE MCCORMACK

Job: On the dole.

Ex-Husband: Vincent. Children: Keith, Katie & Darren.

Bridget Kiely is a brassy, malevolent force of nature. Selfish, to an almost pathological degree, she is unashamedly sexual and extremely manipulative. Bridget had to leave Red Rock eight years ago – in a disgrace and in a hurry. Now she’s back – a woman on a mission. One thing is certain, wherever Bridget goes there is bound to be destruction, but there’s another reason for her to be back in Red Rock. She has nowhere else to go…

11

KEITH KIELY played by STEPHEN CROMWELL

Job: On the dole.

Family: Son of Vincent & Bridget, brother of Katie & Darren.

Keith isn’t the brightest bulb in the box but he’s still got Kiely blood running through him -and that includes a short temper and knack for the illegal. Despite this there’s a sense that there is a decent person struggling to get out, and under different circumstances Keith might have turned out all right – a different mother, for starters. But desperate for Bridget’s affection and approval, he will do anything to please her.

KATIE KIELY played by INDIA MULLEN

Job: Barmaid/Waitress.

Family: Daughter of Vincent & Bridget, sister of Keith & Darren.

The youngest and brightest of the Kielys, Katie loves her father and brothers but hates her mother. She is sick of being tarred by the family reputation – and with good reason. When the show opens, Katie is planning her escape away from Red Rock but all these plans go up in the air when a family tragedy means she’s sacked from the Hennessys’ pub.

12

THE REIDS

LIAM REID played by ANTHONY BROPHY

Job: Owner and chef at Neptune Café.

Married to: Barbara (deceased). Children: Niamh & Rachel.

Liam’s a man’s man. Stoic, unreconstructed but kind and has a good heart. Liam’s family have been in fish for seventy years. And Liam was proud of that, but time moved on and the industry changed. He considered selling Reid’s Fishmongers due to financial pressures but couldn’t bear it. Besides, his beloved Barbara had been diagnosed with cancer, so his mind was elsewhere. So Liam is now taking one final throw of the dice turning the business into a café. Their landlord, Patricia Hennessy, has been patient and helpful with the renovation. All is looking like it might work.

NIAMH REID played by ROISIN O’DONOVAN

Job: Marketing Exec/Café owner.

Family: Daughter of Liam and sister of Rachel.

Niamh was reluctant to move back to Red Rock but daughterly duty prevailed and she returned to help Liam open his café – even though she and her dad were never especially close. As a teenager, Niamh couldn’t wait to get out Red Rock and thought less of her father for being happy here, but after a shaky start now she’s beginning to like it.

13

RACHEL REID Played by ANN SKELLY

Job: School girl.

Family: Daughter of Liam and sister of Niamh.

The youngest of the Reid girls, a student and once the perfect daughter, Rachel started to go a bit wild after her mother Barbara died. It wasn’t just the loss of her mother but her father’s absence as he grieved by throwing all his energy into the new café.

This proves to have a detrimental effect on Rachel as she is embroiled in a controversial storyline throughout the series.

14

THE TYRELLS

ANGELA TYRELL - see Gardaí section on page 4.

TOMMY TYRELL played by LIAM CARNEY

Job: Taxi driver.

Married to: Angela. Children: Conor & Stephen.

Tommy is a salt of the earth, hard-working family man. He harbours some resentment that

Angela’s work, though important, often takes priority over home life and the marriage is

strained. But Tommy could not be prouder of his two sons, student Conor and aspiring

footballer Stephen (13), who may have the talent to turn pro. Most of Tommy’s dreams are

coming true, until Conor’s troubles force him to make difficult decisions about where his

priorities really lie.

CONOR TYRELL played by DARRAGH O’TOOLE

Job: College Student.

Family: Son of Angela & Tommy, brother of Stephen.

Conor has always been a good kid. Now he’s in Dublin studying law, the first in his family to go to university. But his new university lifestyle is introducing him to much darker things.

15

CAST INTERVIEWS

THE GARDAÍ

JAMES MCKAY - PLAYED BY RICHARD FLOOD

If you could sum James McKay up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Hero.

In Red Rock, both you and your partner Claire Hennessy are trying for a baby and in real

life you recently became a dad. Did it make it easier to relate to the storyline? Yes I think

so. Having a child changes your perspective on many things and you certainly relate to

everything involving children differently. The hard part is trying to imagine not having my

son but wanting him so badly.

How do you prepare/ get into character? The uniform has a lot to do with it. It changes you

physically a bit and people respond to you differently in it. And then it’s really about the

relationship with the other characters.

What are you looking forward to most about Red Rock hitting screens? Just the audience

getting to know and love these characters and becoming immersed in this world we are

working hard to create. Story is nothing without an audience so I’m looking forward to

sharing ours.

SHARON CLEERE - PLAYED BY JANE MCGRATH

Tell us a bit about your character? She’s very hard working and wants to do the best that

she can in work. She’s very committed and ambitious but she’s very much one of the lads.

She thinks that she is prepared for what the job has in store for her but she isn’t.

If you could sum Sharon up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Honesty is the best

policy.

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? First of

all, I would be an AWFUL guard. I’d be too sensitive and not able to disconnect myself from

the tragic part of the job. But then again Sharon can feel the same. She is definitely way

more academic than me but I am a very hard worker like her.

You were in Game of Thrones. What appealed to you most about being in Red Rock? I

suppose the challenge of being a guard but I loved the writing. Peter McKenna is very

talented. I was honoured to be asked to play Sharon.

16

BRIAN MCGONIGLE - PLAYED BY SEAN MAHON

Tell us a bit about your character? Brian is a Garda Sergeant. He considers himself a

Maverick of sorts, a dark horse that enjoys the power his position gives him. He is happiest

when he is out on the streets taking care of business. He defines himself through his work

and takes his job very seriously. He is not beyond viewing “situations” through his own

personal lens and believes that sometimes, “the end justifies the means”. His motto could

be “all for one and one for all” and as such he believes that all Gardai should stick together

to serve the best interests of each other. (And for him, his best interests supersede all

others)

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? “It’s us

against them”…….until you cross me. And then woe betides the betrayer!

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? The

qualities I probably share with Brian would be his drive and determination.

There’s a sensitive storyline involving your character. You can’t say too much just yet but

do you find it difficult? Yes, it’s very sensitive material and very complicated. The only way I

could understand it in any way was to view it completely through the eyes of Brian. Nothing

made sense until I took that viewpoint. Once I was inside his head then his actions and

motives, however twisted they may be, made sense.

PAUDGE BRENNAN - PLAYED BY PATRICK RYAN

Tell us a bit about your character? He’s a rank and file Garda who’s been stationed at Red

Rock for a considerable time now.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Patiently

cute.

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? Loyal.

Your character can be described as a bit lazy and apathetic, and because of this he is

underestimated. Do you think there is more to your character than meets the eye and if

so, would you look forward to bringing out a deeper side to Paudge? There’s more to

every character than meets the eye. Very much so, of course that takes time and investment

but would be very fulfilling to be a part of.

17

ADRIJAN KOSOS - PLAYED BY BOYKO KRASTANOV

Tell us a bit about your character? Adrijan is a man who loves his job, he is good with

people and handling tough situations. He is level-headed and has a strong belief in justice.

You won’t see him lose his temper easily. He is a good judge of character.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be?

Professional. You could assume that working as a policeman was his childhood dream.

Adrijan is an all-round good guy. Who off his Gardai colleagues does he least get on with

and why? I don’t think there is one person. He respects all of his colleagues.

SEAN HOLDEN - PLAYED BY DAVID GLYNN CROWLEY

Tell us a bit about your character? He’s confident, cheeky and has an eye for the ladies.

When he’s not training in the gym he’s channelling all his energy in to being a Garda in Red

Rock Station. He loves the action and is fearless when it comes to catching criminals, which

he does with gusto and little malice. Not someone who suffers doubt, or is afraid to speak

his mind.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Someone

who wears aviators even if it’s raining outside.

Your character is a bit of a heart breaker. How do you prepare for a role like that? Not

breaking hearts we hope! No I haven’t broken any hearts yet. The director gave me a target

of breaking four and a half hearts a week. It’s not going too well at the minute but sure give

me a bit more time. Advice welcome.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Sean Holden? Sean has a number of

different hair styles which require great attention and detail. Keeping it maintained isn’t

easy, especially when fighting crime!

18

THE HENNESSYS

PATRICIA HENNESSY - PLAYED BY CATHY BELTON

Tell us a bit about your character? Patricia is the brains behind the family business and the

matriarch of the Hennessys. She owns the haulage company, pub and restaurant. Her

deceased husband Jack may have been the figurehead but Patricia was the one with the

brains, vision, style and ruthless drive. She presents a cold facade that belies inner doubt

and regret. I guess you could say that she defines herself by her family.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Lioness.

Patricia will always protect her family even if it goes against what she knows is right, have

you ever been in a similar situation? No! Thank goodness I have never been in that

situation where I had to protect my family even if it goes against what I know is right. Let’s

hope I never will...I will save all that up for Patricia and Red Rock.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Patricia Hennessy? The most challenging

part of playing Patricia so far is keeping up with her! She is a force of nature and no

mountain is too high for this woman. I am mentally in serious training to be match fit for this

woman at the moment.

If you were not cast as Patricia, is there any other Red Rock character you could see

yourself playing? I can’t really visualise myself playing any other character in Red Rock. I

love Patricia, I love her passion, her fight, her loyalty, her brains and flair for business and

her energy. She is a woman to be reckoned with. I feel very protective of her because

everything this woman does is coming from an absolute truth and honesty in herself and for

her children.

CLAIRE HENNESSY - PLAYED BY PANDORA MCCORMACK

Tell us a bit about your character? Claire Hennessey is a strong intelligent woman. Though

an ambitious solicitor she has a softer side and finds herself torn between her family and

her moral obligations.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? A

determined dreamer.

Claire is often torn between what’s best for her family and what she knows is right, have

you ever been in a similar situation? I think everyone can identify with having to make

tough choices and the pressures that work vs family can bring. Luckily I have such great

support that it makes the professional and personal balance a little easier.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Claire Hennessy? At the moment going

from one extreme to the other in a short space of time. For example doing an interrogation

19

and then going straight into a highly emotional scene is a big challenge but one I relish as it’s

the best way to flex those acting muscles!

MICHAEL HENNESSY - PLAYED BY JACK NOLAN

Tell us a bit about your character? Michael is the marginally youngest member of the

Hennessy family on the show. Twin brother to David, son to Patricia and sibling of Claire. He

is quite responsible, working running the Haulage company along with his mother and is

perhaps taken for granted a little within the family unit.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Loyal

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? No, I

don’t think we’re very much alike which is quite cool. Where Michael is responsible and

steady I can be quite impulsive. I reckon I’ve got better luck than him as well! One thing we

share I think is a closeness to our families.

Michael gets himself into serious trouble with the Gardaí from the get go in Red Rock –

have you ever found yourself in trouble, even something small? No, I’m a bit of a natural

born messer and that’s gotten me into plenty of trouble over the years but I’ve managed to

avoid any scrapes with the Gardai so far thankfully.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Michael Hennessy? The circumstances in

which Michael finds himself bring up storylines that are in themselves quite challenging, but

an absolute joy to play.

DAVID HENNESSY - PLAYED BY ADAM WEAFER

Tell us a bit about your character? David is focused on David - What he wants and needs -

more than anything else.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? An

extremely clever and determined lad.

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? I think

in a lot of ways yes, we do share similar personality traits and as I get to know David better

each day I start to learn more about myself as well as him. It’s a strange one but ultimately

intriguing.

You wowed the casting team at the open auditions with a monologue from Trainspotting

– why did you choose this? When researching monologues online, for my acting course at

the time, if I’m honest nothing gave me that rush of “Yes this is the one”, until I found,

Choose Life from Trainspotting...It’s honest and extremely passion filled and for those

reasons alone is why I wanted to get into acting. So the fact that it played a huge part in me

getting noticed at the auditions is honestly just mad!

20

What’s been the most challenging part of playing David Hennessy? I believe it will always

take a bit of time to understand your character, to, in a way, become ‘one’ with whoever

you’re playing but thankfully Peter McKenna (writer) has the patience of a saint and always

has time for you when asking about your character. Legend!

21

THE KIELYS

BRIDGET KIELY - PLAYED BY DENISE MCCORMACK

Tell us a bit about your character? Bridget Kiely is highly manipulative and uses her ‘assets’

and whatever else is at hand to get exactly what she wants. She is a great character to play.

If you could sum Bridget Kiely up in one word or sentence, what would it be? A force of

nature.

People will know you from your role as Linda in LOVE/HATE. How different is this role to

Linda’s character? They are different women. They have different aspirations, wants and

needs. I suppose Linda was accustomed to living on the ‘wrong’ side of the law, as is Bridget.

Unlike Bridget however, Linda was a product of her environment, she didn’t instigate it, she

unassumingly found herself in very dangerous situations (situations which ultimately led to

her own downfall) whereas Bridget is the creator, sculptor and grand master of her

environment and she revels in it. She steers the ship and if anyone or anything gets in her

way, she’s the captain… she calls the shots.

What are you looking forward to most about Red Rock hitting screens? I’m looking forward

to seeing how the public respond. It’s all about entertaining people at the end of the day.

I’m hoping people tune in and are gripped by our Red Rock community. A lot of blood,

sweat and tears have gone into this project; the storylines are really great, we have fab

writers on board and impressive directors, the crew are a highly talented bunch and I’m

getting to work with some of our finest actors. For me it’s a recipe for success!

KEITH KIELY - PLAYED BY STEPHEN CROMWELL

Tell us a bit about your character? In a nutshell, Keith is a young man, who unfortunately

lacks the guidance necessary to become an upstanding member of society.

If you could sum up Keith Kiely in one word or sentence, what would it be? Delinquent.

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share?

Personality wise, I don’t really think there are any similarities, or at least I hope not.

However I do feel we share similar social backgrounds.

Your character isn’t the brightest bulb in the box. Do you think the public will love him or

loathe him? Well, he makes a lot of bad decisions, which, I think, will lead to a bit of hatred,

but I think deep down there is a good guy in there and I hope one day he gets the

opportunity to redeem himself. If not, so be it, all good shows need a baddie.

What’s it like having a mum like Bridget Kiely? I think it would be awful, but poor Keith

doesn’t see it that way. He is so starved of and in need of affection he only sees the good in

her, which of course, she does not deserve.

22

KATIE KIELY - PLAYED BY INDIA MULLEN

Tell us a bit about your character? Katie is the youngest member of the Kiely family, but

perhaps the most sensible. She’s very honest and no-nonsense in nature and can be pretty

feisty at times, so she’s a lot of fun to play.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Self-willed.

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? We

definitely have some similar traits, but overall I’d say we’re very different. Katie is far more

direct than I would be in most situations, and that’s one of the really fun aspects of her

character to play.

Is there good chemistry between yourself and Adam Weafer (David Hennessy)? Adam is a

very easy going person so he’s easy to get along with, but is also very hard- working and

focused so it’s a nice balance. There’s good chemistry between everyone on set actually,

we’re lucky to have such a lovely bunch!

Who’s your favourite character? Hmmm.. Maybe Vincent Kiely. I love how honest he is. And

even though he can act pretty tough at times, there’s something really vulnerable and

clueless about him, which makes him charming.

23

THE REIDS

LIAM REID - PLAYED BY ANTHONY BROPHY

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? ‘A man at a

crossroads in his Life’.

Liam struggles when his livelihood is hanging in the balance – have you always been an

actor or is there any other profession you’ve considered? No, I’ve been an actor since the

mid-eighties, and despite inevitably having to do other survival jobs over the years to make

ends meet, I’ve never had what I’d call another profession.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Liam Reid so far? Working out who he is

and being true to that. With a play or screenplay you can access the full map of a characters

existence, but with an evolving character it’s a scarier proposition, so I’m working to get my

head around that concept.

How does Red Rock differ from other TV series you’ve worked on? Speed. The schedules

are tight, so stuff gets shot fast, but I have to say I like that. If you spend all day on a set

waiting to work you can lose the will to live, and the great camera work doesn’t tie you in to

overly elaborate lighting or technical set ups which means you have room to play and not

get too fixated on the aesthetic demands.

NIAMH REID - PLAYED BY ROISIN O’DONOVAN

Tell us a bit about your character? Niamh is great. She’s really fun to play because she has

this wonderful mix of stubborn smart sarcasm balanced with a playful heart of gold. She’s

just given up everything to get the Neptune Café up and running to help support her family,

whom she secretly adores.

If you could sum your character up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Sugar and

spice.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Niamh Reid? It’s funny because I’m used

to working in film (rather than TV) where you know the entire arc of the character from the

first read of the script, whereas now even though I feel like I know Niamh so well and am

very protective of her, I’m constantly learning more about her every time I’m handed a new

batch of episodes. It makes her really unpredictable which is a little nerve-wracking but at

the same time seriously fun.

Niamh’s potential love interest is a bit of a ladies man, is this the kind of guy you would go

for in real life? Not even slightly! And even for Niamh he would be miles from her usual man

fare but that’s the great thing about her, she’s so up for testing out new things. She loves a

challenge and if there is a hint of craic in the air she’ll be having it.

24

RACHEL REID - PLAYED BY ANN SKELLY

Tell us a bit about your character? Rachel’s a young girl who’s gone through a lot. Her mam,

who she was close to, passed away a year ago and she’s built up this artificial confidence for

herself as a defence. She’s a character with a lot of layers hidden beneath the surface. At

that age your head’s a bit of a mess anyway, without having all the outside obstacles to deal

with as well. You know you’re trying to establish yourself and form your own individuality.

She’s cheeky, self-assured and wants to be perceived as mature. She has a lot to work

through though.

If you could sum your character up in 1 word or sentence what would it be? Vulnerable,

although that’s not how she’d describe herself at all.

Rachel has been through quite a lot for such a young age and goes a little off the rails -

have you ever had a similar experience of pushing the boundaries? Of course. In a

different way on a smaller scale that she has. Teenage years are so chaotic, passionate and

full of turbulence and change. There’s a lot of intense feelings flying around. It’s a confusing

time and it takes a bit of life experience to find your feet and settle down a tad.

What’s been the most challenging part of playing Rachel Reid? Honestly, the energy she

has is so different to mine. I’m lower-energy, calmer, an observer - whereas she’s sassy and

bold. To bring that up and to have a louder personality is a challenge for me to do. I cringe

at the thoughts of being over-the-top, it takes me out of my comfort zone. But that’s the

point of acting; exploration and trying to empathise with characters different to you. I love it.

25

THE TYRELLS

ANGELA TYRELL - PLAYED BY ANDREA IRVINE

Tell us a bit about your character? Angela is a highly committed capable and hardworking

Garda Sergeant, well respected within the station. However, her commitment to her job is

causing conflict at home both in her marriage and in her relationship with her sons.

If you could sum Angela Tyrell up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Capable,

committed, trustworthy, hard-working.

Your character is a tough, pragmatic guard but also a soft-hearted doting mum, do you

find it challenging to play such a versatile character? I don’t find these qualities mutually

exclusive. The contradictions serve to make her a more complex human-being which is all

you want as an actor.

Who’s your favourite character in Red Rock? Other than my own obviously, I would have to

say my son Conor. He’s often at the heart of Angela’s highs and lows!

Is there anything you can tell us about your character or storyline, that we can look

forward to watching? Angela will be facing some huge challenges and tough decisions in her

personal life.

TOMMY TYRELL - PLAYED BY LIAM CARNEY

Tell us a bit about your character? A bit of a house husband, he might feel slightly taken for

granted by Angela. The family seem to know that Angela’s job comes first.

If you could sum Tommy Tyrell up in one word or sentence, what would it be? Essentially a

good man but one who can make questionable decisions.

Are you anything like your character in real life and if so what traits do you share? I like to

think I’m a good man too. I have a family and I definitely make questionable decisions at

times.

CONOR TYRELL - PLAYED BY DARRAGH O’TOOLE

Tell us a bit about your character? Conor is a 20-year-old third-level Law student from a

middle-class Dublin family. Quality wise, he’s got a bit of a rebellious streak in him that he

likes to play up to sometimes but he’s not all bad or anything, at heart he’s a good kid with

good intentions. He’s at that pivotal age where that bridge between adolescence and

adulthood is being made, and you start to ask yourself more meaningful questions; if you

don’t have the answers or don’t like the answers you can be susceptible to exploring

avenues that might not be the best ones to go down.

If you could sum up Conor in one word or sentence, what would it be? Human.

26

Conor starts down a bad path after getting in with the wrong crowd at college, if he was

your friend what advice would you give him? I’d probably first try to drop subtle hints that

whatever path he’s going down mightn’t be the best one to take. Not to be too forcing in

the beginning in case you get a full-blown retaliation and then don’t have that contact when

it really matters, when that message you want to get across might be most important.