Ros na Rún

Ros na Rún (pronounced

Ros na Rún was originally devised by RTÉ producers Con Bushe and Antoine Ó Flatharta in response to the upcoming centenary of the Gaelic League, with the network deciding upon an Irish language drama as a contribution towards the commemoration of the event.^[2][3] The show originally transmitted on RTÉ One in 1992 as a pilot series of twelve minute episodes, though was subsequently discontinued. Ros na Rún was later revived as an expanded production for the network launch of Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4), first airing on the night of 3 November 1996.^[4] The episode filmed scenes in Galway, Dublin and London. The title plays on the double meaning of the Irish word rún, which has a basic meaning of 'secret' but also has a long history as a term of endearment, similar to "honey", "sweetheart", or "darling". Ros can mean either "a wood or wooded headland" or "a headland or promontory", so the title can mean either "Wood/Headland of the Secrets" or "Wood/Headland of the Sweethearts".

Characters

Storylines

The show begins following the death of Old Jack Padráig, presumed to not have left behind a will. His niece Rita O’Connor prepares to move her family from

During the 2000s, Tadhg attempts revenge on Micheál by sabotaging his petrol pumps, but the act inadvertently kills Robbie and Seán Brennan and starts a chain of events that leads to Tadhg being forced to temporarily part with his share in the pub. The machinations of drug lord Jim O’Dowd destroys the lives of his wife Ríona De Búrca, her brother Donnacha, and his blackmailed associate Daniel McLoughlin. Micheál is incarcerated after he assists his cancer-stricken wife Pauline with euthanasia, but is later released with O’Dowd's assistance. Following the death of her adopted father, local teenager Mo Gilmartin struggles to accept that Sergeant Úna Ní Riain is her birth mother. The mental deterioration of Berni's fiancé Dr. Cathal Hennessy leads to his attempt to kill her in a murder-suicide, but she is rescued when Cathal is thwarted and killed by Evan. Tadhg is visited by his illegitimate son Eoin, possessing a vendetta that culminates into Eoin locking Tadhg inside a coffin and setting it ablaze. The show pays tribute to the character of series original Séamus Ó Catháin following the passing of actor Diarmuid Mac An Adhastair.^[6]

Following the show's 20th season, Andy returns to the series attempting to extort money by kidnapping Tadhg and Frances's daughter Áine for ransom and nearly strangles his estranged wife Bobbi-Lee to death, but is later acquitted by jury over lack of evidence. A major conflict between sisters Katy and Dee Daly begins when Dee discovers that her husband Mack Ó Riain is unwittingly the biological father of Katy's child, occurring from a one-night stand that happened prior to their marriage. Dee takes desperate measures to hide the truth from Mack including becoming pregnant herself and undermining Katy's sanity, with the storyline intended to highlight the effects of gaslighting upon its victims.^[7] When Mack discovers Dee's deceit, she spites him by abducting their daughter and flees the country for over a year before returning to make amends. Burdened with guilt for her responsibility in Frances's accidental death, Mo confesses her complicity to Tadhg and quietly departs Ros na Rún. Berni begins a relationship with Evan's former teammate Briain McDonagh that ends over his manipulations and a sexual assault resulting in her pregnancy. Andy retaliates on his sister's behalf by forcing Briain to leave town, though Briain later returns to abduct his daughter and is ultimately killed at gunpoint by corrupt Garda Diana Ní Cheallaigh. Mack attempts to move on to a new relationship with Sonia Ní Dhubhghaill, but ruins it over his infidelity and continued drug use. When Sonia witnesses Diana conducting business with a drug dealer, Diana attempts to silence her by pushing her from a roof, leaving Sonia in a comatose state. Diana proceeds to cover her involvement by manipulating the evidence to frame Mack as Sonia's attacker.

Na Rúin

On 13 September 2011, TG4 launched a ten-part online spinoff series, titled Na Rúin (The Secrets).^[8] The miniseries took on the theme of mystery, when 16-year-old Ciara goes missing. Lorcán finds himself in the frame for her murder, despite his protests of his innocence. The viewer had to read the blogs of Rachel, her roommate and Lorcán, as well as watch video diaries detailing the thoughts of each character about the disappearance to solve the mystery.

Satire

In 2005,