Cork shines on RTE Player with new series

One of four gripping new dramas on RTÉ is centred around the Rebel county, with a number of Cork actors starring in lead roles.

The drama, called ‘On the Hemline’ was written and directed by Cork writer Oonagh Kearney, and produced by fellow Cork woman Barbara Healy with Tyrella Films.

The show, which is set in Cork, centres around a long-term unemployed northsider Martha who needs to support her daughter Dawn's acceptance into a STEM programme in secondary school.

Through the charity ‘Hemline’ she meets recently widowed southsider Sheenagh. Their different worlds collide, but together they embark on a journey of self-development that prepares Martha for her first job interview in years.

The cast for the series is largely an ensemble of Corkonians including Eileen Walsh, who starred in Pure Mule and Cathy Belton from Red Rock.

Other Corkonian actors include Conor and Louis Lovett along with emerging Cork talent Emma Willis and eleven-year-old Kaci Power O’Driscoll.

The crew also included a mix of past UCC students including Writer/Director, Oonagh Kearney; Producer, Barbara Healy and Composer, Michael John McCarthy along with present UCC students: production trainee Muru Walters and Art Department Trainee, Amy Louise O’Callaghan, who all worked closely together with Assistant Editor, Anita Revnic at St. John’s Central College;

The Cork talent doesn’t stop there, several young people from across Cork City were involved in the production including local student, Ciarán McCarthy, Lucy O’Neill from Aston Secondary School and several girls from St. Mary’s National School, Knocknaheeny and St. Vincent’s National School, Shandon.

The series was shot across a number of locations in Cork including St John’s Central College, Hollyhill and Knocknaheeny and Terence McSweeney Secondary School.

The series is a brand new drama commissioned by RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen for the new season of Storyland, the award-winning commissioning project that gives emerging Irish drama talent an opportunity to make original programmes, viewable to a global audience on RTÉ Player.