10-year stretch: The Young Offenders is a decade old

She plays the matriarch, Máiréad McSweeney, in The Young Offenders, the one person tasked with keeping Conor and Jock on their toes.

Now, as the tenth anniversary of the ground-breaking film approaches, Hilary Rose is looking back on a decade of The Young Offenders ahead of the Galway Film Fleadh, where she will take part in a live commentary and screening of the film on July 12, alongside the show’s creator Peter Foott and actors Alex Murphy and Chris Walley.

Looking back at the film’s premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2016, Rose says she didn’t know how audiences would react, but knew the cast had put everything into making it a success.

“We had put our mind, body, and soul into that project, not really knowing where it would go, so it was a big gamble for us,” she recalled.

“We were so honoured to be screening in Galway, and there was a buzz around the town. People were talking about The Young Offenders, and then we had a full house for the screening. The place just erupted, and we knew then it was going to work.”

A successful film is one thing, but getting the green light for a TV series was a different ball game, says Rose.

“It was tricky because it was a BBC series. We hadn’t made something at that level, TV-wise, before. We felt a lot of pressure going into it.

“All of us really wanted to up our game, and that’s what we did. We never thought we’d get five seasons and two Christmas specials.

“Christmas specials are a massive honour at the BBC, so that was very special.”

Rose says that after working together for so long, the cast is like a family. “I just had breakfast this morning with Dominic (MacHale) and Shane (Casey), that’s how close we are. We are in contact all the time.”

Having played a mother to Conor and Jock in the series, does Rose feel protective of the actors behind the characters, Alex Murphy and Chris Walley?

“Yes, especially when they were younger. Alex joined us when he was 16, and Chris was 18; they were kids. I’ve always tried to watch out for them in the industry as much as possible, and there is that maternal feeling, not as much now that they are grown men, but the feeling never really leaves.”

The film opened doors for the cast, who have since won awards and built successful careers across stage, screen, radio, and podcasting.

Is Rose grateful for the platform The Young Offenders has given her and her co-stars?

“It’s huge here, in the UK, Australia and, apparently, China. It did, and continues to, open doors for all of us, and give us breathing space to figure out what we want to do next.”

Ten years ago, several high-profile films had already been made in Cork, but the county’s film and television industry has grown exponentially since then.

Rose says she is proud to have played a part in shining a spotlight on Cork’s wealth of talent.

“I remember having this conversation with Peter [Foott]. We co-created the show together; we lived in Dublin at the time and wanted to move back to Cork. I said to him, ‘We will bring the industry to us’.”

“When you create something, it doesn’t have to always be made in Dublin. The goal was that when we came back to Cork, we would bring the industry to us, and we definitely achieved that.

“I am proud looking back at that, because it opened so many doors for so many people.”

Rose says that playing Máiréad for the past decade has been - and continues to be - a pleasure.

“She’s been amazing. I’ve been a steward of Máiréad and curated her over the decades.

“She’s the character that anchors everything in the series. She anchors all the emotional stuff; the boys always come back home; they come back to the family, and she’s the core of that. It’s been really, really interesting to play that. She’s a wonderful character.

“She was the first of her kind on Irish TV as well. Mothers and mammy characters were written off as almost flat characters, but Máiréad was main stage for that, so that was a pleasure to play.”

Ten years on, Rose says the people of Cork are as supportive as ever.

“There’s still such a huge embrace. If I walk through Cork city in my regular, everyday life, I still get a lot of business owners coming out, saying, ‘Oh, we were here the day you shot this, and we were all really excited’.

“And they appreciate the business it brings to the city as well. It’s not just shop owners and business people - we’ve even had members of the public almost act as crew when we’ve been filming, telling others to be quiet, saying it’s rolling, like they’re about to shoot.”

Returning to the Galway Film Fleadh a decade later is an honour, Rose says.

“I’m really glad it’s happening. It feels important to mark 10 years. The film is an important part of Irish cinema and Irish TV that deserves marking. So, I’m really honoured to be there.”

As for the future, Rose does not know what lies ahead for The Young Offenders but says: “I would love to keep playing Máiréad as long as it’s fresh and exciting for me, for us as a team, and for audiences who are watching.”

The Young Offenders 10th Anniversary In-Person Live Commentary, July 12, www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.