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SMALLTOWN TELLS THE story of Conor, a man in his 20s who emigrates from rural Ireland to London in search of more opportunities.
Years later, his mother becomes sick and he returns home but a lot has changed. It’s a development many people will be able to relate to.
Gerard Barrett wrote and directed Smalltown – which will air on TV3 over three weeks, starting tomorrow night. He previously worked on Glassland and Pilgrim Hill.
Barrett’s from Listowel in Co Kerry and told TheJournal.ie he wanted to write characters and scenarios that people from rural Ireland could relate to.
“The reason I wanted to make it was that – I am from rural Ireland – so that we could see ourselves on screen with issues and problems that I see in my community on prime time television, and I think it’s important that people see themselves on screen.
“I think years ago we had the Riordans and Glenroe and these were a great vehicle for audiences in rural Ireland to see themselves.
The show is about a family in crisis in rural Ireland. They live on a farm … one of the sons is kind of stuck in a rut. The mom and dad break their own hearts to tell him get out of there and start a life for himself.
“He goes to London. It cuts to a couple of years later and he comes home and he’s got to deal with the mom being sick and how the family deal with that.
It’s got themes of emigration, isolation, loneliness, rural Ireland and cancer and dealing with a sick parent and parental loss and spousal loss. There’s a lot going on.
Barrett said the father (Tom), played by Pat Shortt, “tries to keep them all together”.
‘The Ireland I know’
Shortt told us the script struck a chord with him, saying: “It was very of the Ireland of now and of the Ireland that I knew and not of something of the past, so it was great to work on that.”
Shortt has been balancing comedic and more serious roles for some time now. The former Killinaskully actor gave a stellar performance in 2007′s much-acclaimed Garage, which also dealt with issues of rural isolation.
Shortt said he thinks Smalltown will create the ‘water-cooler chat’ that TV series such as Love/Hate and Charlie have in the past.
I don’t think [the conversation is] going to be so much about rural issues. I think it’s going to be about family issues, things that touch people in Ireland. You could be living in the middle of Dublin affected by cancer, affected by emigration or both – where you’ve got somebody away who has to come back for some dilemma.
Barrett said he hopes the show will lead to loved ones talking about important issues.
“I really hope that the conversation happens over the kitchen table because it’s more internal, it’s more family-based.”
Smalltown will begin on TV3 at 10pm on Thursday.
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Pat Short a truly gifted actor and comedian
He’s obnoxious with his constant forced-laugh at his own “jokes”.
Tell ya what’s obnoxious, amadáns with fake-profiles spouting off like yourself.
Not fake. Like many other people commenting here I have had an account here banned so I am here on a new one.
Try not to mention travellers, Dinny O’Brien or Hat Pickey here or you may have to do the same.
He was fantastic in garage.
Eddie he didn’t write the script, a good actor non the less but truly gifted would be pushing it.
ahh Pat Snort or sorry I meant Short :/ though it feels like he’s on something I reckon.
If you’re not prepared to stand over what you say with your own identity, then you can not be taken seriously. You are a troll on this site Dickson. Nothing more, nothing less.
From the previews I’ve seen looks pretty good..hopefully it’s a sign of the times and some real national competition for our beloved “RTE “
The irony is that those who have emigrated are precluded from watching it.
Would they able to use the RTE player abroad?
TV3, there will be plenty of repeats of it as with every show they have.
Don’t think our emigrants will be too bothered anyway.
*not that the RTE player shows TV3 programming, my bad!
Of course emigrants will be bothered David. Why wouldn’t they?
Pants, believe me, when you are away you do not pine for Irish television. There is so much more to see and do in your new host country. Of this I know 100% for sure.
100% for sure? I’ve been living in London for almost 11 years and I’m looking forward to watching this. I saw Pat perform in the West End a couple of years ago and he was great! Granted there’s a lot of sh|te on Irish TV, but this does sound good. Each to their own I suppose …
I’ve lived abroad and loved seeing stuff on tv from back home
Yes we can use rte player I’m in Boston
Shortt fellow Tipp man com’on the premier on sunday
Pat Short is a good and sometimes great actor and comedian who tends to laugh at his own punchlines, but we all have our faults. That’s right!!!
Even did people from Listowel start saying mom ?
have your say