Random TV Ratings

[Carrie Fairchild]

This is random, but I remember in the early Eighties, ITV attempted to give many of its franchises regional soaps, most of which were very short lived (like Taff Acre for HTV Wales). I wonder if this in some way could have inspired RTE.

As it happens, RTE actually inspired ITV. Glenroe is the last of a trilogy of rural soaps, starting with The Riordans, which first aired in 1965. When ITV were launching Emmerdale Farm in the 70’s, they visited Ireland to see RTE’s techniques for filming The Riordans on the farm and in outdoor settings.

When The Riordans ended, it spawned Bracken, a two season spinoff that transplanted Gabriel Byrne’s character from Kilkenny to the Wicklow Mountains. When it ended after two years, two Bracken characters (played by Mick Lally and Joe Lynch) moved down off the mountain, to launch Glenroe.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

When ITV were launching Emmerdale Farm in the 70’s, they visited Ireland to see RTE’s techniques for filming The Riordans on the farm and in outdoor settings.

That's really impressive, and actually quite sweet.

When The Riordans ended, it spawned Bracken, a two season spinoff that transplanted Gabriel Byrne’s character from Kilkenny to the Wicklow Mountains. When it ended after two years, two Bracken characters (played by Mick Lally and Joe Lynch) moved down off the mountain, to launch Glenroe.

What a legacy. Great to know that a currently-running soap has a history going back to the Sixties. There aren't many series of any kind that can say this anymore.