The Riordans: Tea, Taboos and Tractors
2009, 52 minutes
Thirty years ago, Ireland’s legendary television soap The Riordans came to an end after 15 years onscreen, causing a big outcry. Centred on a fictional Kilkenny farming family, it delivered domestic drama, high comedy, agricultural advice and broached controversial topics like contraception and marriage breakdown. And into the bargain, thanks to farming bachelors and bikinis, it made rural Ireland sexy.
Michael Riordan, one of its main characters, was played by the late Chris O’Neill and in this documentary his daughter, actor Aisling O’Neill (’Carol’ in Fair City), journeys back into her father’s past to rediscover this cutting-edge drama series and social phenomenon.
Review
"a moving and nostalgic portrait of an era when Mass times were altered, dishes wiped and babies tightly swaddled so that the entire country could sit down on the Draylon to discover the happenings the national broadcaster had cooked up for The Riordans of Leestown."
Irish Times
Clip
The Riordans: Tea, Taboos and Tractors from Wildfire Films.
Credits
| Executive Producer | Martha O'Neill |
| Editor | Juangus Dinsmore |
| Camera | Richard Kendrick |
| Producer | Adrian McCarthy |
| Director | Gerry Nelson |
Click on any thumbnail to view a full size image.
Aisling O'Neill outside the Flathouse, in Dunboyne
Aisling with some of the cast, and director Gerry Nelson.
Aisling on her way to meet the cast
Emotions run high as old friends are reunited
Some of the cast return to the Flathouse
The documentary crew with Wesley and Aisling
Aisling talks to Wesley Burrowes
Aisling meets Tom Hickey
Wildfire Films, Olympia House, Suite 2B, 61-63 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Copyright ©2012, Wildfire Films.
