Red rock debuts on tv3 this week

Red Rock bursts onto our screens this week with an explosive debut episode on TV3.

Straight away we’re introduced to some of the soaps main characters, Superintendent James McKay (played by Richard Flood), straight as a die Garda Sharon Cleere (played by Jane McGrath) and her lackadaisical partner Paudge Brennan (played by Pat Ryan).

Sharon and her partner discover a body on the pier. It’s clear the man has been a victim of an assault and as they rush to get him medical attention both recognise who it is and what this means for the locality.

It emerges that the body belongs to Darren Kiely, from the well-known Kiely family. As he lies in a critical condition, the Gardaí get to work on investigating who is responsible and what their motives were.

While scrutinising CCTV footage, Sharon spots a colleague doing something he shouldn’t be and is unsure what to do. Her anguish is evident as she is torn over whether to do the right thing and report what she saw or keep quiet for the sake of her career.

Episode 2 sees Darren Kiely’s mum arrive on the scene, having returned from England to be by her son’s bedside. It’s clear she’s not welcome by her estranged husband Vincent or daughter Katie but son Keith loves his mother and together they’re a force to be reckoned with. Someone has to pay for what happened to Darren, and Bridget won’t rest until they get justice.

Meanwhile, David Hennessy and Katie Kiely can’t keep their hands off each other. Their love is forbidden for obvious reasons, but they have a plan. Or rather, did have a plan, until Darren ended up in hospital. Now everything has changed and their love is about to be tested to the hilt.

Based around a busy Dublin Garda station in a fictional coastal town, Red Rockwill be a mix of ‘crime of the week’ stories and on-going serial arcs, following principle characters in both their professional and personal lives.

Red Rock boasts not only a fantastic production team, in Element and Company Pictures, but also a host of well-known actors such as Richard Flood (Crossing Lines, Killing Kennedy) who plays Superintendent of Red Rock Garda station, James McKay, Andrea Irvine (The Boxer, Evelyn, Ella Enchanted), who plays Detective Angela Tyrell, Cathy Belton (Philomena, Roy, The Tiger’s Tail), who plays the ruthless matriarch of the Hennessy family, Patricia Hennessy, and Denise McCormack (Cuckoo, 1000 Times Good Night, Love/Hate), her Kiely clan equivalent. Not to mention, Liam Carney (Gangs Of New York, Braveheart, Crossing Lines and Glenroe) who plays Angela Tyrell’s husband. The Kiely patriarch is played by Paul Roe (Night Train, Veronica Guerin, Adam & Paul) and although Vincent is estranged from wife Bridget, he plays a massive role in the kids’ lives.

Fresh faces being introduced, although no strangers to the industry; include Jane McGrath who plays wholesome but determined Garda Officer Sharon Cleere, India Mullen plays the youngest and brightest of the Kielys, Katie,while Adam Weafer and Jack Nolan play Hennessy twin brothers Michael and David, who are embroiled in Red Rock controversy from the get go, as is Ann Skelly’s character Rachel Reid who is streets ahead of her 15 years.

Production of TV3’s new soap has been underway since the beginning of November. TV3 has commissioned the continuing drama for two years, committing to over 160 episodes and representing an investment of close to €7million per annum. The soap will employ up to 130 people full-time in the audio/visual and acting industry.

‘Red Rock’ will air every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.