The Irish R.M.
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| The Irish R.M. | |
|---|---|
| Format | Comedy / Drama |
| Created by | E. Somerville M. Ross |
| Starring | Peter Bowles Doran Godwin Bryan Murray |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom / Ireland |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel Four, RTE One |
| Original run | 1983 – 1985 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Irish R.M. refers to a series of books by the Anglo-Irish novelists Somerville and Ross, and the television comedy-drama series based on them. They are set in turn-of-the-century west of Ireland.
The TV series was made in the 1980s, and was filmed in Ireland at locations in Kildare and Wicklow with additional locations in the West of Ireland in a co-production between Ulster Television and Radio Telefís Éireann. It was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK and RTÉ One in the Republic of Ireland. Like the books, the TV series is a number of short stories around a few central characters. The house used as Knox Hall (located at Newhall, Naas in Kildare) was badly damaged by fire following completion of filming for the series, it has since been returned to its former glory.
The various stories concern the life of an Irish ex-British Army officer Resident Magistrate (R.M.) recently appointed to his position in Ireland, which at that stage was still wholly a part of the United Kingdom, and before the creation of the present day Republic of Ireland.
The RM has to deal with all sorts of everyday events with colourful characters, often being outfoxed by the machinations of his Anglo-Irish friend, Flurry Knox (Bryan Murray).
The humour in the series is greatly enhanced if the viewer has a broad understanding of the history of Ireland’s relationship with England, and how Ireland was governed, as well as the Irish country way of life. The show is, however, not political, although caricatures of people are used for humorous purposes.
The R.M., Major Yeates, is played by Peter Bowles, who also starred in To the Manor Born — the light-hearted humorous style of the Irish RM has often been compared with To the Manor Born, although in a period Irish context instead of a present-day (as then was) English context.
In one scene, the major’s English wife, Philippa (Doran Godwin) is dancing with a stable-hand, Slipper (Niall Toibin), at a servants’ ball. Slipper ventures to say that ‘The English and the Irish understand each other like the fox and the hound,’ to which the lady replies in good humour, ‘But which is which?’ The answer is, ‘Ah well, if we knew that, we’d know everything!’
[edit] Original books
The television series is based on stories drawn from:
- Some Experiences of an Irish RM (Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1899)
- Further Experiences of an Irish RM (Longmans Green & Co., London, 1908)
- In Mr Knox's Country (Longmans Green & Co., London, 1915)
[edit] DVD Release
Series One, Two and Three of The Irish RM are available on DVD in the UK.
[edit] External links
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