Aifric (Irish pronunciation: [ˈafʲɾʲɪc]) is an Irish-language TV series aimed at young adults, co-created and written by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and co-created and directed by Paul Mercier. The show has won multiple IFTA awards for "Best Children's/Youth Program".[1]
| Aifric | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Drama Comedy-drama Teen drama |
| Created by | Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin Paul Mercier Micheal ó Domhnaill |
| Developed by | Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin Paul Mercier |
| Starring | Clíona Ní Chiosáin Kevin O'Dwyer Mairéad Coneely Barry Barnes Gráinne Bleasdale Sláine Hutchinson |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language | Irish |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Single-Camera |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | TG4 |
| Release | November 2, 2006 – November 25, 2008 |
The first of the weekly thirteen-part series began broadcasting on 31 October 2006, the date of TG4's tenth anniversary.[2]
Premise
editThe series followed the life of Aifric whose wacky family have just moved to a new town in the West of Ireland. The 14-year-old wants nothing more than to fit in but feels her family will not make it easy for her. Her mother is a new-age hippie who has banned television, while her father is a wannabe rock star, and her little brother is just annoying.
Cast and characters
edit- Clíona Ní Chiosáin as Aifric de Spáinn, a shy and quirky teenage girl.
- Kevin O'Dwyer as Traolach de Spáinn, Aifric's younger brother. He is an intelligent and quirky child with a keen interest in Eastern philosophy.
- Mairéad Coneely as Janis de Spáinn, Aifric and Traolach's mother.
- Barry Barnes as Tom de Spáinn, Aifric and Traolach's father. He is an accountant by profession but rock musician by aspiration.
- Gráinne Bleasdale as Sophie, Aifric's best friend.
- Sláine Hutchinson as Claudia, Aifric's blonde rival. She is wealthy, arrogant, and selfish.
- Josef Hrehorow as Maidhc, Aifric's classmate who has a crush on her.
- Cárthach Bán Breathnach as Jimín, Maidhc's right-hand man and the chief messer.
- Eoin O'Dubhghaill as Bertie, a strange boy with an odd fondness for jellyfish.
- Colin Murray as Beartla, Aifric's classmate. He is the seemingly attainable "Hottie" of the group.
- Dónall Ó Héalai as Jeaic, a boy whom Aifric had a crush on in season 1.
- Christy Leech as Leo, the "surfer dude" of the series, whom Aifric had a crush on at the start of season 2.
- Gráinne Pollack as Bróna, an eccentric classmate of Aifric's. She has few (if any) friends and plays the cymbals.
Episodes
editSeason 1 (2006)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Codlach na hOiche" | Róise Goan & Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin | October 31, 2006 |
Broadcast
editAs well as on TG4, Aifric has also been shown on BBC Alba, where it was dubbed into Scottish Gaelic.[3] It was also shown on HBO Latin America where it was dubbed into Portuguese and Spanish, and on Brezhoweb where it's been dubbed into Breton.[4]
Trivia
edit- Over 95% of the production budget was spent in the Galway region.
- The production employed over 170 crew and a cast of almost 150 actors.
- In August 2004, there was a national talent search which auditioned hopeful teenagers for the many young roles in the show, including that of Aifric.
Awards and nominations
editAifric won best Children's/Youth programme at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Irish Film and Television Awards, and was nominated for Best Irish Language show.[5] It won best Youth programme at the Celtic Film and Media Festival, 2009
References
edit- ^ "IMDB - Aifric". IMDb. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ RTÉ Guide, 28 October-3 November 2006 edition
- ^ Aifric, Series 1 Aingil Chaitlin, BBC Alba, 28 October 2008
- ^ "Aifric (Rann 18) - Prenañ skiant labour".
- ^ Irish Film and Television Awards 2009