GROUND-BREAKING NEW TELEVISION SERIES FOR TG4 FEATURES HOST OF IRISH STARS
Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue today visited the set for THE RUNNING MATE, a 4 x 52' Irish language TV series currently filming on location in Dingle, Co. Kerry.Based on an idea by Connor McPherson, the series is directed by Declan Recks (Pure Mule) and written by Marcus Fleming, Nicky Murphy and Mark Canton. THE RUNNING MATE tells the story of the political skullduggery and intrigue surrounding a bid by a desperate politician to win a constituency seat in South Kerry. When his campaign begins to crumble, he teams up with a down-on-his-luck mate to form Carrigeen's most unlikely political machine. The series stars Don Wycherley (Bachelors Walk), Frank Kelly (Father Ted), Dennis Conway (The Tiger's Tail), Eamon Hunt, Carrie Crowley , Linda Breathnach and Lesley Conroy.
THE RUNNING MATE began filming in Kerry in early October and will shoot for seven weeks using locations in Dingle, Tralee, Ballyferriter , Smerwick and Colaiste Ida, the only Irish language boarding school in the country.
The series has a budget of over €2 million and will use approximately 250 hotel nights in the local area. The production will also rent up to 30 houses in Kerry over a period of three months. The production company has hired over 750 extras from the local area and between 15 and 20 full time crew. The show is also working closely with the Tralee RTC who have provided equipment in return for allowing local students to work on set.
"My department has increased the Irish Film Board 2006 budget by 21% and introduced significant improvements to the film tax incentive Section 481. This has resulted in high employment, resurgence in production activity and a significant return on government investment in this sector during 2006. I'm delighted to see local communities benefiting from the advantages such as employment and local spend, that film and television production bring to a key location." said Minister John O'Donoghue.
"THE RUNNING MATE was able to benefit from the Irish Film Board Regional Fund creating employment and spend in the Kerry region. Irish film and television projects also benefit the tourist industry which is a key industry in Kerry. Failte Ireland figures indicate that foreign tourists attracted to Ireland by film and TV spent an estimated €450 million in 2005" said Naoise Barry Film Commissioner, Irish Film Board.
"We are delighted to have begun production on this exciting and ground breaking project for TG4. The support and goodwill that we have received in Dingle and Kerry has been overwhelming and a huge boon to the production. This along with the support of TG4, the Irish Film Board and BCI has enabled us to assemble a fantastic cast and crew and we are eagerly anticipating its 2007 broadcast" said Rebecca O'Flanagan, Producer, Rubicon Films.
THE RUNNING MATE is produced by Rebecca O'Flanagan and executive produced by Paddy McDonald and Rob Walpole in Treasure Entertainment with finance from the Irish Film Board, TG4, the BCI and the newly improved tax incentive Section 481. The show also received funding from the Regional Film and Television Fund set up by the Irish Film board to encourage Irish filmmakers to utilise locations outside Ireland's capital city and its catchment area.
THE RUNNING MATE is the second Irish project to film in Kerry over the last few months. An Gaeilgeoir Nocht, an Irish language one hour television drama, directed by Neasa Hardiman, filmed in Kerry in October and will premiere at the Kerry Film Festival which opens on October 23 rd.
THE RUNNING MATE will be broadcast on TG4 in 2007.