The Irish R.M. | |
---|---|
Created by |
E. Somerville M. Ross |
Starring |
Peter Bowles Doran Godwin Bryan Murray Anna Manahan |
Country of origin | United Kingdom / Ireland |
No. of episodes | 18 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | 50minutes |
Release | |
Original network | Channel Four, RTÉ One |
Original release | 6 January 1983 – 7 July 1985 |
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 the turn-of-the-20th-century west of Ireland.
The television series is based on stories drawn from:
All three books are out of copyright and can be found on the Internet Archive. 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 and Northern Ireland.
Series 1
1. Great Uncle McCarthy
At a regimental ball in 1897, Major Sinclair Yeates reveals his plan to resign his commission to become a resident magistrate.
2. Trinket's Colt
Eccentric Mrs Knox wrongly believes that Yeates stole her prize mare's colt.
3. A Misdeal
Yeates and Philippa visit a horse fair in search of a suitable mount for a forthcoming hunt.
4. The Boat's Share
Yeates and his cousin Basil fear that their careers are ruined when they are caught in a police raid at the Brickleys'.
5. Occasional Licences
A local publican neatly sidesteps Yeates' objections to beer sales at the annual St Peter and St Paul's Day Games.
6. O Love! O Fire!
An exhausting night of dancing and dousing fires ends with a carefully planned surprise by Sally and Flurry.
Series 2
1. A Horse! A Horse!
Flurry returns to his old, deceitful ways after returning from a Paris honeymoon with his new bride Sally, and does his utmost to sell a horse to General Porteous. But as usual, things do not quite go smoothly. After convincing Major Yeates to join him on a hunting expedition, the Major suffers an unlucky accident, thanks in no small part to Flurry's treachery. Of course, this is all part of Flurry's plan.
2. The Dispensary Doctor
The tension between the Foleys and the Callaghans continues to escalate. On the eve of the annual race competition, the Callaghans accuse the Foleys of being salmon poachers, bringing in the police to investigate. Flurry's unsavoury friend Dr. Hickey convinces Major Yeates to break into the butcher shop. The two are caught in the act.