Premiere of new Irish radio drama on gangland feuds

The latest radio drama to be broadcast by Newstalk 106 – 108fm as part of its weekly Documentary & Drama On Newstalk series is Idlewild.

In Idlewild, producer Brian Gallagher brings us his radio adaptation of Jimmy Murphy’s stage-play, a drama in which the leaders of two feuding crime groups meet to explore the possibility of a radical sacrifice to end their bloody feud…

The radio premiere of ‘Idlewild’ airs on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 12th July at 7am, with a repeat broadcast on Saturday 18th July at 9pm. Podcast goes live after first broadcast.   

 IMRO-nominated producer Brian Gallagher’s latest work is an adaptation of renowned playwright Jimmy Murphy's powerful and topical drama, Idlewild, which deals with a murderous gangland feud...

The Rev and The Bunny are the leaders of two feuding crime groups who meet, under truce, at a Dublin graveyard.  Former boyhood friends, they have both ordered the killing of members each other’s families, but have agreed to meet in person to try to stop the escalating death toll.

Their complicated back story emerges as they dig a grave – for whom it’s not clear.  We learn of their shared experiences and strong bonds – but bonds that have been sundered by violence and betrayal.

The scale of the cost of their crimes to society and their respective families becomes clear, and we learn that they have agreed that a radical sacrifice is the only way to end their bloody feud...

Based on a successful stage play that toured Ireland, Idlewild translates well to the medium of radio, with the shifting dynamic between the two gang leaders evocatively created with dialogue, music, and sound effects.

Featuring Rex Ryan and Ruairi Heading, Idlewild was written by Jimmy Murphy and adapted for radio and produced and directed by Brian Gallagher.   The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee.

BROADCAST: The radio premiere of ‘Idlewild’ airs on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 12th July at 7am, with a repeat broadcast on Saturday 18th July at 9pm. Podcast goes live after first broadcast.   

PODCAST: Idlewild is broadcast as part of the Documentary and Drama On Newstalk Series, which showcases the best of original, homegrown and groundbreaking Irish Radio features. Podcast full series here:

 https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/page/1/filter?filter_selected=show-filter&show=documentary-drama-newstalk&series=all

Sound And Vision Funding Scheme: Sound and Vision is a funding scheme for television and radio that provides funding in support of high quality programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience, and programmes to improve adult literacy. The scheme is managed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Listen and subscribe to Documentary on Newstalk on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

  

Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.

  

You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.