Paraic Breathnach
Acting
Biography
Páraic Breathnach (born 1956) is an Irish actor, performer, writer and storyteller. A fluent Irish speaker, Páraic grew up in Carna, County Galway. As a student in University of Galway, he was deeply involved with An Cumann Drámaíochta and Dramsoc, where he teamed up with Ollie Jennings in a series of cultural initiatives in and out of college. Breathnach worked with An Taibhdhearc and Druid Theatres and became the first manager of Galway Arts Centre, before co-founding Mácnas with Ollie Jennings. He has appeared in several major Irish films throughout the years, including Michael Collins and Breakfast on Pluto. A frequent contributor to TG4, he also played the character of Jacksie Walsh on RTÉ's Killinaskully. He has also been the managing director of the Galway Arts Center. In 2005, he was awarded an honorary degree from NUI Galway "for his immense contribution to cultural life in Galway and Ireland".
Known For
A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.
Bodkin
Ella lives in a magical world in which each child, at the moment of their birth, is given a virtuous "gift" from a fairy godmother. Ella's so-called gift, however, is obedience. This birthright proves itself to be quite the curse once Ella finds herself in the hands of several unscrupulous characters whom she quite literally cannot disobey. Determined to gain control of her life and decisions, Ella sets off on a journey to find her fairy godmother who she hopes will lift the curse. The path, however, isn't easy -- Ella must outwit a slew of unpleasant obstacles including ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, elves and Prince Charmont's evil uncle, who wants to take over the crown and rule the kingdom.
Ella Enchanted
Jack Taylor is an Irish television drama based on a series of novels by Ken Bruen. Set in Galway, the series stars Iain Glen in the eponymous role of Jack Taylor, a former officer with the Garda Síochána who becomes a "finder" after leaving the service. Taylor is a man who goes looking for clues where others have not bothered to. He also knows the streets of his hometown like the back of his hand.
Jack Taylor
details the bizarre goings-on in a fictitious Irish village called Killinaskully located in the hills of Ireland
Killinaskully
Michael Collins plays a crucial role in the establishment of the Irish Free State in the 1920s, but becomes vilified by those hoping to create a completely independent Irish republic.
Michael Collins
In the 1970s, a young transgender woman called “Kitten” leaves her small Irish town for London in search of love, acceptance, and her long-lost mother.
Breakfast on Pluto
Sweety Barrett is a giant of a man with the mind of a child. An easy target in a corrupt world, Sweety becomes embroiled in a smuggling operation unleashing a spiral of dangerous and unexpected events.
Sweety Barrett
The return of a vengeful ex-girlfriend sets into motion a series of gruesome events for a hapless Irish bachelor in director Robert Quinn's grim black comedy. Tommy (Andrew Scott) had thought he had seen the last of Jean (Katy Davis) after their recent breakup, but when she returns to stake her claim on Tommy's apartment, the confrontation that ensues makes their previous quarrels look petty by comparison. After leaving the apartment in the head of the fight to cool his head and gather his thoughts, he returns only to find that Jean has died and enlists the aid of his friend Noel (Darren Healy) in ditching the body and ensuring that no one ever finds out what happened.
Dead Bodies
Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie's world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.
The Butcher Boy
Colmán Sharkey - a fisherman, a father, a husband - takes in a stranger at the behest of a local priest. Patsy, a former soldier arrives just ahead of ‘the blight,’ a crop disease that caused the Great Plague, killing and displacing millions of Irishmen.
Arracht
Ireland, 1763. When a murderous landlord vies to inherit the Rotherham estate, his crimes fall under the scrutiny of a witch who undertakes a terrible revenge against him.
Rógairí
Caitríona is dead and eagerly awaiting the death of her sister, Nell, so that the war between them in life can continue.
Cré na Cille
Comerford’s signature sharp realism infuses this drama about Reefer, an ex-IRA man who picks up hitch-hiker Teresa, a pregnant woman trying to overcome a drug addiction. They head to the trawler where he lives with friends Spider and Badger, that operates between Galway and the Aran Islands. The makeshift family are forced to turn to crime to make a living.
Reefer and the Model
Colm Mac Lára accidently stumbles upon a killing in a Parisian hotel and finds himself led into a dark underworld of professional assassins.
An Leabhar
A musician arrives in Galway trying to get over the death of his best friend, the singer in his band.
Don't You Know Who I Am
The common image of Brighid is one of a one-dimensional saint of quaint crosses and rural customs. In this programme, we see a completely different Brighid: a god, a female trinity who pre-dates Christianity and will survive it, a bountiful and generous god who loved life and lived it to the full.