Year of the French, The

1 9 8 2 (Ireland/France/UK)
6 x 60 minute episodes

Premiering on RTE on 18 November 1982 and on Britain’s Channel 4 on 18 February 1983, this co-production between FR3 France, RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) Ireland and Channel 4 recounted the little-known events of 1798 when a small French fighting force was sent to County Mayo in Ireland to support the Irish in a revolt against the British military administration under Lord Cornwallis (Donald Bisset).

The series followed the French force – led by General Jean Humbert (Jean-Claude Drouot) – through North Mayo and the rugged ‘Windy Gap’ and into the town of Castlebar, where they routed the English Garrison and set up HQ in what’s now the Imperial Hotel.

The victorious French proclaimed Ireland a republic with John Moore (Philip Hurd-Wood) as its first president, but without reinforcements, they were ultimately encircled by Cornwallis and his redcoats and forced to surrender.

Niall O’Brien played the key role of a (fictional) character, schoolmaster and poet Owen McCarthy. Robert Stephens played John Moore’s elder brother, George.

Australian import Anne-Louise Lambert (star of the 1976 film Picnic at Hanging Rock) and Susan Fitzgerald portrayed two of the women in the story, Ellen Treacy and Judith Elliott.

Irish actor TP McKenna played Denis Browne, an Anglo-Irish landlord and militia commander, out to crush the uprising of his Roman Catholic neighbours. Bryan Murray (Flurry Knox from The Irish RM) played rebel Ferdy O’Donnell.

The tragedy and confusion which has stalked Ireland for centuries was superbly depicted, and the battle scenes were realistic without being unnecessarily gory.

Irish, British and French actors in the other leading roles spoke in their native languages. The tri-lingual dialogue (with English subtitles), meant the six-episode series was probably of little general interest but was popular with Irish viewers and history lovers.

The French got around the language problem by dubbing it all into French when they broadcast it there.

The series – adapted from a novel by Thomas Flanagan – was directed by Michael Garvey. Filming involved 120 actors, 1,000 extras and more than 100 locations, including the transformation of the town of Killala.

Music for the series was composed and arranged by Paddy Moloney and performed by The Chieftains with the RTE Concert Orchestra.

Général Jean Humbert
Jean-Claude Drouot
Owen MacCarthy
Niall O’Brien
Samuel Cooper
Keith Buckley
Barras
François Perrot
John Moore
Philip Hurd-Wood
George Moore
Robert Stephens
Lord Cornwallis
Donald Bisset
La Réveillière
Gilles Ségal
Rebwell
Michel Goulu
Ellen Treacy
Anne-Louise Lambert
Judith Elliott
Susan Fitzgerald
Malcolm Elliott
Jeremy Clyde
Mr Broome
Peter Porteous
Kate Cooper
Veronica Duffy
Fr. Murphy
Mick Lally
Sarrazin
Jacques Zabor
Fontaine
Patrick Floersheim
Ferdy O’Donnell
Bryan Murray
Randal McDonnell
Jonathan Ryan
Denis Browne
TP McKenna