Frankie McCafferty.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
A WELL-known Donegal actor has been cast for RTÉ’s new political drama based on the life of Charles J Haughey goes into production next week.
Frankie McCafferty from Stranorlar will feature in the new three-part feature length drama which will star Aidan Gillen (The Wire, Game Of Thrones, Love/Hate) as Haughey.
The plot, and even the characters which will feature in Charlie (working title), are a closely guarded secret and so we will have to wait an while to find out whom Frankie plays.
The cast of approximately 45 also stars, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (PJ Mara), Lucy Cohu (Terry Keane), and includes Gavin O’ Connor, Risteard Cooper, Peter O’Meara and Laurence Kinlan in other keys roles. Broadcast details will be confirmed closer to transmission.
Produced for RTÉ by Touchpaper and Element Pictures and supported by the BAI Sound and Vision Fund, the political drama will chart the emergence of modern Ireland through the mesmeric political figure and his pursuit of power.
Written by Colin Teevan and directed by Kenny Glenaan and Charlie McCarthy, the drama covers the period from Charles J Haughey’s bid for power in 1979 and chronicles his attempts to maintain that power until his departure from politics in 1992.
Frankie McCafferty has been in the acting business for over 25 years and has taken on many great roles on stage, television and movies. But, being a very proud Donegal man, Frankie’s personal career high was when he brought one of Ireland’s greatest plays, The Abbey production of Seán O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars, to his native county and An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, in September 2012.