Pure Mule
Encyclopedia
Pure Mule was an Irish
six-part drama mini-series aimed at a young audience and broadcast on RTÉ Two
as part of RTÉ's autumn schedule in 2005, shot and screened in 2004–2005 in County Offaly
.
Towns featured in the series include Banagher
, Birr
and Tullamore
, all in County Offaly. It intended to offer an "insight into modern day rural Ireland". The original series was rebroadcast on RTÉ beginning 26 July 2009 at 22:50. The show was expected to return to RTÉ Two
for two special episodes after three years in the wilderness as part of the autumn 2009 television season, however RTÉ ran the two part special on RTÉ One
. The second edition is called Pure Mule: The Last Weekend. "Pure Mule" is a phrase in the Offaly dialect which may mean "really good" or "lousy", depending on the intonation.
Pure Mule won five Irish Film and Television Awards
(IFTAs) and was nominated for seven in total. It is still referenced in the Irish media years after its original broadcast. The show is credited with progressing the careers of actors such as Simone Kirby, Garrett Lombard and Charlene McKenna
, the last of whom became a household name and face in Ireland following its success. McKenna said the show was "very dark [...] but it has a fun side too". Lombard attributed its success to its realism and bravery, its wide range of characters from all backgrounds and its use of relevant themes.
-themed night following its relaunch from Network 2 in 2004. The original Pure Mule featured a cast which included Tom Murphy
, Garret Lombard, Luke Griffen, Gary Lydon, Eileen Walsh
, Simone Kirby, Joanne Crawford, Dawn Bradfield and Charlene McKenna
. It was shot on high-definition
camera. The setting is a fictional market town
in the Irish midlands. The drama was part of a boost in spending of 25% on independent Irish television productions in 2004.
Each episode follows the journey of one character over a weekend from Friday until Monday. Themes covered included binge drunkenness and casual sexual intercourse
. The first episode featured Shamie (played by Tom Murphy
), and follows his birthday boozing and his struggle to win the affections of a Dublin girl against his younger brother, Scobie (played by Garrett Lombard). Frustrated and embarrassed by his loss, he instead engages in an attempt to win another girl instead.
Another episode featured a famous threesome
involving Geraldine (played by Simone Kirby).
Other actors who had roles in Pure Mule included Brian Doherty, Pádraic Delaney
, Ian McElhinney
, and Seán McGinley
.
though locals said it portrayed midlanders in a bad light. Tom Parlon
, a TD
, spoke of the upset Pure Mules themes of cocaine
and other issues caused to "a lot of people" in his constituency of Laois–Offaly, saying:
Pure Mule was seen as a nod to Bracken
and Deadwood
, with The Sunday Times
praising it for its "impressively lyrical yet largely authentic dialogue" but remaining sceptical of O'Brien's "lapses into ludicrously Oirish speechifying, replete with more hooting “ouls” than a forest park".
Garrett Lombard used to be greeted by cheers each time he passed a building site due to his character, Scobie, being portrayed as an authentic hero by many. Lombard described him as "a typical Irish male, who liked his drinking and carousing and having a good time".
Tom Murphy won in the category of Best Television Actor, whilst Dawn Bradfield won in the category of Best Television Actress. Eileen Walsh won in the category of Best Supporting Actress on Television. Declan Recks won in the category of Best Director Television. The other award win for the show on the night was in the category of Best Sound for Television or Film.
The other two nominations were Garrett Lombard in the category of Best Supporting Actor on Television and director Charlie McCarthy in the same category as Recks.
The award ceremony was broadcast on RTÉ One
.
|-
| 2006
|| Tom Murphy
|| Best Television Actor ||
|-
| 2006 || Dawn Bradfield || Best Television Actress ||
|-
| 2006 || Eileen Walsh
|| Best Supporting Actress on Television ||
|-
| 2006 || Declan Recks || Best Director Television ||
|-
| 2006 || Pure Mule || Best Sound for Television or Film ||
|-
| 2006 || Garrett Lombard || Best Supporting Actor on Television ||
|-
| 2006 || Charlie McCarthy || Best Director Television ||
|-
The plot involves the imminent departure of Scobie (played by Lombard) to Australia
. Jennifer (played by McKenna) returns to attend the funeral of a family member. An economic recession has arrived, reflecting the reality of life in Ireland in 2009.
Tom Murphy, the IFTA award-winning actor of the original series, died in 2007. Well-recognised chimney stacks on the banks of the River Shannon
in Shannonbridge
which featured in the original series were demolished in July 2009. The towers "featured prominently in the background" of the show.
by Element Pictures Distribution on 13 November 2009.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
six-part drama mini-series aimed at a young audience and broadcast on RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
as part of RTÉ's autumn schedule in 2005, shot and screened in 2004–2005 in County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
.
Towns featured in the series include Banagher
Banagher
Banagher is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon"...
, Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
and Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
, all in County Offaly. It intended to offer an "insight into modern day rural Ireland". The original series was rebroadcast on RTÉ beginning 26 July 2009 at 22:50. The show was expected to return to RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
for two special episodes after three years in the wilderness as part of the autumn 2009 television season, however RTÉ ran the two part special on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
. The second edition is called Pure Mule: The Last Weekend. "Pure Mule" is a phrase in the Offaly dialect which may mean "really good" or "lousy", depending on the intonation.
Pure Mule won five Irish Film and Television Awards
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
(IFTAs) and was nominated for seven in total. It is still referenced in the Irish media years after its original broadcast. The show is credited with progressing the careers of actors such as Simone Kirby, Garrett Lombard and Charlene McKenna
Charlene McKenna
Charlene McKenna is an award-winning Irish actress. She became a household name and face in Ireland after starring as Jennifer in the television series Pure Mule in 2005. She has had numerous other roles in television dramas in Ireland, including Raw, Single-Handed 2 and Whistleblower...
, the last of whom became a household name and face in Ireland following its success. McKenna said the show was "very dark [...] but it has a fun side too". Lombard attributed its success to its realism and bravery, its wide range of characters from all backgrounds and its use of relevant themes.
Original series (2004–2005)
Pure Mule was written as a six part series aimed at a young audience by the playwright Eugene O'Brien and produced by Accomplice Television, the television arm of Element Films. It was promoted as being part of the new "edgier" and "riskier" RTÉ Two schedule, which also featured a gayHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
-themed night following its relaunch from Network 2 in 2004. The original Pure Mule featured a cast which included Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy (actor)
Tom Jordan Murphy was an Irish theatre and film actor best known for his 1998 Tony Award winning performance in The Beauty Queen of Leenane....
, Garret Lombard, Luke Griffen, Gary Lydon, Eileen Walsh
Eileen Walsh
-Biography:Born and raised in Cork, Ireland, Walsh was raised in a Catholic household, and had no intention of becoming an actress, until she followed in the footsteps of her elder sister, who was also an actress, and young Eileen began to attend theatre workshops...
, Simone Kirby, Joanne Crawford, Dawn Bradfield and Charlene McKenna
Charlene McKenna
Charlene McKenna is an award-winning Irish actress. She became a household name and face in Ireland after starring as Jennifer in the television series Pure Mule in 2005. She has had numerous other roles in television dramas in Ireland, including Raw, Single-Handed 2 and Whistleblower...
. It was shot on high-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
camera. The setting is a fictional market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in the Irish midlands. The drama was part of a boost in spending of 25% on independent Irish television productions in 2004.
Each episode follows the journey of one character over a weekend from Friday until Monday. Themes covered included binge drunkenness and casual sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
. The first episode featured Shamie (played by Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy (actor)
Tom Jordan Murphy was an Irish theatre and film actor best known for his 1998 Tony Award winning performance in The Beauty Queen of Leenane....
), and follows his birthday boozing and his struggle to win the affections of a Dublin girl against his younger brother, Scobie (played by Garrett Lombard). Frustrated and embarrassed by his loss, he instead engages in an attempt to win another girl instead.
Another episode featured a famous threesome
Threesome
A threesome is a group of three engaged in the same activity. In relation to a sexual activity a threesome refer to the activity involving three people of any gender or sexual orientation...
involving Geraldine (played by Simone Kirby).
Cast and crew
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Mark Huberman | Conor |
| Simone Kirby | Geraldine |
| Garrett Lombard | Scobie |
| Gary Lydon | Bomber |
| Charlene McKenna Charlene McKenna Charlene McKenna is an award-winning Irish actress. She became a household name and face in Ireland after starring as Jennifer in the television series Pure Mule in 2005. She has had numerous other roles in television dramas in Ireland, including Raw, Single-Handed 2 and Whistleblower... |
Jennifer |
| Tom Murphy Tom Murphy (actor) Tom Jordan Murphy was an Irish theatre and film actor best known for his 1998 Tony Award winning performance in The Beauty Queen of Leenane.... |
Shamie |
| Eileen Walsh Eileen Walsh -Biography:Born and raised in Cork, Ireland, Walsh was raised in a Catholic household, and had no intention of becoming an actress, until she followed in the footsteps of her elder sister, who was also an actress, and young Eileen began to attend theatre workshops... |
Therese |
Other actors who had roles in Pure Mule included Brian Doherty, Pádraic Delaney
Pádraic Delaney
Pádraic Delaney is an Irish actor best known for playing Teddy O'Donovan in the Ken Loach film The Wind That Shakes the Barley, for which he earned an IFTA nomination as well as being named Irish Shooting Star for the 2007 Berlin Film Festival...
, Ian McElhinney
Ian McElhinney
Ian McElhinney is an actor and director.-Personal life:He is married to playwright/actress Marie Jones. Together they started their own company, Rathmore Productions Ltd.-Filmography:-External links:...
, and Seán McGinley
Seán McGinley
Seán McGinley is an Irish film and television actor.-Early life:McGinley was born in Pettigo, County Donegal, Ireland where his father was a customs officer, and raised in nearby Ballyshannon...
.
| Crew | Name |
|---|---|
| Writer | Eugene O'Brien |
| Director | Declan Recks, Charlie McCarthy |
| Producer | David Collins, Ed Guiney |
| Director of photography | Owen McPolin |
| Production designer | John Hand |
| Costume designer | Kathy Strachen |
| Editor | Gareth Young |
| Composers | Stephen Rennicks, Hugh Drumm |
Reception
Pure Mule received a favourable reaction from the critics, with some praising it for being the first RTÉ drama of the decade to portray issues such as Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
though locals said it portrayed midlanders in a bad light. Tom Parlon
Tom Parlon
Tom Parlon is a former Irish Progressive Democrats politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 2002 to 2007 and was also the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works...
, a TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
, spoke of the upset Pure Mules themes of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and other issues caused to "a lot of people" in his constituency of Laois–Offaly, saying:
It does make for uncomfortable viewing especially for someone like me whose has lived all their life in rural Ireland. But let's not be naive here. I believe the programme has also performed a valuable service by highlighting in stark and uncomfortable terms the challenges facing rural Ireland today in particular increased drug use amongst our young population. [...] Pure Mule has shown to all who watch it that young people in every corner of this country are experimenting with and using drugs on a large scale. Teenage sexAdolescent sexualityAdolescent sexuality refers to sexual feelings, behavior and development in adolescents and is a stage of human sexuality. Sexuality is often a vital aspect of teenagers' lives...
and sexual promiscuityPromiscuityIn humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
are other uncomfortable issues that are dealt with. It is fiction but it has also struck a raw nerve because it is telling an unpalatable truth. As a rural TD and as a parent, I believe what we are facing is a ticking time bomb in rural Ireland, where our young people feel increasingly dislocated from their community, where a lack of recreational and social outlets is fuelling the increase in drink and drug use. The last 20 years has brought unprecedented economic growth and social change across Ireland. What we must now do is face up to the social challenges.
Pure Mule was seen as a nod to Bracken
Bracken (TV series)
Bracken was an Irish television soap opera broadcast from 1978 to 1982 on RTÉ One in Ireland. It mainly centred about rural life in and around County Wicklow in the Republic of Ireland. The main stars of the show were Gabriel Byrne and Niall Tóibín...
and Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
, with The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
praising it for its "impressively lyrical yet largely authentic dialogue" but remaining sceptical of O'Brien's "lapses into ludicrously Oirish speechifying, replete with more hooting “ouls” than a forest park".
Garrett Lombard used to be greeted by cheers each time he passed a building site due to his character, Scobie, being portrayed as an authentic hero by many. Lombard described him as "a typical Irish male, who liked his drinking and carousing and having a good time".
Awards
The original Pure Mule won five Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) from seven nominations on 6 November 2005.Tom Murphy won in the category of Best Television Actor, whilst Dawn Bradfield won in the category of Best Television Actress. Eileen Walsh won in the category of Best Supporting Actress on Television. Declan Recks won in the category of Best Director Television. The other award win for the show on the night was in the category of Best Sound for Television or Film.
The other two nominations were Garrett Lombard in the category of Best Supporting Actor on Television and director Charlie McCarthy in the same category as Recks.
The award ceremony was broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
.
|-
| 2006
The 3rd Annual Irish Film & Television Awards 2005
-The 3rd Annual Irish Film & Television Awards 2005:Hosted by James Nesbitt on 5 November 2005 at the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland-Awards in film:Best Film* Pavee Lackeen ** Mickybo and Me** The Mighty Celt** Tara Road...
|| Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy (actor)
Tom Jordan Murphy was an Irish theatre and film actor best known for his 1998 Tony Award winning performance in The Beauty Queen of Leenane....
|| Best Television Actor ||
|-
| 2006 || Dawn Bradfield || Best Television Actress ||
|-
| 2006 || Eileen Walsh
Eileen Walsh
-Biography:Born and raised in Cork, Ireland, Walsh was raised in a Catholic household, and had no intention of becoming an actress, until she followed in the footsteps of her elder sister, who was also an actress, and young Eileen began to attend theatre workshops...
|| Best Supporting Actress on Television ||
|-
| 2006 || Declan Recks || Best Director Television ||
|-
| 2006 || Pure Mule || Best Sound for Television or Film ||
|-
| 2006 || Garrett Lombard || Best Supporting Actor on Television ||
|-
| 2006 || Charlie McCarthy || Best Director Television ||
|-
Pure Mule: The Last Weekend
Pure Mule: The Last Weekend was shot in Birr, County Offaly and the surrounding areas such as Banagher and Shannonbridge. It is again directed by Declan Recks and is again produced by Accomplice Television. The show is written by Eugene O'Brien. The series, which wrapped before the end of July 2009, was shot using the RED high end digital camera format.The plot involves the imminent departure of Scobie (played by Lombard) to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Jennifer (played by McKenna) returns to attend the funeral of a family member. An economic recession has arrived, reflecting the reality of life in Ireland in 2009.
Tom Murphy, the IFTA award-winning actor of the original series, died in 2007. Well-recognised chimney stacks on the banks of the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
in Shannonbridge
Shannonbridge
Shannonbridge is a village located on the River Shannon, at the junction of the R444 and R357 regional roads in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Raghra , at the borders of counties Offaly, Galway and Roscommon, with the majority of the population living east of the bridge in...
which featured in the original series were demolished in July 2009. The towers "featured prominently in the background" of the show.
Complete Season DVD release
The box set Pure Mule: The Complete Series will be released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by Element Pictures Distribution on 13 November 2009.