Little lies lead to bigger truths in Acorn TV’s picturesque Irish series THE SOUTH WESTERLIES.
The South Westerlies
Kate Ryan is a single working Dublin mom and environmental consultant. She’s on the verge of a lucrative promotion at Noreg Oil that includes a move to their HQ in Oslo. Then her employer adds one final major assignment. Despite getting planning permission for their wind farm offshore from the West Cork town of Carrigeen, ongoing local protests are creating a PR nightmare. So, before her promotion, Kate must go undercover to Carrigeen and pretend to be a vacationer. Her “assignment”: quash objections before an appeals deadline and smooth the path for imminent turbine installation.
Incidentally, Kate has a complicated history in Carrigeen, where there are secrets she’d prefer to leave buried. Soon after arriving with her 18-year-old son, she runs into an ex-friend and an old flame and realizes her task won’t be a breeze. Kate faces an eco-battle and quickly discovers that the anti-wind farm lobby is much stronger than NorskVentus led her to believe.
It’s not just the spectacular scenery that’s under pressure – Kate’s eco-battle is compounded by the return of an old boyfriend, a crinkly-eyed surfer, Baz Crowley, who bears a striking resemblance to Conor.
Her old friend Breege (Walsh), who runs the local café, is unhappy with Kate’s reappearance after 15 years of silence and is not so quick to forgive her comrade’s neglect. The pressures mount for Kate as tensions rise from local protestors, Breege is on to Kate on why she has stayed away from Carrigeen all this time and a surfing accident puts things in perspective.
As tensions rise for Kate Ryan both personally and professionally – she must rally her strength to face the changing tides. Will she rise victorious or will everything fall apart at the seams?
Cast and crew
The series stars Orla Brady (Star Trek: Picard, American Horror Story-1984, Into the Badlands, Mistresses) as Kate Ryan.
Patrick Bergin (Sleeping with the Enemy, Patriot Games) plays “Big Mike” Kelleher, the town’s local councillor.
Eileen Walsh (Catastrophe, Patrick Melrose) plays Kate’s old friend Breege, who runs the local café.
Kate’s 18-year-old son Conor is played by Sam Barrett (The Happy Prince).
The series also stars Steve Wall (Raised by Wolves, The Witcher) as Finbar “Baz” Crowley. And Ger Ryan (Little Dog, Rialto) plays Noreen.
Sorcha Cusack (A Discovery of Witches, Father Brown) Kate’s mom, Goldie, is a standout in her guest role.
Watch on Acorn TV
THE SOUTH WESTERLIES is produced by Deadpan Pictures (Ireland). It’s produced in association with RTÉ, Acorn TV with its UK-based development division Acorn Media Enterprises, ZDF Enterprises and Screen Ireland. Watch the US and Canadian premiere November 9 when all six episodes arrive.
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