EastEnders episodes in Ireland

{{Short description|Series of EastEnders episodes set in Ireland}} {{About|the 1997 episodes of ''EastEnders'' set in Ireland|the 2017 ''EastEnders'' spin-off set in Ireland|Kat & Alfie: Redwater{{!}}''Kat & Alfie: Redwater''}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Italic title|string=EastEnders}} {{Infobox television episode | italic_title = no | rtitle = ''EastEnders'' episodes in Ireland | series = [[EastEnders]] | image = EastEnders in Ireland.jpg | caption = [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin]], [[Ian Beale|Ian]], [[Ruth Fowler|Ruth]] and [[Lucy Beale|Lucy]] arrive in [[Ireland]]. | episode = 1507, 1508, and 1509 | airdate = 22–{{start date|1997|9|25|df=y}} | length = 90 minutes (3x30) | rprev = Episode 1506 | rnext = Episode 1510 }}

In 1997, the [[BBC]] soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'' broadcast three singular transmissions that were filmed on location in [[Dublin]], Ireland. The episodes involved the [[The Beale/Fowler family|Fowler and Beale family]] travelling from London to Ireland to meet their long-lost relatives. The episodes were badly received by viewers and heavily criticised in the media. The BBC was inundated with complaints from angry viewers from Ireland for negative stereotyping, portraying Irish people as "dirty, rude, and drunk".<ref name="Italy">"[https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61053150 Italy's Square deal; LAST NIGHT'S VIEW] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901170301/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61053150/italy-s-square-deal-last-night-s-view |date=1 September 2020 }}", ''[[Daily Mirror|The Mirror]]''. URL last accessed on 18 July 2007.</ref> Complaints were made by the Irish Embassy and there were fears that the episodes would have a negative effect on the Irish tourist trade. The BBC was forced to issue an apology for causing offence.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/oct/07/television.bensummerskill |title=No soft soapbox |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |author=Summerskill, Ben |date=7 October 2001 |access-date=11 December 2007 |archive-date=14 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514160808/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,564651,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Storyline development== In 1997, ''EastEnders'' aired a storyline in which the character [[Pauline Fowler]] ([[Wendy Richard]]) discovers that she has a long-lost sister, [[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie Flaherty]] (Olivia Shanley). In the storyline, Pauline's now-deceased mother [[Lou Beale]] had given Maggie up for adoption shortly after her birth, as she was born out of wedlock. Maggie is first said to be the result of an illicit affair Lou had with an Irishman 60 years earlier, but although Maggie is initially thought to be Pauline's half-sister, it later transpires that they share the same father too; Maggie was only the result of pre-marital sex between Lou and her husband-to-be, [[Albert Beale]].

Pauline and various members of the Fowler and Beale family travel to Ireland to reunite with their long-lost relatives in a special week of episodes. The episodes were filmed on location in the countryside around [[County Dublin]], away from the soap's typical filming location in [[Borehamwood]], England.<ref name="ireland">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61088991.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222425/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61088991.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2011 |title= EastEnders' stars arrive in the Emerald Isle|publisher=The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland) | date = 23 July 1997| access-date=11 December 2007}}</ref> They were filmed over a period of two weeks in July and August 1997, and were broadcast on 22, 23 and 25 September 1997. In the three episodes, Pauline is accompanied by her sons [[Mark Fowler]] ([[Todd Carty]]) and [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] ([[James Alexandrou]]), Mark's wife [[Ruth Fowler]] ([[Caroline Paterson]]), nephew [[Ian Beale]] ([[Adam Woodyatt]]) and his daughter [[Lucy Beale]] ([[Casey Anne Rothery]]). Speaking about their trip to Dublin, actress Wendy Richard who played Pauline said "It's nice to be in Dublin for a change. It's not like London at all, where they take you a little bit for granted", and Todd Carty, who played her screen son Mark, said "It's also really nice to get out of Albert Square for a while to do something different."<ref name="ireland1">{{cite news| url = https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61076383| title = Albert Square's touch of Blarney as the Fowlers find lost family; EASTENDER PAULINE COMES WEST| work = The Mirror| author = Taylor, Richie| date = 23 July 1997| access-date = 11 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

A number of Irish actors were cast as Pauline's long-lost relatives, many of whom were starring in their first prominent television role.<ref name="ireland1"/> They included Maggie Flaherty, played by Olivia Shanley, son [[Conor Flaherty|Conor]] ([[Seán Gleeson|Sean Gleeson]]) and his headstrong daughter [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]).<ref name="mel">"[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20010204/ai_n14524642 I felt so lonely and isolated when I went to work on EastEnders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212222756/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20010204/ai_n14524642 |date=12 December 2007 }}", ''Sunday Mirror''. URL last accessed on 31 March 2007.</ref> For the latter two characters, Conor and Mary, the Ireland episodes were only the beginning of their stint in ''EastEnders''. Both characters remained in the serial as regulars, moving back to the soap's setting in [[Albert Square]] to be with the new-found family. They remained on-screen for two years. At the time of filming the Ireland episodes, Gleeson, from [[Thurles]], [[County Tipperary]], said, "The ''EastEnders'' cast are all really nice people", and Shanley said, "I've always been a big fan of ''EastEnders'' and to tell the truth I was a bit star struck [...] But they made us all feel very much at ease."<ref name="ireland1"/> Clark Pullen added, "I was expecting the cast to be luvvies but they were all brilliant – real grafters and totally down to earth. They were all very supportive as well and made me feel right at home. I was pretty starstruck [...] Wendy Richard who plays Pauline Fowler was great – she is the most wonderful woman and she quietly gave me advice on how to cope with the sudden fame and attention."<ref name="pullen">{{cite news| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20000102/ai_n9706465| title = MY LIFE WITHOUT SOAP: Interview – Melanie Clark Pullen| work = Sunday Mirror| author = Doherty, Amanda| date = 2 January 2000| access-date = 11 December 2007| archive-date = 7 October 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091007215010/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20000102/ai_n9706465/| url-status = live}}</ref> They were also joined by a host of other characters, including Maggie's husband Sean ([[Pat Laffan]]), second son Eamonn ([[Maurice O'Donoghue]]), Eamonn's wife Brenda ([[Janet Behan]]) and daughter Colette ([[Shiona Redmond]]).<ref name="ireland1"/>

==Reception== The episodes were not well received by viewers or the media. The BBC and the programme makers were heavily criticised for the [[stereotypical]] way they portrayed [[Irish people]].<ref name="pork">{{cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61058550|title=WHAT A LOAD OF PORK PIES; Ireland's full of drunkards, dimwits and donkeys according to EastEnders|work=The Mirror|author=Kierans, John|date=24 September 1997|access-date=11 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Viewers were angered by scenes that they felt portrayed Irish as resentful towards English, drunk, dirty, poor and rude – one scene showed a drunk man pouring beer over Pauline Fowler (later revealed to be her brother-in-law), and then demanding payment for the drink.<ref name="pork"/> Others were angered by the scriptwriters' decision to include various farm animals in a street scene on the outskirts of Dublin, with one viewer commenting to the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'': "It was nothing like life in the real Ireland of today. When did you last see a donkey walking along our streets? The EastEnders production team haven't got a clue about modern Irish society; they are living in the Dark Ages."<ref name="guardian"/><ref name="pork"/>

The BBC and [[RTÉ]] (the Public Service Broadcaster of Ireland) received complaints from angry Irish people all over Britain and Ireland, and it was reported that viewers "bombarded" local and national radio stations, claiming the episodes were an insult to Irish people everywhere.<ref name="pork"/><ref name="Oirish">{{cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61144901|title=Irish Eastenders' fans in a lather over soap Oirish over Dublin|publisher=The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland)|date=24 September 1997|access-date=11 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Callers to [[Radio Ulster]]'s [[Talk radio#Talk radio in the United Kingdom|Talkback]] programme and [[Gerry Ryan]]'s morning talk show on [[RTÉ Radio]], demanded that the scriptwriters be sacked. BBC contributor Mike Philpott described the show as "the worst case of stage 'Oirish' seen for a long time" and "one of the most shameful half-hour episodes in the history of British television".<ref name="Oirish"/>

The angry reaction stretched from official channels, such as the [[Diplomatic missions of Ireland|Irish Embassy]], to holiday chiefs, who feared that the episodes would have a negative effect on tourist trade.<ref name="Oirish"/><ref name="ofcom" /> The Irish Embassy in London said, "[''EastEnders''] has caused a great deal of upset and annoyance in the country [Ireland] and with Irish people in Britain." Furthermore, they suggested that the episodes "presented a prejudiced and stereotyped view of Ireland that [was] utterly unrecognisable."<ref name="pork"/> Ted Barrington, Ireland's ambassador to the UK, described the portrayal of Ireland as an "unrepresentative caricature", stating he was worried by the negative stereotypes and the images of drunkenness, backwardness and isolation. He added, "EastEnders is a powerful and very concentrated medium … People are upset at the caricature and misrepresentation of Ireland. Irish people can laugh at themselves but, the point is, this is one of the most popular programmes on British television, and it decided to present an image of Ireland that conforms to old-fashioned negative stereotypes. It selected an unrepresentative range of stereotypes. Cultural and racial stereotyping tends to create barriers between people."<ref name="dirty">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61151274.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222500/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61151274.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 May 2011|title= Soap does the dirty on Éire says envoy|publisher=The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland)| date = 25 September 1997| access-date=11 December 2007}}</ref>

Mark Mortell, the chairman of Ireland's national tourism development, [[Bord Fáilte]], said: "I am enormously concerned that the single biggest television audience in Britain was shown a negative image of Irish hospitality … It has the potential to be enormously damaging."<ref name="pork"/><ref name="Oirish"/> His colleague, John Lahiffe, added: "I am dismayed by the mischievous nature of it. We go to great efforts to promote this country, but it was in no way representative of Ireland."<ref name="pork"/>

Various Irish entertainers and sports personalities also went public with their opinions on the episodes. Broadcaster [[Gerry Kelly (broadcaster)|Gerry Kelly]] labelled the episodes racist, and an unmitigated disaster.<ref name="people">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61112421|title=I blame Irish actors for selling us short|magazine=The People|author=Kelly, Gerry|date=28 September 1997|access-date=11 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Irish actors, who were employed specifically for the storyline, were also criticised by Kelly for not speaking out against the scenes they were enacting. He accused them of selling out their heritage and denigrating their fellow-countrymen.<ref name="people"/> Comic [[Brendan O'Carroll]] said, "Whoever wrote the script has obviously never been to Ireland. I'm very disappointed because ''EastEnders'' is a programme I have great respect for. It is outrageous and untrue to portray us like that. I'm disappointed the producers allowed it to be broadcast as it was." Former jockey and TV presenter Declan Murphy said, "It's wrong and disgraceful when writers portray everyone from Ireland as backward drunks. I am an Irishman and I'm proud of it, but I'm not a drunk and I'm certainly not backward and neither are my compatriots." Actor Garret Keogh, who played an "ignorant" Irish hotel owner in the ''EastEnders'' episodes, revealed: "The streets around [[Cabra, Dublin|Cabra]], where I live, are hopping. I went down to get the paper and some bread and I was accosted. The script has stirred up a hell of a hornets' nest here. I'm only an actor, but I wouldn't want to do anything that would be demeaning to me, my people or my country."<ref name="pork"/> However, actor [[Dermot Morgan]] urged Irish people not to over-react: "I'm sure there's no great conspiracy against Irish people here. The BBC have a good track record and this would seem to be a dodgy storyline that has somehow crept through. As for being drunks, surely they must only mean on a Saturday night!"<ref name="pork"/><ref name="beeb">{{cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-61058551|title=BEEB'S APOLOGY FOR TV INSULT TO IRISH|work=The Mirror|author=Kierans, John|date=24 September 1997|access-date=11 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Complaints were upheld by the British [[Ofcom|Broadcasting Standards Commission]], who said "the intention was positive rather than negative but the result was clumsy and irritating".<ref name="ofcom">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61066865.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222448/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61066865.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 May 2011|title= Soap rapped for 'irritating' Irish scenes|work=The Mirror| author = Tallant, Nicola| date = 28 September 1997| access-date=11 December 2007}}</ref> The BBC said, "EastEnders has a reputation for showing slices of life in many different ways and sometimes these are not flattering",<ref name="pork"/> but they admitted that the episodes were "ill-judged" and issued a public apology for causing offence and misrepresenting Irish people.<ref name="ofcom"/><ref name="beeb"/> [[Jana Bennett]], the BBC's then director of production, stated on [[BBC1]]'s news bulletin: "It is clear that a significant number of viewers have been upset by the recent episodes of ''EastEnders'', and we are very sorry, because the production team and programme makers did not mean to cause any offence." A year later, in 1998, BBC chairman [[Christopher Bland]] admitted that as result of the Irish-set ''EastEnders'' episodes, the station failed in its pledge to represent all groups accurately and avoid reinforcing prejudice.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/172718.stm |title=BBC sets out pledges |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=21 June 2007 |archive-date=10 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210164612/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/172718.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Characters introduced== ===Flaherty family=== {{tree chart/start|align=center}} {{tree chart|boxstyle=border: 2px solid red;| | | | | | | | | | |AB|y|LM| |AB=[[Albert Beale]] |LM=[[Lou Beale]]}} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |)| }} {{tree chart| | | | | | | | |SF|y|MM| |SF=[[#Sean Flaherty|Sean Flaherty]]|MM=[[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie Flaherty]]|boxstyle=border: 2px solid green;|boxstyle_MM=border: 2px solid red;}} {{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| }} {{tree chart|CF|y|GS| |EF|y|BS| |TF| |JF| |CF=[[Conor Flaherty]]|GS=Geraldine Flaherty|EF=[[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn Flaherty]]|BS=[[#Brenda Flaherty|Brenda Flaherty]]|TF=Thomas Flaherty|JF=[[#Other family members|John Flaherty]]|boxstyle_CF=border: 2px solid green;|boxstyle_EF=border: 2px solid green;|boxstyle_BS=border: 2px solid green;|boxstyle_TF=border: 2px solid green;|boxstyle_JF=border: 2px solid green;}} {{tree chart| | | |!| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| }} {{tree chart|boxstyle=border: 2px solid green;| | |MF| |CoF| |EF| |DF| |KF| |CaF| |MF=[[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]]|CoF=[[#Colette Flaherty|Colette Flaherty]]|EF=[[#Eamonn Flaherty Jnr|Eamonn Flaherty Jnr]]|DF=[[#Other family members|Declan Flaherty]]|KF=[[#Other family members|Kylie Flaherty]]|CaF=[[#Other family members|Carl Flaherty]]}} {{tree chart/end}}

====Maggie Flaherty==== {{Infobox soap character |series = EastEnders |image= |name=Maggie Flaherty |portrayer=Olivia Shanley |first=22 September 1997 |last=25 September 1997 |occupation=Housewife |family=[[Beale family|Beale]] |father=[[Albert Beale]] |mother=[[Lou Beale]] |brothers=[[Harry Beale]] [[Ronnie Beale]] [[Kenny Beale]] [[Pete Beale]] |sisters=Norma Beale [[Pauline Fowler]] |husband=[[Sean Flaherty (EastEnders)|Sean Flaherty]] (until 2019) |sons=[[Eamonn Flaherty]] [[Conor Flaherty]] [[John Flaherty (EastEnders)|John Flaherty]] Tommy Flaherty |grandsons=[[Eamonn Flaherty Jnr]] [[Declan Flaherty]] [[Carl Flaherty]] |granddaughters=[[Colette Flaherty]] [[Kylie Flaherty]] [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] |nephews = [[Ian Beale]] [[Mark Fowler]] [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] }} '''Margaret "Maggie" Flaherty''' is the illegitimate child of [[Lou Beale|Lou]] ([[Anna Wing]]) and [[Albert Beale]] ([[Gary Olsen]]), before they married. She was given up for adoption, as she was born out of wedlock, and was sent to live with a family in Ireland. She was adopted by the O'Carroll family.

In 1996, eight years after Lou's death in 1988, her youngest daughter [[Pauline Fowler|Pauline]] ([[Wendy Richard]]) finds a letter from Lou to her best friend [[Ethel Skinner|Ethel]] ([[Gretchen Franklin]]), revealing that she had a secret daughter. Pauline and her family try to find Maggie, and when they do, they visit her in Kilmoneen, Ireland.

Whilst in Ireland, Maggie's lecherous husband [[#Sean Flaherty|Sean]] (Pat Laffin) flirts with Pauline, and is abusive to his granddaughter, [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]). When Pauline and her family leave, taking Mary with them, she begs Maggie to leave Sean and return to [[Walford]] with her, but Maggie decides to stay and look after her vast family. This is the last time she is seen.

Her grown up family send a wreath to Pauline's funeral in 2006 and Maggie herself sends flowers and a condolence message to her nephew [[Ian Beale]] ([[Adam Woodyatt]]), when his daughter [[Lucy Beale|Lucy]] ([[Hetti Bywater]]) dies in 2014.

In April 2019, [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] ([[James Bye]]) goes to Ireland to attend her funeral. {{Clear}}

==== Sean Flaherty ==== {{Infobox soap character | series = EastEnders |image= |name=Sean Flaherty |portrayer=Pat Laffin |first=22 September 1997 |last=25 September 1997 |wife=[[Maggie Flaherty (EastEnders)|Maggie Flaherty]] (until 2019) |sons=[[Eamonn Flaherty]] [[Conor Flaherty]] [[John Flaherty (EastEnders)|John Flaherty]] Tommy Flaherty |grandsons=[[Eamonn Flaherty Jnr]] [[Declan Flaherty]] [[Carl Flaherty]] |granddaughters=[[Colette Flaherty]] [[Kylie Flaherty]] [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] }} '''Sean Flaherty''', portrayed by Pat Laffin, is first seen as a [[lust|lecherous]] [[alcoholism|drunk]] in a pub in the Irish village of Kilmoneen. Sean leers over [[Pauline Fowler]] ([[Wendy Richard]])'s [[breasts]] and tries to buy her a drink, only to be told to leave her alone by [[Ian Beale]] ([[Adam Woodyatt]]). He later goes over to Pauline and tries to touch her, spilling [[stout]] on her. He is then thrown out of the bar.<ref name="mon">{{cite web |title=Mon 22 Sep 97 |url=http://walford.net:80/story/1509.htm |publisher=walford.net |access-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980710115651/http://walford.net/story/1509.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 1998 }}</ref>

Later, when Pauline is at Maggie's house, and her eldest son [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] brings his father home, Pauline is shocked to see that Maggie was married to Sean.<ref name="mon"/>

Eamonn later tells Sean of his granddaughter [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]])'s affair with married man [[#Gerry McCrae|Gerry McCrae]]. Maggie races to Mary's school to collect her before violent Sean can get to her. She begs Pauline to take Mary back to [[Walford]] with her. Pauline gets Sean drunk until he falls asleep and then helps Maggie pack Mary's clothes.<ref name="thu">{{cite web|title=Thu 25 Sep 97|url=http://walford.net:80/story/1511.htm|publisher=walford.net|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980710115734/http://walford.net/story/1511.htm|archive-date=10 July 1998|url-status=live}}</ref>

As Pauline, Mary and the family leave Kilmoneen, Sean staggers into the road to try to stop the car, and stop Mary from leaving. [[Mark Fowler|Mark]] ([[Todd Carty]]) gets out of the car and punches Sean in the [[groin]], and they speed off in the car, leaving Sean doubled over in pain.<ref name="thu"/> {{Clear}}

==== Conor Flaherty ==== {{Main|Conor Flaherty}} '''Conor Flaherty''', played by [[Seán Gleeson]], is [[Pauline Fowler]] ([[Wendy Richard]])'s nephew – the son of her long-lost sister [[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie]] and her husband [[#Sean Flaherty|Sean]]. Conor also has a daughter, [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]), from his first marriage but he doesn't get on with her. When Mary decides she wants to move to [[Walford]] with Pauline, Conor also follows her.

==== Mary Flaherty ==== {{Main|Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)}} '''Mary Flaherty''', played by [[Melanie Clark Pullen]], is the daughter of [[Conor Flaherty]] ([[Seán Gleeson]]). Mary is having an affair with an older married man, [[#Gerry McCrae|Gerry McCrae]]. She decides to move to Walford with the Fowlers to escape her alcoholic, violent grandfather, [[#Sean Flaherty|Sean]], who finds out about her affair. Her father also follows her.

==== Eamonn Flaherty ==== {{Infobox soap character | series = EastEnders |image= |name=Eamonn Flaherty |portrayer=[[Maurice O'Donoghue]] |first=22 September 1997 |last=25 September 1997 |family=[[Beale family|Beale]] |father=[[Sean Flaherty (EastEnders)|Sean Flaherty]] |mother=[[Maggie Flaherty (EastEnders)|Maggie Flaherty]] |wife=[[Brenda Flaherty]] |brothers=[[Conor Flaherty]] [[John Flaherty (EastEnders)|John Flaherty]] Tommy Flaherty |sons=[[Eamonn Flaherty Jnr]] [[Declan Flaherty]] [[Carl Flaherty]] |daughters=[[Colette Flaherty]] [[Kylie Flaherty]] |nieces=[[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] |grandfathers=[[Albert Beale]] |grandmothers=[[Lou Beale]] |aunts=[[Pauline Fowler]] |cousins=[[Ian Beale]] [[Mark Fowler]] [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] }} '''Eamonn Flaherty''', portrayed by [[Maurice O'Donoghue]], is [[Pauline Fowler]] ([[Wendy Richard]])'s nephew – the eldest son of her long-lost sister [[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie]] and her husband [[#Sean Flaherty|Sean]].

Eamonn is unwelcoming to his long-lost relatives, and extremely loyal to his drunken father. He defends his father's bullying to his long-lost cousin [[Ian Beale]] ([[Adam Woodyatt]]), and they nearly come to blows because of this. According to the Kilmoneen hotelier, Patrick, Eamonn had been on the receiving end of his father's abuse as a child and was severely whipped with a belt for stealing chocolate. Patrick comments, "you don't break the [[Ten Commandments|commandments]], not in Sean's house". Even though he is of aware of the potential repercussions, Eamonn informs his father that his niece [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]) has been having an affair with a married man, and Sean is furious. Maggie fears for her safety, so she sends her to London to live with Pauline. {{clear}}

==== Brenda Flaherty ==== {{Infobox soap character | series = EastEnders |image= |name=Brenda Flaherty |portrayer=[[Janet Behan]] |first=22 September 1997 |last=25 September 1997 |husband=[[Eamonn Flaherty]] |sons=[[Eamonn Flaherty Jnr]] [[Declan Flaherty]] [[Carl Flaherty]] |daughters=[[Colette Flaherty]] [[Kylie Flaherty]] }} '''Brenda Flaherty''', portrayed by [[Janet Behan]], is [[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie]]'s daughter-in-law, married to her son [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]], and mother to his children, [[#Colette Flaherty|Colette]], [[#Eamonn Flaherty, Jnr|Eamonn]] and Kylie.

She is sent to collect [[Pauline Fowler]] ([[Wendy Richard]]) and her family and takes them to meet Maggie.

She is lazy and smelly; [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]) says she needs a bath. She is too lazy to collect her son, Eamonn, from choir practice, and sends [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin]] ([[James Alexandrou]]) and [[#Colette Flaherty|Colette]] to get him. {{Clear}}

==== Colette Flaherty ==== {{Infobox soap character | series = EastEnders |image= |name=Colette Flaherty |portrayer=[[Shiona Redmond]] |first=22 September 1997 |last=25 September 1997 |family=[[Beale family|Beale]] |father=[[Eamonn Flaherty]] |mother=[[Brenda Flaherty]] |brothers=[[Eamonn Flaherty Jnr]] [[Declan Flaherty]] [[Carl Flaherty]] |sisters=[[Kylie Flaherty]] |grandfathers=[[Sean Flaherty (EastEnders)|Sean Flaherty]] |grandmothers=[[Maggie Flaherty (EastEnders)|Maggie Flaherty]] |uncles=[[Conor Flaherty]] [[John Flaherty (EastEnders)|John Flaherty]] Tommy Flaherty |cousins=[[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] |relatives=[[Pauline Fowler]] [[Ian Beale]] [[Mark Fowler]] [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] }} '''Colette Flaherty''', portrayed by [[Shiona Redmond]], is the eldest daughter of [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] and [[#Brenda Flaherty|Brenda Flaherty]].

Colette is the same age as her [[cousin chart|first cousin once removed]], [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] ([[James Alexandrou]]), and the pair hit it off. This is only a holiday romance however, as Martin leaves with his family the following week. Colette hasn't been seen or heard from since. {{Clear}}

==== Eamonn Flaherty Jnr ==== {{Infobox soap character | series = EastEnders |name=Eamonn Flaherty |first=23 September 1997 |last=25 September 1997 |portrayer=Seán Walsh |occupation=Choir boy |family=[[Beale family|Beale]] |father=[[Eamonn Flaherty]] |mother=[[Brenda Flaherty]] |brothers=[[Declan Flaherty]] [[Carl Flaherty]] |sisters=[[Colette Flaherty]] [[Kylie Flaherty]] |grandfathers=[[Sean Flaherty (EastEnders)|Sean Flaherty]] |grandmothers=[[Maggie Flaherty (EastEnders)|Maggie Flaherty]] |uncles=[[Conor Flaherty]] [[John Flaherty (EastEnders)|John Flaherty]] Tommy Flaherty |cousins=[[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] |relatives=[[Pauline Fowler]] [[Ian Beale]] [[Mark Fowler]] [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] }} '''Eamonn Flaherty''', played by Seán Walsh,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.actorsandmovers.com/males/sean_froudist-walsh.html|title=Actors and movers agent|access-date=12 August 2010|archive-date=3 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903102324/http://www.actorsandmovers.com/males/sean_froudist-walsh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> is the son of [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] (after whom he was named) and [[#Brenda Flaherty|Brenda Flaherty]]. Eamonn is witness to the first kiss between his sister [[#Colette Flaherty|Colette]] and [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]] ([[James Alexandrou]]), when they go to collect him from choir practice. {{clear}}

====Other family members==== {| class="wikitable" ! Character(s) !! Circumstances |- |'''John Flaherty'''||Son of [[#Sean Flaherty|Sean]] and [[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie Flaherty]]. He works as a labourer, using a road drill. He never speaks, which his niece [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]) says she doesn't mind, as the house is noisy enough as it is. She later says she thinks he had had a [[lobotomy]]. |- |'''Declan Flaherty'''||The middle child of [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] and [[#Brenda Flaherty|Brenda Flaherty]]. He is not old enough to go to school. His mother nags his grandmother, [[#Maggie Flaherty|Maggie]], to make dinner sooner so that Declan can go out, which she does, leaving [[Pauline Fowler]] ([[Wendy Richard]]) worried about Maggie's family treating her as a slave. |- |'''Carl Flaherty'''||The youngest of [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] and [[#Brenda Flaherty|Brenda Flaherty]]'s five children. He is mischievous, always running around with his elder sister Kylie, getting under everyone else's feet. |- |'''Kylie Flaherty'''||Youngest daughter of [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] and [[#Brenda Flaherty|Brenda Flaherty]], the fourth of their five children. She runs around a lot with her younger brother, Carl, getting under everyone's feet. She takes a telephone message from her uncle [[Conor Flaherty|Conor]] ([[Seán Gleeson]]), saying that he will be back late from fishing with [[Ruth Fowler]] ([[Caroline Paterson]]) and [[Lucy Beale]] ([[Casey Anne Rothery]]), but fails to pass it on, sparking a huge search for them. |}

===Other characters===

==== Gerry McCrae ==== {{Infobox soap character | series = EastEnders |image= |name=Gerry McCrae |portrayer= [[Simon O'Gorman]] |first=22 September 1997 |last=23 September 1997 |occupation= Shopkeeper }} '''Gerry McCrae''' is the shopkeeper in Kilmoneen, the Irish village where the Flaherty family live.

Gerry is a married man, but is secretly having an affair with [[Mary Flaherty (EastEnders)|Mary Flaherty]] ([[Melanie Clark Pullen]]). He tells Mary he is leaving his wife to be with her, but Mary ends their relationship publicly, and the local bartender, [[#Patrick|Patrick]] [[Garrett Keogh]]), hears their argument and tells Mary's uncle, [[#Eamonn Flaherty|Eamonn]] ([[Maurice O'Donoghue]]). Eamonn cannot wait to tell his violent, alcoholic father [[#Sean Flaherty|Sean]] (Pat Laffin), which leads to Mary's departure from the village, scared of what Sean will do to her. {{clear}}

{| class="wikitable" ! Character(s) !! Actor !! Circumstances |- |'''Patrick'''|| [[Garrett Keogh]]||The hotelier and pub landlord in Kilmoneen village. He refuses to let the Fowlers stay at his hotel initially, as he has booked their rooms under the name "Towler". He knows the Flahertys and mediates between them and the Fowlers when they get into arguments. |- |'''Flynn'''|| [[Noel O'Donovan (actor)|Noel O'Donovan]]||A fisherman who refuses to let [[Conor Flaherty|Conor]], [[Ruth Fowler|Ruth]] and [[Lucy Beale|Lucy]] use his boat. Conor takes it anyway, but the tide turns and they cannot get back to the dock. Sea rescue is called out to search for them. |}

==See also== * ''[[Kat & Alfie: Redwater]]''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite journal |first= Marcus|last= Free|year= 2001|title= From the 'Other' Island to the One with 'No West Side': The Irish in British Soap and Sitcom|journal= Irish Studies Review|volume= 9|issue= 2|pages= 215–220|doi= 10.1080/09670880120062786 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastenders Episodes in Ireland}} [[Category:EastEnders storylines|Episodes in Ireland]] [[Category:1997 British television episodes]] [[Category:EastEnders episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes set in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:1997 in British television]] [[Category:1997 controversies]] [[Category:Television controversies in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:BBC controversies]]