For further information:
Louise Zayed
Senior Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3428
louise.zayed@tv3.ie
Kevin Shore
Press Officer
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kevin.shore@virginmedia.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday 15th September, 2014
TV3 visits Darndale in a powerful fly-on-the-wall series.
A high unemployment, crime and drug blackspot, the residents of Darndale share their own unique stories.
Local character Stephen Clinch (Clinchy) explains how the estate has changed over the years and how a once prize winning social housing plan failed so spectacularly.
Clinchy has spent the guts of twenty years in prison for a range of offences but is trying to turn his life around. He loves acting and recently had a small part in ‘Love Hate’.
Interviews available on request
‘Darndale: The Edge of Town’ airs Monday 22nd September at 9pm on TV3.
Please see link to clip of Darndale that can be embedded onto your website: https://vimeo.com/105864355 - Make sure to credit TV3 with date and time of Episode 1.
Video Link to view the first episode is available on request
From the team that brought audiences the IFTA nominated The Estate and the critically acclaimed Prison Families comes a brand new three part fly-on-the-wall series, which spends a year on one of Ireland's most notorious housing estates, Darndale in North Dublin. Despite its reputation as an unemployment, crime and drug black spot, it is home to a vibrant and close-knit community.
This ambitious, observational documentary series - directed by Matt Leigh and Katie Lincoln and co-produced by Anne McLoughlin and Jamie D'Alton - gives an honest portrayal of Darndale’s residents’ lives as they cope with harsh everyday realities, experience moments of triumph and despair, while looking beyond the boundaries of the estate and seeking a brighter future.
On a walk around Darndale, local character Stephen Clinch (Clinchy) explains how the estate has changed over the years and how a once prize-winning social housing plan failed so spectacularly. An ex-offender, Clinchy, is in confessional mode as he talks about his own criminal past, “I was in Mountjoy when I was fifteen, instead of frightening the life out of me, I though fuckin’ hell this is deadly…..I was blown away by the place and made a conscious decision, ‘Yeah, I’ll handle this place’.” A one-time career criminal Clinchy spent the guts of twenty years in prison, but his life turned around when he took a drama course in Mountjoy. His passion for acting eventually led to the role of Fran's rival Noelie in the drama series Love Hate.
Separately, single mum Gemma (19) is finding her feet as she copes with the reality of caring for Alfie, her three week old baby boy. The family were still grieving the loss of Gemma's nephew to cot death only a year previously when Alfie was diagnosed with a heart murmur at birth. Gemma, who left school early to help her mother, who suffers from depression, juggles the care of her own baby with looking after her lively younger siblings and helping to run their often chaotic home. Despite this, nothing gets her down and she's determined that this will be the year she gets off the dole and back into education.
Christmas is coming and single mother Angelique Louthe is planning to splash out and make it a season to remember. Like many other families in Darndale, Angelique depends on a money lender to fund big ticket items, “By the time I pay the loans, pay the gas, pay the ESB, pay the rent, I ‘m not left with much. By Thursday I would be smashed. There would have been a couple of times when we went hungry, but once the kids can eat I am happy.” Angelique may go without, but she'll make sure that her children have a Christmas to remember.
Over in his ex-partner's house, Noel Darby is in the throes of drug addiction and is anxiously waiting for a place on a drug treatment programme. An addict since he was 17 he reached a low point two years ago with the death of his best friend. Noel is now determined to get clean for the sake of his two year old twin girls and his infant daughter. However, he admits he has been down this road before and his family and ex-partner have lost faith in his promises.
‘Darndale: The Edge of Town’ airs Monday 22nd September at 9pm on TV3.
Images have been sent to your picture desks and are available on request.
See Notes to Editor for contributor biogs.
ENDS
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Ciara Byrne – Press Officer – 01 419 3329/087 319 9732
Jean O’Donovan – Press & Publicity Assistant – 01 419 3428
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
Darndale contributor biogs:
Stephen ‘Clinchy' Clinch: ‘The Main Man’ (47), Primrose Grove
Known as “The Main Man”, Stephen Clinch (Clinchy) loves acting and recently had a part as Fran's love rival Noelie in the TV series “Love Hate”. Clinchy started acting classes while in prison and continued acting classes on his release with RASP - a community based drug rehabilitation programme in Darndale, that provides support and training courses for stable methadone addicts. Clinchy spent 20 years of his life in prison for a range of criminal offences, ranging from car theft to armed robbery. However, since his release more than eight years ago Clinchy has stayed out of trouble and away from prison. A reformed character, Clinchy now helps out troubled young local men, who come looking to him for advice. Between acting and mentoring Clinchy is a drummer in a local band and rehearses twice a week.
Angelique Louthe (38), single mother, Primrose Grove
Single mother Angelique lives with her two sons, Brody aged five and teenage son Robert aged 15 years. Angelique is very involved in community work doing up the local playground and also in a pilot project set up by the council to keep her area, a little horseshoe groups of houses, clean and tidy. Angelique admits that she struggles each week with money and has used money lenders for years, but finished paying off a big loan a few months ago. Angelique was at one stage paying back €90 a week, but says money lending is a big thing in Darndale as a lot of families struggle with finances, particularly big ticket items. As a single parent, Angelique admits that life can be very hard and she enrolled in a course called ‘Prepare for Life’ which helps mothers to learn the basics of coping with their kids - talking to them, dealing with bullying, managing money and cooking healthy meals. At times she would have lived on beans and toast, putting her son's welfare first, but doesn't complain saying it all with a huge smile on her face. We see Angelique excitedly prepare for Christmas, while fondly remembering her own father, who passed away around Christmas time. Angelique also hosts an Ann Summers party for herself and a few mates, for as a single parent she rarely gets out to socialise with her girlfriends - "If Angelique can't go to the party, then the party will come to Angelique."
Gemma Geraghty (19) single mother, Primrose Grove
Single mother Gemma (19) has a seven month old baby boy called Alfie. When we first meet Gemma, Alfie is just three weeks old and she is struggling financially, as she is still living on a 100 euro a week Jobseekers Allowance. Gemma is no longer with Alfie's father, as they broke up after going out with each other for eight months. One of five children, Gemma lives with her mother Roseanne and her younger siblings, Anthony (9) and sister Rebecca (12), who is almost like a second mother to Alfie. Gemma and her family are grieving the loss of Gemma's sister Nicole's baby son, who died a few months previously at just eight weeks old. Despite her own loss, Nicole supported Gemma through her pregnancy, attending at the birth and passing on her son’s baby clothes and his new pram. Coping well with being a new parent, Gemma is understandably anxious about Alfie's heart murmur, which was diagnosed at birth and may require medical intervention. Having left school in her final year, Gemma regrets not sitting the Leaving Cert and talks about going back to do a PLC course, but with a small baby to care for this could be a challenge. We follow Gemma over a few key months in her and Alfie's life.
Noel Darby (36)
Noel Darby is a drug addict, now on methadone, who has done time over the years in prison. However, for the past two years he has been on a waiting list for a residential drug rehabilitation programme. With three infant daughters to care for, Noel is very anxious to get his life sorted, as he doesn't want his younger girls, three year old twins and six month old baby, having the same father that their older sister's knew. Now stable and on a relatively low dose of methadone, things are looking up for Noel as he is assessed for a residential treatment programme, but will he be able to tear himself away from his children, whom he is very close to?
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