Glenroe was set in a rural community in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and commenced in 1983, finishing in 2001 after the core cast diminished. The main stars were Joe Lynch R.I.P. (Dinny Byrne), Mick Lally R.I.P. (Miley Byrne), Mary McEvoy (Biddy Byrne), Geraldine Plunkett (Mary McDermott-Moran) and Emmet Bergin (Dick Moran). Among the other big names of Irish T.V. / film and theatre in the cast were Robert Carrickford R.I.P., Maureen Toal R.I.P., Dónall Farmer R.I.P., Alan Stamford, Liam Heffernan and Isobel Mahon. I remember fondly the soap opera being broadcast every Sunday night from September to May, on RTE at 8.30 p.m.
More often than not patriarchal Dinny got involved in a rumbly venture and he was at loggerheads with his son Miley, "well Holy God!" Glenroe was like Ireland's Emmerdale. During a 18 year run a priest became a permanent character, an English man, then there was a cranky old neighbour, a wife for Dinny who would later become the local pub owner and members of the 'Travelling Community' also joined as regulars. Glenroe was great escapism, the Irish way.
