After getting his television start on the rural drama The Riordans, Gabriel Byrne went on to make a similar drama for RTÉ, but this time he had the starring role.
According to the RTÉ Archives:
Bracken was a rural drama written by Wesley Burrowes. It was broadcast by RTÉ in 1980 and 1982 as two six-part mini-series. The RTÉ Guide published a front cover article about the first series on 4 January 1980. An article about the second series appeared in the RTÉ Guide of 1 January 1982.
The cast included:
Gabriel Byrne as Pat Barry
Niall Tóibín as Edward Daly
Mick Lally as Miley Byrne
Joe Lynch as Dinny Byrne
Sean Lawlor as Peter Thompson
Fiona Victory as Louise Daly
Dana Wynter as Jill Daly
The best information available regarding the series episodes, provided by Paul English, is:
Series 1 (broadcast on RTÉ1 during January / February 1980)
1.1 – June
1.2 – July
1.3 – August
1.4 – September
1.5 – October
1.6 – All Saints Day
Series 2 (broadcast on RTÉ1 during January / February 1982)
2.1 – December
2.2 – January
2.3 – February
2.4 – March
2.5 – April
2.6 – May
From Niall Tóibín’s official website:
In RTÉ’s television series Bracken, Niall Tóibín and Gabriel Byrne played adversaries in their starring roles. Johnny Ryan writes, “these various schemes and subtle villainies make all the ploys and simple back stabbery of Melrose Place or Dynasty look like child’s play.”
Many thanks to Elf for providing the original 6 episodes, to Aidan for the complete set of 12 episodes which you see in the playlists above, and to Paul for helping get the history straight!