Single-Handed (2007– )

Jack Driscoll is transferred from Dublin back to his birthplace in the remote west of Ireland as Garda Sergeant, the role recently vacated by his father, Gerry. Jack's first major case is ... See full summary »

Creators:

Rob Pursey, Barry Simner

Stars:

Owen McDonnell, David Herlihy, Ruth McCabe

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Owen McDonnell	...	Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll (12 episodes, 2007-2010)
David Herlihy	...	Garda Finbarr Colvin (12 episodes, 2007-2010)
Ruth McCabe	...	Eithne Driscoll (12 episodes, 2007-2010)
Sean McGinley	...	Dennis Costello (6 episodes, 2010)
Matthew McNulty	...	Brian Doyle (6 episodes, 2010)
Simone Lahbib	...	Gemma Burge (6 episodes, 2010)
Brian Gleeson	...	Cathal (6 episodes, 2007-2009)

Storyline

Jack Driscoll is transferred from Dublin back to his birthplace in the remote west of Ireland as Garda Sergeant, the role recently vacated by his father, Gerry. Jack's first major case is an investigation into the death of a young woman, found in an isolated caravan. Jack is frustrated in his attempts to identify the woman as the community closes ranks. And what looked at first like accidental death takes on an increasingly sinister hue. Jack uncovers a tangled web of blackmail and sexual abuse, involving the farmer whose field the caravan occupied, a local hotelier, his father's oldest friend and a builder with a reputation for violence. Jack's relentless pursuit of the truth dredges up long-buried crimes and pits him against his new Inspector and Gerry, who may hold the key to the mystery. Throughout all of this there is one glimmer of hope: a romance with a young Dublin nurse, Saoirse visiting her uncle in the area, wealthy local builder Tommy Gallagher, who is drawn to the place -...

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 2007 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Motströms

Filming Locations:

Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Element Films, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), Touchpaper Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 130 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.135 (2011)

User Reviews

Dark Irish drama

When I saw this advertised in the TV guide I assumed it would be "Heartbeat" meets "Ballykissangel" however when I watched it I realised that is was nothing of the sort, it may be set in a beautiful part of the world but there is nothing twee about it, instead of making the place seem appealing it came across as a dark and dangerous place where nobody can really be trusted.

Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll has been transferred from Dublin and to the remote area of Co. Galway where he'd grown up and his father had been sergeant before him. When he is investigating the suspicious death of an eastern European the locals, including his father, seem to think everything would be best if the case were quickly written off as suicide. The deeper he investigates the case the more he discovers about the dubious behaviour of the locals, including his father. This doesn't just include the recent case but events many years before where an unwanted baby was apparently murdered.

The two other cases also include fairly dark subjects where we aren't sure who we can trust and few people are what they originally seem. The actors all do a good job in the three interesting stories, if RTE are making other dramas of this quality I hope they too get an airing on this side of the Irish Sea.