'Ros na Rún' actor settles case

A case of unfair dismissal taken by actor Mairéad Ní Ghallchóir against the co-producers of the TG4 soap Ros na Rún was settled…

A case of unfair dismissal taken by actor Mairéad Ní Ghallchóir against the co-producers of the TG4 soap Ros na Rún was settled yesterday outside the Employment Appeals Tribunal in Dublin.

The Donegal-born actor, who played the part of Angela Uí Dhireáin, the landlady of the local pub, was let go from the soap in early 2006.

She last appeared in an episode in May 2006.

It is understood that Ms Ní Ghallchóir claimed that her engagement in the west of Ireland drama, which is filmed in Spiddal, Co Galway, and co-produced by Eo Teilifís and Tyrone Productions, was discontinued for no satisfactory or justifiable reason.

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She brought a case of unfair dismissal before the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

The twelfth series of the Irish-language drama, which has an estimated viewership of 300,000 each week, is currently being screened.

In the run-up to her being written out of the script, the character played by Ms Ní Ghallchóir in the soap was involved in a dramatic storyline where she was the subject of marital abuse that drew intense viewing interest and praise from agencies who deal with violence in the home.

The character was then kidnapped. Once she had escaped and returned home, she initiated separation proceedings against her abusive screen husband, Tadhg, who is played by Abbey actor Macdara Ó Fatharta.

The last scene saw Ms Ní Ghallchóir driving out of town, and she has not been seen since although a search has been mounted.

Ms Ní Ghallchóir has been a regular central character in the soap since it began broadcasting in 1996.

The actor's case, which was heard through Irish and chaired by Mark O'Connell BL, was withdrawn on the understanding that both parties were at liberty to re-enter the process before February 1st next year should they fail to reach a settlement.

The legal teams then went into private session, and the case was settled shortly afterwards.

It is understood that Ms Ní Ghallchóir's character will be reinstated into Ros na Rún.

The soap is screened on Tuesdays and Thursdays on TG4 at 8.30pm, with an omnibus edition on Sunday.