Cork actresses among cast announced for new series based on Marian Keyes novels

The first season of The Walsh Sisters based on novels by Marian Keyes is currently in production

BAFTA-nominated Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary, My Lady Jane, Belfast) plays the fearless baby of the family, Helen, in the new Walsh Sisters comedy drama. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Two Cork actresses are among the cast announced for the new Walsh Sisters comedy drama based on novels by Marian Keyes.

Máiréad Tyers, best known for her role as Jen in the Disney+ series Extraordinary, for which she received a BAFTA nomination, and Stefanie Preissner, best known as the creator of the comedy-drama Can't Cope, Won't Cope, have both been cast alongside Derry Girls’ Louisa Harland, rising talent Caroline Menton of Oddity and Danielle Galligan of House of Guinness and KIN.

Directed by Ian FitzGibbon, the first season of  The Walsh Sisters which features a chaotic, dysfunctional but deeply loveable family of five sisters — Anna, Rachel, Claire, Helen and Maggie — their mother and their bemused father, is currently in production.

The comedy drama is in part based on two of Keyes’s books, the novels  Rachel’s Holiday and  Anybody Out There, and is produced by award-winning indies Cuba Pictures and Metropolitan Pictures, with producer Patrick O’Donoghue, and in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights as the exclusive worldwide distribution partner.

The new Walsh Sisters comedy drama is based on novels by Marian Keyes. Picture: David Creedon

In addition to appearing on screen as Maggie, Preissner, who created RTÉ’s comedy drama  Can't Cope, Won't Cope, is entrusted with the adaptation of Keyes’ much-loved books as the creative lead and writer across the series. She is joined by Kefi Chadwick of Rivals and Death in Paradise in writing two episodes of the show.

Irish-American actor Aidan Quinn, best known for his roles in This is My Father, Legends of the Fall and Song for a Raggy Boy, has been tipped to play Jack ‘Daddy’ Walsh alongside his screen wife Carrie Crowley of An Cailín Ciúin and Hope Street,  who recreates eccentric Mammy Walsh.

American actress and personality Debi Mazar has also signed up for the part of Chaquie. Other cast members include Gina Moxley who will play Josephine and Jay Duffy who will play Rachel’s complicated love interest Luke Costello. Samuel Anderson has also been cast as Aidan — Anna’s love interest.

In addition to appearing on screen as Maggie, Stefanie Preissner is entrusted with the adaptation of Keyes’ much-loved books as the creative lead and writer across the series. Picture: Moya Nolan.

Speaking about the announcement, Caroline Menton said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be a part of The Walsh Sisters. Rachel is such a beloved character that has resonated with me and countless others around the world for nearly two decades.

“Hers is a story of hope and I feel so privileged to get the opportunity to bring Rachel to life and be a part of bringing Marian Keyes’ iconic Walsh family to the screen.” Louisa Harland said she “couldn’t be happier” to be part of the Walsh family and said the books mean so much to so many.

“It’s the dream job,” she said.

Billed as ‘a comedy about serious things — a pacey, brutally honest and uncompromisingly funny exposé of the realities of being an Irish sister’,  The Walsh Sisters has commenced shooting for an autumn launch on RTÉ, followed by BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Executive producers on the series are RTÉ’s head of drama David Crean and director of co-productions and acquisitions Dermot Horan, Cuba Pictures’ joint CEOs Dixie Linder and Nick Marston, MetropolitanPictures producer and joint CEO David McLoughlin, Cineflix Rights’ James Durie and Tom Misselbrook, Stefanie Preissner, and Marian Keyes and Tony Baines.